Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Programs and Research

Overview

Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Programs and Research - (230000PN)

Job Summary

Towson University (TU) is one of the nation’s top 100 public universities. Located north of Baltimore, TU currently enrolls more than 19,000 students and is the second-largest university in the prestigious University System of Maryland. Towson University values diversity and fosters a climate that is grounded in respect and inclusion to cultivate the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for the Office of Sponsored Programs & Research (OSPR) will lead all aspects of Towson University’s (TU) sponsored programs activity with a portfolio of over 40 million dollars and over 10 million dollars in annual research expenditures. 

Responsibilities and Duties

Reporting to the Associate Provost for Research, OSPR includes pre-award, post-award financial, and research compliance. OSPR staff work collaboratively with TU faculty members to submit proposals and administer awards from federal & state agencies and foundations, corporations, and other outside organizations. The OSPR ensures that TU is compliant with sponsor terms and conditions, university and campus policies, and federal regulations and requirements.

• Oversees all activities related to sponsored projects through three teams: a pre-award team with delegated authority to submit proposals, negotiate agreements, and accept extramural funding; a post-award team that sets up awards, issues sub-awards; and oversees the financial management of awards through project close-out; and a compliance area that supports the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and provides campus leadership in other compliance areas through developing and implementing policies, procedures, and processes. 
• Recruits and leads OSPR team members, mentoring a team dedicated to supporting and encouraging faculty members in the successful application to and responsible administration of sponsored projects.
• Stewards a budget that includes state-side operating funds, indirect cost recoveries, and faculty development resources. Effectively utilizes resources to develop and implement programs that support and enhance investigator success as well as to ensure smooth operations and professional development opportunities for staff.
• Collaborates and interacts with diverse stakeholders, including both faculty and staff. Participates in research administration groups both in the USM system and national organizations.
• Communicates with and assists faculty in identifying and submitting grant applications and or contract proposals and ensures timely submissions.
• Ensures compliance with financial management requirements. Oversees unit interaction with auditors.
• Serves as campus expert for policies and procedures relating to sponsored projects issues and concerns. Develops and implements changes to existing processes to ensure compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Promotes review and improvement of the administrative procedures governing sponsored research to enhance the service that is provided to principal investigators and to ensure the effective operation of the unit.
• Participates in professional development by attending annual meetings of professional organizations (like NCURA, and SRA) and encourages staff to do the same.

Telework may be available for this position up to two days per week following the completion of 90 days of service in good standing.

Qualifications and Skills

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of ten years of research administration experience including supervisory experience.
• The ability to lead and mentor a team dedicated to supporting faculty through excellence in research administration.
• Experience and expertise in multiple research administration areas including an in-depth knowledge of federal requirements for research administration.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills. 
• Ability to balance sponsor requirements and campus and system-wide policies and procedures to create a facilitative research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Arts degree
• Certified Research Administrator or demonstrated advanced research administration experience.

Salary and Benefits

Targeted Hiring Range is $145,000 - $150,000 and full University benefits that include 22 days of annual leave, up to 15 holidays, personal and sick days; excellent health, life, and retirement plans; and tuition remission. To learn more about our benefits, please click here. TU also offers a variety of great perks and discounts, which can be found here.

If you are motivated, innovative and team-oriented, we would love to hear from you.  

For consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume with your online application by November 26, 2023. Please apply by using the link provided with this ad, or click here. 

The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors has been our top priority and the focus of every one of our decisions since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the University System of Maryland (USM) has strongly encouraged full COVID vaccination and up-to-date booster shots (when eligible) for all faculty, staff, and students at all schools in the USM as both a reasonable and necessary means of protecting our health and safety.