(Hybrid) Director of Sponsored Programs - Research Office

The Research Office at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Director of Sponsored Programs.

About the Opportunity

The West Virginia University (WVU) Research Office, Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), provides central coordination and oversight of WVU sponsored projects. The OSP team processes proposals, establishes awards, and negotiates resultant grants, contracts, and other agreements. OSP is comprised of three sub-departments, including the Pre-Award sub-department, the Award Negotiation sub-department, and the Award Initiation and Management (AIM) sub-department. The Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) serves as the senior leader of OSP, reporting to the Associate Vice President (AVP).

The WVU Director of OSP must have demonstrated expertise in change management, expert knowledge of electronic research administration systems, and understand that while this is a hybrid position, significant on-campus presence is required.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
  
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
  
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
  
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
  
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
  
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
  
• Wellness programs
  

What You'll Do

• Assume primary responsibility for long-term planning of the strategic direction of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP).
  
• Consistently apply critical thinking skills to develop points of view and collaborate with OSP unit leadership and staff to improve OSP operations.
  
• Design and prepare department data and performance reports to deliver and present to the research office leadership. Develop measurable goals and metrics for each of the three OSP units.
  
• Work with leadership of the three units to deeply understand the respective business processes and direct the day-to-day operations of OSP.
  
• Provide critical leadership on issues related to proposal development and submission, award negotiation, award management and closeout. Monitor emerging trends to ensure an efficient infrastructure within OSP.
  
• Provide support to Research Leadership (VP and AVPs in the Research Office) for policy issues related to sponsored projects.
  
• Understand and interpret complex federal regulations and develop internal policies to ensure compliance.
  
• Serve as an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) with signature authority for proposals, agreements, and post-award documentation for WVURC/WVU.
  
• Responsible for independently gaining and maintaining access to sponsor portals, as needed.
  
• Oversee the preparation of required special reports for grants and special programs.
  
• Plan, develop, and implement appropriate training for principal investigators, their administrative staff, and the WVU research community on the wide range of sponsored project topics.
  
• Provide mentoring and educational opportunities developed specifically for a hybrid team to OSP staff.
  
• Serve as an OSP representative on auditing and accounting matters, including negotiations of resolutions of audit findings as well as developing and implementing changes required due to audit findings.
  
• Initiate and develop organizational leadership for each unit within OSP (Pre-Award, Award Negotiations, and AIM), building depth through OSP operations.
  
• Work closely with first-level unit leadership to implement the overall OSP direction intended for each unit. Meet regularly with second and third-level unit leadership to reinforce strategic plans, share updates, and solicit feedback and recommendations for each unit.
  
• Strategically direct, manage, and approve all personnel matters in collaboration with the unit leadership.
  
• Coordinate with research office leadership (VP and AVPs of Research) and unit leadership to cross-train all hybrid/remote employees in the core functions of the OSP.
  
• Provide substantive and technical input to Research Leadership (VP and AVPs of Research) on aspects of administration and management, including determining priorities and goals, finding innovative and collaborative ways to ensure their timely delivery, staying within budget, and determining budgetary and resource needs.
  
• In consultation with research office leadership (VP and AVPs of Research), advance and monitor progress on the research office initiatives, and identify, assign, prioritize and track specific assignments/projects.
  
• Provide support to the research office on an institutional level and assure the seamless functioning, management, and integration of OSP endeavors.
  
• Lead OSP Electronic Research Administration (ERA) activities, including testing and improvement recommendations, as needed.
  
• Maintain expert knowledge of 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200.
  
• Foster an environment that focuses on the research office mission of quality, collaboration, and professionalism through service.
  
• Maintain strong, positive relationships with WVU leadership and key internal and external stakeholders, contact sponsors and researchers to establish rapport/understanding, and facilitate the use of the organization's services.
  
• Complete other duties as assigned by the research office leadership (VP and AVPs of Research).

• Bachelor's degree
• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in the following:
  
  
  
  • Research Administration, including application of 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200
  • Electronic Research Administration
  • Significant experience with the policies, procedures, and missions of NIH, NSF, NASA, DoD, and the Department of Agriculture
    
  
  
  
  
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the following:
  
  
  
  
  • Staff Supervision & hands-on training and career development
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
  
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated expertise with Electronic Research Administration Systems.
  
• Ability to expertly utilize a variety of software packages.
  
• Excellent communication and listening skills.
  
• Excellent time management skills.
  
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact with various customers throughout WVU.
  
• Demonstrated commitment to customer and team-oriented management.
  
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, empower, and lead a hybrid and remote team.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and appropriately apply discretion.
  
• Demonstrated superior supervisory skills.
  
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team and delegate a hybrid and remote team.
  
• Demonstrated problem solving skills.
  
• Demonstrated knowledge of research administration.
  
• Demonstrated ability to understand and appropriately apply Federal, State, and University policies and procedures, and interpret cost principles.
  
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulatory and compliance issues, federal and state laws, and public policy.
  
• Working knowledge of Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations.
  
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), OMB Circulars, and other regulatory documents.
  
• Demonstrated ability to productively and successfully work in a deadline-oriented environment.
  
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with senior administrators regarding technical issues.
  
• Must be enterprising, judicious, entrepreneurial, and diplomatic.
  
• Ability to learn academic, administrative, and organizational policies and procedures that impact OSP, with the ability to apply these policies and procedures to daily work assignments.
  
• Ability to apply judgment, discretion, and initiative in coordinating many different and complex tasks, determining relative importance of each, setting priorities, and completing project in a timely fashion.
  
• Ability to work accurately under short deadlines.
  
• Maintain skills in, or knowledge of, professional principles, legal and/or reporting requirements affecting areas of responsibility.
  
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
  
• Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; pursues training and development opportunities; assess strengths, weaknesses, and shares expertise with others.
  
• Manages difficult or emotional matters with objectivity and openness; responds promptly to needs and requests for service and assistance; meets commitments and dates, notifies others if change occurs; provides, solicits and applies feedback; and builds goodwill through balanced contributions, positive approach, respect and support of others.
  
• Demonstrated group presentation skills, participates in meetings, listens and gets clarification, is responsive and speaks clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations.
  
• Writes and edits clearly and informatively, varies style to meet needs, presents numerical data effectively, and able to read and interpret written information.
  
• Aligns work and develops strategies to meet organizational goals; seeks to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; and upholds organizational expectations and values.
  
• Responds to leadership direction; resourcefully adapts to changes in work environment and circumstances; responds well under pressure and manages competing demands; takes calculated risks, asks for and offers help when needed; exercises discretion and sound judgment; is tactful and responsible for own actions.
  
• Demonstrates excellent executive presence and bearing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• Certified Research Administrator
• Expert knowledge of 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.