Assistant Director, JHU Research Administration

We are seeking an Assistant Director, JHU Assistant Director who will support the Associate Vice Provost and Associate Directors in training, directing, and managing/supervising a team of grants and/or contracts associates and senior specialists. The AD will have signature authority for certain documents and will independently review, negotiate, and sign applications and awards for assigned departments and foundation awards to ensure adherence to university policies.

The Assistant Director will provide advice and counsel to faculty and staff, negotiate favorable grant and contract terms and conditions with domestic and foreign sponsors, and draft replacement language where necessary. Additionally, this role will submit proposals, assist with resolving issues, and serve as a liaison to funding agencies for problem resolution and other post-award matters. The incumbent will understand the Responsible Conduct of Research, identify and address non-compliance issues, and serve on University or School committees. They will also participate in long-range special projects and translate new and revised regulatory language into practice by writing policies, procedures, and boilerplate language.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Serving in a leadership capacity, the Assistant Director shall continuously seek opportunities to support faculty in managing their sponsored projects. Responsibilities include,
• Acting as office liaison to ensure effective performance and integration of the office regarding the University's award compliance, information technology, central technology transfer, and post-award budget offices.
• Monitoring team workload and aiding in triage and daily work checks.
• Providing problem resolution with respect to grant and contract proposals and awards.
• Serving as a resource for sponsored projects questions, database access, and reviews, including internal systems design and workflow.
• Serving in the capacity of the Associate Vice Provost for Research Administration as required.

In partnership with JHURA's Assistant and Associate Director teams, the Assistant Director will be responsible for,

• Managing and overseeing continuous quality improvements in accordance with regulatory and accreditation standards for JHURA, including data collection, quality analysis, performance metrics tracking, and development and dissemination of quality control measures and standard operating procedures.
• Ensuring that effective ongoing training programs are in place for all key positions and processes supporting research administration across the University.
• Communicating with faculty and staff to provide instruction, assistance, and advice on grant application preparation and administration, to request corrections, and to resolve discrepancies.
• Negotiating favorable grant and contract terms and conditions with domestic and foreign sponsors, drafting replacement language where needed, and serving as a liaison to funding agencies for problem resolution and other post-award matters.
• Remaining informed about events, regulations, and changes that affect sponsored projects, interpreting guidelines, and applying them to specific applications, awards, and issues.

Additional

• The Assistant Director will assist faculty and staff with access and use of grant-related electronic submission platforms and databases, including Fibi, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons.
• The incumbent will conduct specialized training courses for departments as needed and assist the Associate Director of Grants and Workflow with training, direction, and management of the Grants and Workflow Team.
• These responsibilities include assisting with daily questions, workload assignments, and training, as well as consistent communication with departments and other central offices.
• This role also includes elevating customer service and collaborating with JHURA Assistant Directors for process improvement and overall office performance.

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Five years of related experience.

• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be able to handle ambiguity and exercise judgment.
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must have the ability to operate a computer and be familiar with Microsoft Office, online web-based systems, printers, scanners, and copiers.
• Work experience should demonstrate the ability to conceptualize how to find solutions and reach consensus with the ability to complete complex tasks efficiently.
• Must be detail-oriented, well-organized, and able to handle multiple projects simultaneously while operating under deadlines.
• Experience with SAP, Fibi, Power BI, and Lean Six Sigma is a plus.
• Must have specialized experience in grant administration, contracts and grants administration, a working knowledge of the Uniform Guidance, sponsor policy, and the Federal Acquisition Regulations, and an understanding of compliance issues related to sponsored research.

Classified Title: Sr. Contracts Associate 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Assistant Director, JHU Research Administration   
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PF  
Starting Salary Range: $85,500 - $149,800 Annually (Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm 
Exempt Status: Exempt 
Location: Remote 
Department name: Research Administration Ofc of  
Personnel area: University Administration