Job Details

Senior Director of Sponsored Projects Office

Position Number: 7122890
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Position Type: Sponsored Programs, Grants, and Contracts

Senior Director of Sponsored Projects Office

Position Title:
Senior Director of Sponsored Projects Office

Position Type:
Regular

Hiring Range:

$144,500 - $176,063 / annual; Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role and internal equity

Pay Frequency:
Annual
I. Primary Purpose

The Senior Director's primary charge is to promote research and grant activity. The Sr. Director provides the leadership and strategic vision for positioning the Sponsored Projects Office as a campus leader in creating a robust research infrastructure and fostering a thriving community of scholars that is actively engaged in projects supported by external sponsors. The Sr. Director is responsible for administrative oversight of all pre- and post-award functions of the Sponsored Projects Office. The Sr. Director is also responsible for ensuring that all pre- and post-award functions are in compliance with all relevant regulations and laws and serving as an institutional liaison with federal and non-federal sponsors. The Sr. Director is regularly consulted by Deans and senior management on issues ranging from research expenditures, indirect costs, and external partnerships. The Sr. Director routinely makes decisions on behalf of the University involving expenditures of federal dollars, and offers guidance and instruction to individual faculty overseeing external awards.

II. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Oversee research and grant activity
Administration of all SPO functions
Proposal preparation and award negotiations for major projects
Compliance as related to SPO functions
Staff supervision
Parameters of external partnerships including IP and IDC structure.
Special projects

III. Specific Responsibilities

Oversee research and grant activity

Lead, develop and implement strategic, innovative programs and strategies for increasing the external funding base, fostering a community of scholars actively engaged in research and grant activity, presenting workshops for faculty and staff on grant processes, and sustaining a robust SPO infrastructure
Present campus programs on grant opportunities and processes with SPO staff
Advocate for internal and external support for research, scholarship and creative activity
Execute, develop and implement short and long range strategic plans to position the Sponsored Projects Office as a campus leader in creating a robust research infrastructure
Develops long-term strategic alliances and partnerships to measurably improve the University's research infrastructure
Collaborates with staff from Human Resources, General Counsel, University Finance Office, Information Services, the College and schools, centers of distinction, and administrative units to conduct analyses and develop recommendations to improve the integration of processes and practices associated with award management issues in order to strengthen the overall research infrastructure
Conducts analyses, researches issues, and prepares reports to collaborate closely with individuals in Development to be sure funds are appropriately counted
Oversee the revision and maintenance of a robust, user-friendly SPO website
Chair an internal SPO Advisory Board
Attend and present at professional conferences and workshops to help stay up to date with federal regulations and legislation affecting grant awards
Advise the Associate Provost for Research with analysis on research activities and allocation of resources
Oversee two Faculty Associates charged with enhancing overall SPO support to differing units.

Administration of all SPO functions

Lead SPO staff to facilitate the development of multi-component proposals, including the development of complex budgets, review of agency guidelines, and submission of proposals and other required submission materials
Oversee professional, high quality services are provided in the development, preparation and submission of external grant and contract proposals, award negotiation, and post-award set-up, accounting, close-out and audits.
Oversee internal standard operating procedures are carefully documented, regularly updated, and routinely followed in SPO functions

Proposal preparation and award negotiations for major projects

Acts as the lead SPO staff member on the preparation and submission of major projects
Negotiates terms and conditions for awards and contracts, including interfacing with CFR (Code of Federal Regulation)
Lead contract discussions around MOUs, NDAs, IP ownership, unique IDC structures and distributions, and logistical considerations of where and how research will be executed with the ever-increasing number of external partnerships under SPO

Compliance as related to SPO functions

Stay up to date with OMB circulars as well as federal/state/local government award policies and legislative mandates
Update standard operating procedures and, as needed, develop new procedures to ensure SCU is in compliance with all sponsor terms and conditions, university and campus policies, applicable federal, state and local regulations and requirements
Develop and implement any new policies needed for compliance when working with all appropriate university governance structures
Communicate compliance information to awardees as needed
Work with the Director of Research Compliance and Integrity to ensure SPO is in compliance as required by all relevant regulations and laws

Staff supervision

Directly supervise Pre-award Specialist and Accountants
Provide cross-training opportunities
Develop and implement professional development plans for all staff members
Overseeing Faculty Associates
Provides leadership, strategy, and vision to a diverse team of staff involved in the review, approval, negotiation, and administration of research, educational, and public service proposals, grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and sub-awards and may include ancillary research agreements

Parameters of external partnerships including IP and IDC structure.

Negotiating institutional IDC rates with Department of Health and Human Resources;
Increasing partnerships and training opportunities with other institutes of higher ed (particularly Jesuit institutions);
Grant writing to increase institutional capacity for research infrastructure;
Reviewing and updating research policies and procedures;
Codifying policies, procedures, and practices for industry research partnerships.

Special projects

Prepare and lead negotiations with indirect cost rate proposal preparation every three years
Other projects as assigned

IV. Qualifications

Master's degree required. Doctorate degree preferred.
12 - 15 years experience in research and sponsored projects administration.
At least five years of experience in contract and award negotiations.
Experience in staff supervision.
Demonstrated knowledge of a wide array of funding agency policies and federal regulations related to research/sponsored projects administration.
Demonstrated knowledge of policies and procedures relating to electronic research administration, including Grants.gov, FastLane and eCommons.
A record of significant leadership experience in research and administrative operation.
Evidence of strong communication skills (writing, editorial, interpersonal skills).
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse disciplines and at varying organizational levels.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively under the pressure of externally determined deadlines and shifting priorities.
Strong organizational skills with ability to handle multiple tasks, work independently and be detail-oriented.
Demonstrated ability to complete projects from inception to implementation.
Professional service-oriented demeanor.
Understand and support the values and ideals of Jesuit education.

V. Physical Demands

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
May be required to attend conference and training sessions within Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors or suppliers.

VI. Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee

encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Typical office environment.
Mostly an indoor office environment with windows.
Offices with frequent interruptions.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/.

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please visit the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at hraccommodations@scu.edu or by phone at (408)554-5750. Please note: This contact information is intended for accommodation requests only. Resumes or inquiries about application status sent to this inbox will not be reviewed or forwarded. For resumes or questions regarding application status, please contact hrservicedesk@scu.edu.

To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/scu/scu/job/Santa-Clara-CA/Senior-Director-of-Sponsored-Projects-Office_R7448