Director, Research Administration

Overview

Come join the team running one of the top communication research and graduate programs in the world in the position of Director, Research Administration. The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (CJC) is dedicated to excellence in its research and graduate programs that are situated in an ideal setting within a top-6 ranked public research university. Proud of its award-winning student body and faculty, the CJC Division of Graduate Studies and Research (GSRD) boasts the diversity made possible by one of the largest enrollments in the country. More than 500 students engage in graduate and advanced studies, including more than 60 doctoral students. More than 50 graduate faculty members in the college teach, conduct research, and provide service.

Specific Duties Include:

Training and Mentoring

• Provides leadership and direction to improve the scholarly activity and grant productivity in the college.
• Advises and educates faculty and graduate students in identifying viable grant opportunities, leveraging seed fund projects to win external support, grant preparation, and developing and keeping up their bios.
• Mentors faculty and graduate students in proposal writing, including individual meetings and workshops/group events.
• Organizes and implements annual CJC research symposium for graduate students.

 Pre-award Fiscal Administration and Supervision

• Responsible for advising faculty in identifying, analyzing, and developing viable funding sources through federal, state, and private sector organizations/agencies suitable for their research agendas, including federal agencies and mechanisms (e.g., NIH R01, R21, U01; NSF CAREER)
• Advises PIs on the most effective way to achieve quality proposals and coordinates a timely submission process, ensuring appropriate approvals.
• Effectively equips, trains and leads research staff to support and coordinate all aspects of pre-award administration for CJC faculty and their collaborators within the college, university and external institutions.
• Ensures staff are well-trained to develop budgets for each proposal that accurately reflect the appropriate and allowable costs to deliver proposed aims in consultation with the faculty investigator.
• Reviews proposals for compliance with sponsor and University terms and rules, and reviews, negotiation and acceptance of resulting grant awards.
• Participates in the negotiation with grant and contracting officers to substantiate budget requests and to secure terms and conditions, which are consistent with policy.
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 Post-award Fiscal Administration and Supervision

• Interprets regulations and guidelines of multiple programs’ funding with complex and broad guidelines for spending.
• Participates in the negotiation with grant and contracting officers to substantiate budget requests and to secure terms and conditions consistent with policy.
• Confers with investigators and campus administrators to ensure that changes or corrections to awards are made as needed.
• Ensures all new sponsored awards and contracts are appropriately set up in UFIRST and released in myUFL for expenditure and use.
• Responsible for auditing grant account reconciliations for the college on a monthly basis to assure accuracy and compliance with CJC and University policies.
• Ensures effort reporting is effectively tracked and documented for all sponsored research awards.
• Advises faculty and center directors on long-term financial viability of department/centers given multiple grants and contracts from various sources with differing project end dates.
• In the event of a sponsored award(s) review or audit, the Director would work with the primary investigator, DSP, and C&G to supply requested documentation.
• Ensures the financial management of sponsored research awards is well-supported and compliant throughout the college. This includes review and approval of all financial transactions directly charged to sponsored awards to ensure compliance with cost principles as defined in the Uniform Guidance and individual award agreements.
• On a monthly basis, the Director is responsible for ensuring staff reviews the reconciled ledgers of each sponsored award under their supervision with the responsible faculty member to confirm that expenditures are allowable, allocable, consistently treated, necessary and reasonable.

 Program Administration

• Via consultative process, develops and revises as necessary long-term strategic plan for CJC research grant activity.
• Accurately and effectively reports data on behalf of the college for both internal and external constituents. This requires the ability to access, refine, interpret and report the data for broader publics, in addition to ensuring data entered into UF systems is accurate and consistent.
• Produces annual report and periodic reports of CJC research and grant productivity.
• Works with dean and associate dean to set annual CJC grant productivity goals and tracks progress.
• Consults with faculty, students and staff to avoid or resolve conflicts of interest related to research and grant funding.
• As needed, serves as a liaison and CJC advocate to UF’s DSP, C&G and Enterprise Reporting Teams to provide thoughtful, informed and productive feedback for future application enhancements to improve workflow and data analytics.
• Coordinates with CJC communication team to promote college grant and research activity.

The College of Journalism and Communications (www.jou.ufl.edu) offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees and certificates, both online and on campus. CJC students have the opportunity to gain practical experience in the Innovation News Center, which generates content across multiple platforms, and The Agency, an integrated strategic communication and consumer research agency focused on marketing to young adults. The College includes seven broadcast and digital media properties, the Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information and the nation’s only STEM Translational Communication Center and Center for Public Interest Communications.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The College of Journalism and Communications respects and recognizes activities that are consonant with our mission. We, are committed to a diverse and inclusive environment, preeminent scholarship, cross-disciplinary research and teaching, superior skills development, and collaboration spanning the science and practice of communication to produce significant societal impact on a local, state and global scale.

The City of Gainesville

Gainesville (http://cityofgainesville.org) is home to Florida's largest and oldest university, and so is one of the state's centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. The University of Florida and UF Health Shands Hospital are the leading employers in Gainesville and provide jobs for many residents of surrounding counties. Gainesville is also the largest city in Alachua County and is the county seat, with approximately 269,000 residents county-wide. It serves as the cultural, educational and commercial center for the north central Florida region. The city provides a full range of municipal services, including cultural and nature services and necessary administrative services to support these activities. Additionally, the city owns a regional transit system, a regional airport, and a 72-par championship golf course. Known for its preservation of historic buildings and the beauty of its natural surroundings, Gainesville's numerous parks, museums and lakes provide entertainment to thousands of visitors. Because of its beautiful landscape and urban "forest," Gainesville is one of the most attractive cities in Florida. The city is in a central location to both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, providing easy access within a day’s drive to beaches, nature preserves, and water-based activities. Explore Gainesville in 60 Seconds.

EXPECTED SALARY:       

$90,000 - $110,000; commensurate with qualifications and experience.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:       

• Master’s degree in an appropriate area and six years of relevant experience; or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area and eight years of relevant experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:                 

• Exceptional verbal, interpersonal, communication, writing, research and editorial skills.

Desired:

• CRA certification

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:           

Applicants must upload a copy of the following documents to be considered for this position:

• Cover Letter or Letter of Interest
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• List of Three Professional References

 Application must be submitted by July 29, 2021 at 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

For details and to apply, visit https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/517320/director-research-administration

The College of Journalism and Communications (www.jou.ufl.edu) offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees and certificates, both online and on campus. CJC students have the opportunity to gain practical experience in the Innovation News Center, which generates content across multiple platforms, and The Agency, an integrated strategic communication and consumer research agency focused on marketing to young adults. The College includes seven broadcast and digital media properties, the Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information and the nation’s only STEM Translational Communication Center and Center for Public Interest Communications.

The College of Journalism and Communications and WUFT/WRUF understands the importance of diversity as a contribution to the industries of journalism and communication in our increasingly multicultural nation and globalized marketplace. We value diversity and the development of competence in intercultural communication and behavior for all who are a part of our College, industry and society. We are committed to incorporating diversity and inclusiveness in our faculty, staff, students, curriculum, research, immersion properties and culture.