Executive Director, Office of Sponsored Programs

Overview

The Executive Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will develop and oversee a team and operating structure that ensures the efficient and effective delivery of funded program support services with duties such as approving research budgets and collaborative arrangements, negotiating and developing awards and contracts, maintaining appropriate compliance with government regulations in proposal submissions and award processing, and facilitating and managing other steps in the research and funded program development process. They will be responsible for support of proposal development, efficient and careful proposal processing, contract negotiation, and management of compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Research Operations, the Executive Director, OSP is a senior administrative officer at CMU and will promote and support excellence of research and other sponsored programs across the University. The Exec Director, OSP will have signature authority for the majority of agreements related to sponsored projects at the university and will be a representative CMU to government, industrial, and foundation sponsors at all levels in proposal, pre-award, and compliance. The primary role of the Exec Director will be to work with peers in the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC), Center for Technology Transfer and Enterprise Creation (CTTEC) and the Office of Research Systems and Operations (ORSO) and the Office of General Counsel (OGC) to develop, refine and manage the execution of processes and systems needed to ensure the efficient negotiation and execution of agreements that support the research and education mission of the university.


Essential Responsibilities:
•Leading and managing staff and operations in the Office of Sponsored programs who are responsible for the essential functions of the Office, such as proposal preparation and review, agreement negotiation and award processing, including the development of appropriate metrics that enable the monitoring and adjustment of workload across the organization and the flow of work through the organization, which will be regularly reviewed and reported to the AVP of Research Operations.
• Direct involvement and participation in negotiation/navigation of complex contractual and compliance issues that arise from sponsored programs and sponsored program proposals and agreements.
• In partnership with relevant peers, development and improvement of processes and systems to support the university in the efficient and effective submission of proposals and execution and processing of contractual agreements.
•Regular monitoring of relevant regulations and compliance requirements via attendance and presentation at relevant meetings and conferences, participation in relevant professional societies (e.g. NCURA, COGR, UIDP etc.)
 

Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Master’s degree
Experience: 5+ years of relevant work experience in a sponsored program contracting and/or compliance function; advanced leadership skills, oral and written communication skills and advanced strategic management and planning skills.
Licenses or certifications: NA


Preferred Qualifications:
Education: J.D. or Ph.D.
Experience: 10+ years of relevant work experience; 5+ years of personnel management
Licenses or certifications: Certified Research Administrator (CRA)