Assistant Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation - Programs Administration

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation - Sponsored Programs Administration Overview

This position will be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement but will require weekly presence on campus in Urbana–Champaign.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

The University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign is seeking a visionary leader to serve as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation (AVCRI), Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) – a vital role at a world‑class research institution with over $750 million in annual research expenditures (FY 24). The AVCRI will lead SPA, a unit whose mission is to support thousands of externally sponsored research projects that improve our state, nation, and world.

In this role, you’ll lead a team responsible for every phase of the sponsored research lifecycle – from strategic proposal development to award negotiation, compliance management, and financial stewardship. Last year alone, SPA processed over 3,200 proposals and managed nearly 5,300 awards. The SPA team is not only highly skilled and committed to its mission, it’s also nationally known for innovating in the face of change, including expanding global collaborations, increasing regulatory demands, and leading in the development of AI‑powered tools.

If you’re equipped to build on that track record by leading a transformative office that sits at the intersection of strategy, policy, and innovation, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact on the Illinois research enterprise.

Responsible for the comprehensive administration and compliance risk mitigation of the externally sponsored portfolio overseeing the entire sponsored project lifecycle from administrative proposal review and submission through award closeout. In all responsibilities, establish and maintain a positive working environment that encourages productivity and retention of all SPA staff, including opportunities for professional development.

• Independently manage the activities of Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), a service unit under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (OVCRI), with responsibility for supporting faculty and staff in pursuing and conducting sponsored research and other sponsored activity across the campus. Direct the SPA staff dedicated to administering sponsored project funding for research, instruction, and outreach and responsible for reviewing and authorizing proposals, negotiating contracts and setting up awards, managing expenditures and accounts receivables, and monitoring compliance.
  
  Work closely with the appropriate authorities on institutional or project‑specific audits and contribute to campus‑ and institution‑wide reviews and audits of operations supporting or impacting sponsored research. Establish policies and procedures to maximize the opportunities for support of faculty research and to create an environment conducive to such scholarship. Assist the institution with managing financial and other compliance risks associated with sponsored programs and maintaining the fiscal vitality and reputation of the university, working closely with members of the senior administration, deans, college research officers, and faculty.
  
  Represent the interests of the faculty, staff and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for defining, developing, and implementing institutional business operations to effectively encourage and support sponsored activity.
• Provide continuous innovation to better support the research enterprise and leverage new tools and information technology to increase efficiency of service across the sponsored project lifecycle. Maintain executive oversight of the research administrative information systems by providing operational oversight of the institution‑ and enterprise‑wide software systems and electronic research administrative tools. Continuously look to reduce the faculty and staff administrative burden while maintaining institutional compliance.
  
  Establish goals, develop performance metrics, and implement programs to provide streamlined and effective administrative…