Under the general direction and supervision of the Vice President, Administrative Services & CFO, the Administrative Director, Grants & Sponsored Projects, is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic planning, and operational oversight of the institution’s grants and sponsored research administration. This includes managing pre-award and post-award processes, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements, including federal, state, and institutional regulations, and fostering strong relationships with faculty, funding agencies, and internal stakeholders.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and implement policies and procedures that align with institutional goals and regulatory requirements.
• Provide strategic direction and leadership to the Office of Sponsored Programs and related administrative teams.
• Serve as the primary advisor to institutional leadership on all matters related to grants, contracts, and sponsored projects.
• Conduct research to identify funding opportunities that align with the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Maintain a database of potential and current funding sources (private, public, government, etc.).
• Stay up-to-date on the latest grant trends, guidelines, and regulations.

Pre-Award Administration

• Assist with complex, multi-year budgets for grants, including federal, state, and industry-sponsored projects
• Apply appropriate fringe benefits and indirect funds and ensure compliance with grant and sponsor, and college guidelines
• Advise faculty and others on grant and sponsor instructions related to application preparation, allowable expenses, and budget restrictions
• Work with external collaborators to obtain budget documents for subawards and consultants
• Coordinate proposal submissions through systems, ensuring that all documents meet grant and sponsor guidelines and deadlines
• Oversee and manage the proposal development process, including budget creation, institutional review, and submission.
• Work closely with faculty and departmental staff to support competitive grant applications.
• Review funding opportunity announcements to ensure institutional eligibility and compliance.

Post-Award Administration

• Examine award terms and conditions, review with PIs, and ensure the project complies with sponsor requirements throughout its lifecycle
• Prepare monthly financial reports for PIs, provide expenditure forecasts, and maintain accounting records for all awards
• Maintain documentation in accordance with sponsor and university retention policies and recommend process improvements to ensure compliance
• Ensure accurate and compliant award setup, financial tracking, and reporting.
• Collaborate with finance and accounting to manage budgets, expenditures, and audit readiness.
• Monitor subawards, cost-sharing obligations, and effort reporting
• Prepare and submit appropriate forms to adjust funding, ensuring compliance with payroll deadlines

Close Out Administration

• Complete and submit all necessary financial, property, and invention reports; oversee the project close-out process
• Manage all grant and sponsor interactions concerning no-cost extensions, carryforwards, budget adjustments, and renewals

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with federal (e.g., DHHS, NSF, DOEd.), state, and private sponsor regulations.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulations such as Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), FAR, and agency-specific guidelines.
• Lead independent grant/sponsored programs audits, internal audits, and coordinate with external auditors as needed.
• Collaborate with the finance team to ensure that grants are allocated and expended according to funder guidelines.
• Monitor the use of grant funds to avoid overspending or misuse.
• Assist in the preparation of financial reports for internal and external stakeholders

Communication & Collaboration

• Serve as the primary point of contact for grant-related inquiries, both internally and externally.
• Build and maintain relationships with funding agencies, including government agencies, foundations, and corporate donors.
• Participate in meetings with program directors and staff to ensure all grant requirements are being met.

Training & Capacity Building

• Develop and deliver training for faculty and staff on grant policies, procedures, and systems.
• Promote best practices in research administration and continuous process improvement.

Team Management

• Supervise a team of grants specialists, coordinators, and administrative assistants.
• Hire, train, mentor, and evaluate staff performance. Foster a collaborative, service-oriented team culture

Other Duties:

• Perform other administrative tasks related to grant management as required. Participate in special projects or initiatives as assigned.

Working Conditions:

• Occasional travel to attend professional meetings and training.
• May require extended hours during grant deadlines or audit periods

Promote a Culture of Belonging

Support and promote an environment of belonging where all students, faculty members, and college employees feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to contribute. Foster a community where each individual and their varied perspectives enrich the educational experience and create a safe and respectful environment. Support the College’s policies and programming related to access, fair employment, and equal opportunities for all

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or related field.
2. Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in grants and sponsored research administration.
3. Strong knowledge of federal funding agencies and compliance requirements.
4. Experience with grant management systems (e.g., Cayuse, InfoEd, Banner, Workday).
5. Excellent organizational, leadership, and communication skills.

Salary

$64,968 per year

Benefits

SCC BEN Dollars – Eligible Employees: Full-time status. Regular employees with an FTE of 0.75 or greater will be eligible for SCC Ben Dollars. All employees will be required to elect a health insurance option. If the cost of insurance coverage selected by an employee exceeds the SCC Ben Dollars available, all additional costs will be withheld from the employee’s paycheck. Any SCC Ben Dollars that the employee does not elect to use for the purchase of dependent health and dental insurance will be paid to the employee in cash at $0.93 per $1.00 benefit dollar. All amounts paid are subject to withholding for income and employment taxes, but not subject to the College’s contribution toward the Retirement Savings Plan – Group Retirement Account (GRA).

Schedule

Normal work hours for this position are scheduled by the College between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, requiring a minimum of a 40-hour workweek. Special projects, campus events, assignments, and periodic increases in workload may require an increase in work hours on evenings or weekends. This is a full-time regular position based on a 260-day work calendar.

Requirements

• Start Date: No Start Date
• Education: Bachelor's Degree Required
• Work Experience: 4 - 6 years
• Part/Full Time: Full-Time

Contact / Additional Information

Link to apply: https://southeast.peopleadmin.com/postings/11247 

If accommodation or assistance is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at 402-437-2553.