Executive Director, Research Administration; Pre-Award

Position: Executive Director, Research Administration (Pre-Award)
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The Office of Research Administration (ORA) has a great job opportunity for an Executive Director of Research Administration to work at the University of Miami. The Executive Director, Research Administration (Pre-Award) for the Office of Research Administration provides strategic and administrative oversight for the University's research mission. The Executive Director, Pre-Award is responsible for all proposal submissions and administrative actions for sponsored program funding prior to award acceptance.

Moreover, the Executive Director, Pre-Award evaluates, improves, and monitors the grant and research administration processes and policies to ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS

• Leads the teams responsible for the review, approval and submission of proposals for sponsored awards.
• Acts as liaison to external sources and government agencies to identify and retain funding opportunities.
• Serves as the Authorized Organization Official (AOR) for sponsor systems proposal submissions and other pre-award actions.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with the Office of General Counsel, Office of Tech Transfers, Business Services in addition to local departmental leadership.
• Recruits, trains, mentors, and develops talent and prepares performance reports.
• Recognizes and removes obstacles to organizational effectiveness.
• Evaluates, develops and implements procedures to maximize efficiency, ensure adequate internal controls and improve the faculty experience.
• Monitors external regulatory trends and implements changes by training staff appropriately.
• Drafts and updates policies related to research administration.
• Collaborates with staff and other departments to set clear priorities and develop new procedures to further the University's research goals and objectives.
• Partners with academic and departmental leadership, and grant/contract staff to facilitate transparent and accountable research administration organization in support of principal investigators and the University's research mission.
• Provides grants management expertise for the University regarding 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations) in relation to pre-award and training operations.
• Coordinates documentation, approval processes, record keeping, data quality assurance, reporting, and liaison activities within the University of Miami (UM) and outside awarding agencies.
• Directs, reviews, and submits proposals, and coordinates the pre-award activities for Federal agencies, industry and private foundations for support of University sponsored programs.
• Monitors for compliance with agency and UM requirements for all pre-award activities.
• Ensures ORA Pre-Award unit performance to ensure compliance with established Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Provides training and support to faculty and administration regarding sponsored requirements and best practices.
• Maintains effective relationships with Federal representatives; facilitate communication and effective management of University sponsored awards.
• Provides information to sponsors and UM personnel in a prompt, accurate and cordial fashion.
• Assesses the regulatory impact on internal business processes.
• Accomplishes special projects in support of the Office of Research Administration
• Seeks ways to improve and enhance service delivery.
• Maintains the commitment to continuous evaluation and assessment of organizational effectiveness.
• Supervises Associate Directors and ORA staff to accomplish responsibilities listed above.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Bachelor's degree in relevant field is required, Master's degree in Law, Business, or Public Administration is highly preferred.

Certification and Licensing:

Certified Research Professional (CRA) and Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA) preferred

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of relevant experience. Prior experience managing staff in a research administration setting. High preference of proven customer service orientation. Any appropriate combination of relevant education, experience and/or certifications may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes:

• Thorough knowledge of sponsored program regulations; specific areas of expertise in proposal preparation, contracting accounting, and finance principles.
• Demonstrated leadership, as a leader and manager, in a research administration setting.
• Proficient with research and grant administration software as well as Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated expertise in federal web-based grants management systems and enterprise financial systems.
• Excellent…