Director, Programs

Title: Director, Sponsored Programs

Job Number:

Category: Research

Location: Worcester, MA

Shift: Day

Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Business Unit: UMass Chan Medical School

Department: School - GCA-Office of Sponsored Programs - W407013

Job Type: Full-Time

Num. Openings: 1

Post Date: Nov. 17, 2025

Work Location: Hybrid

Salary Minimum: USD $/Yr.

Salary Maximum: USD $/Yr.

Under the direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Grants & Contracts Administration (GCA), the Director, Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will oversee operational and strategic functions of the sponsored program services for the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMass Chan Medical School). This role serves as a Campus official authorized to sign proposals, agreements and contracts for extramural sponsored research.

The Director will develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with extramural sponsors, including federal and state agencies, non‑profit foundations and industry sponsors. The Director will manage day-to-day operations while providing leadership, guidance and support to staff to ensure compliance with institutional policies, federal and state regulations and sponsor guidelines.

• Lead and oversee all operational aspects of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) including resource management, process improvement, and workflow optimization.
• Manage the activities of the Office of Sponsored Programs staff including recruitment, orientation, training, performance management and termination.
• Serve as an institutional official authorized to sign proposals, agreements and contracts for extramural sponsored research.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with institutional stakeholders, funding agencies, non‑profit foundations, and industry sponsors.
• Oversee and actively engage in the negotiation, review and approval of grant applications, awards, and industry sponsored research. Ensure compliance with institution policies, federal and state regulations, and sponsor guidelines.
• Manage the institution’s grant proposal and award system; provide oversight of training program for electronic proposal system and oversee the accuracy of the data used for generation and distribution of reports to senior management.
• Collaborate with department leadership in the development and maintenance of institutional policies and procedures regarding research administration.
• Provide support and guidance as an institutional resource in the interpretation and dissemination regarding compliance with federal and state regulations, institutional policy and sponsor guidelines. Participate in implementation and dissemination of updates and changes.
• Direct and oversee OSP non‑financial, post‑award compliance with negotiated project terms, project reporting.
• Participate in campus meetings with relevant offices responsible for administration, finance, legal, technology management, information technology and the library to assess and develop required administrative infrastructure to support sponsored programs related work.
• Actively engage in development and delivery of training materials on a variety of research administration and electronic grant submission topics for faculty and staff.
• Oversee and coordinate the documentation of compliance with required institutional approvals by COI, IACUC, IBC, IRB, and Foreign Project registration.
• Advocate for faculty and the institution with extramural sponsors, peer institutions and other internal departments to fulfill requirements of faculty and sponsors while maintaining compliance with university policy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.
• 10 years of demonstrated administrative responsibility in Pre‑Award Research Administration or a closely related field, with prior management and leadership experience in a large complex environment.
• High‑level communication skills, both oral and written, including presentations, proposals, reports and memoranda, both technical and confidential.
• Ability to provide information to an adverse audience, including all levels of the organization.
• Experienc…