Director, Sponsored Programs Administration & Research Compliance - 999119

Title: Director, Sponsored Programs Administration & Research Compliance - 999119

Position Number: 999119

Unit/Department: Office of Sponsored Programs Administration & Research Compliance (SPARC)

FTE: Full-time

Department Summary:

The Office of Sponsored Programs Administration & Research Compliance (SPARC) plays an important role at Drake University, providing our faculty, staff, and students with comprehensive guidance and support as they pursue and conduct research and scholarly activities.

SPARC works collaboratively with Drake University's research community and provides the highest-quality customer service and technical expertise in five primary areas: Pre-Award, Post-Award, Research Compliance, Technology Transfer, and Training.

To learn more about SPARC, visit:

Job Summary:

The Director will be an innovative, forward-thinking leader who can bring their ideas and perspectives to this vital office. Reporting to the Deputy Provost of Academic Affairs, the SPARC Director is responsible for directing the University's efforts in grant development and procurement, grant management and oversight, and strategic planning and partnerships.

Candidates holding tenured faculty positions are encouraged to apply. Consideration for tenure and dual appointment within one of Drake University's academic units will be reviewed by the subject academic unit and the Provost consistent with the institution's needs and the qualifications of the candidate.

The search committee is particularly interested in candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.

Access a detailed position profile here.

Minimum Qualifications:

Our new Director will have:

* A Master's degree.

* At least three years of experience in grant management, finance, clinical research, project management, or other relevant leadership or academic functions.

* Demonstrated collaborative spirit and ability to work with multiple stakeholders.

* Demonstrated track record of organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to meet deadlines.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

* The Director will have excellent organizational skills and an eye for innovation and process-improvement.

* The Director will possess well-developed communication skills and the ability to support and collaborate with research faculty, grant managers, and academic leaders. Prior experience directly supervising staff and mentoring would be very beneficial.

* The Director should possess a thorough understanding of current public policy issues in the research arena.

* Experience with the grant cycle, research compliance, training, and higher education is strongly preferred. Experience negotiating awards and industry contracts is also strongly preferred.

* The successful candidate will possess knowledge-or express the ability and interest to gain such knowledge-of federal regulations and OMB Uniform Guidance relevant to university sponsored programs. The Director will also be effective in explaining regulations and applicable guidance to others.

* We are interested in reviewing a wide range of applications, including candidates who display high potential for success in this role, even if they may not already possess all the desired qualifications identified here.

Don't meet every item on the list? That's okay. We encourage you to apply if you have relevant experience and a strong desire to gain additional experience and skills needed to be successful in this role.

Core Responsibilities:

20% - Lead, design and oversee the execution of a university-wide public and private grants program in keeping with the needs, priorities, and competencies of the institution and its faculty and staff. Efforts range from finding grant sources and informing appropriate individuals; collaborating on and overseeing the development and writing processes; and assisting with final grant production, presentation, approval. Work closely with College Dean's in developing college wide extramural expectations. - (Essential)

15% - Provide oversight and faculty and staff support in grant and sponsored program activities to include contract and subcontract preparation, negotiation, and recommendation for acceptance. - (Essential)

10% - Research and interpret funding opportunities and requests for proposals from government agencies and foundations to determine appropriateness for the university; evaluate and recommend how best to respond. - (Essential)

10% - Gather background data, research laws and legal requirements as specified in OMB 2 CFR 200, and formulate policies affecting the university. Work with internal personnel to ensure effectiveness of policies and prepare for final approval. Distribute/communicate approved policies as required. - (Essential)

10% - Manage Sponsored Programs staff who coordinate pre- and post-award actions and oversee all post-award activities. University wide research compliance - (Essential)

10% - Communicate to the campus, colleagues, agency representatives and others benchmarks - success rate, submission rate, annual awards; represent the University with independent auditors, funding entities & other internal/external liaisons. - (Essential)

10% - Ensure compliance with Federal Research regulations related to human subjects protection and animal care and use. Develop policies and procedures to ensure operational compliance. - (Essential)

5% - Develops and conducts workshops, presentations and trainings on grant development, research regulations and technology transfer. - (Essential)

5% - Manages technology transfer efforts in order to assist faculty in intellectual property protection, product commercialization, and patent development. - (Essential)

5% - Serve as Drake Universities Research Integrity Officer to the Federal Office of Research Integrity. Perform other duties, as assigned. - (Essential)

Salary & Benefits

The salary will be competitive with peer schools. We anticipate the starting salary will be at least $100,000. The final offered salary will be dependent upon the qualifications and experiences of the selected candidate.

At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our digital benefits guide: Drake Benefits Guide (Plan Year 2024).

One of our very popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in not one, but two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. You can learn about both the tuition waiver policy and tuition exchange programs here: Tuition Benefits.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To apply, you must complete the online application and attach: (1) a cover letter, (2) CV/Resume, and (4) the contact details for three references.

Please do not attach additional documents at this time. Supplemental documents may be requested or required of finalists.

All job offers are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check, satisfactory reference checks, and proof of work authorization.

If you have questions about the application process, this position, or working at Drake University, please contact us at [email protected].

Review of Applications & Anticipated Start Date:

For full consideration, please complete your online application apply by March 15, 2024.

The anticipated start date is on or around June 1, 2024. However, we would be happy to explore an earlier start date, so the new Director could have some overlap with the retiring Director.