(Remote) Director - Research Office Of Sponsored Programs

The Research Office of Sponsored Programs at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a remote Director.

About the Opportunity

The West Virginia University (WVU) Research Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) provides central coordination and oversight of WVU sponsored projects. The OSP team processes proposals, establishes awards, and negotiates resultant grants, contracts, and other agreements. OSP is comprised of three sub-departments, including the Pre-Award sub-department, the Award Negotiation sub-department, and the Award Initiation and Management (AIM) sub-department. The Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) serves as the senior leader of OSP, reporting to the AVP.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits (this position is a benefits-eligible non-classified staff position)
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
• Wellness programs

What you'll do:

• Assume primary responsibility for long-term planning of the strategic direction of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP).
• Consistently apply critical thinking skills to develop points of view and collaborate with OSP unit leadership and staff to improve OSP operations.
• Design and prepare unit data and performance reports to Research Office leadership.
• Work with leadership of the three unit+ to direct the day-to-day operations of OSP.
• Provide critical leadership on issues related to proposal development and submission, award negotiation, and project management. Monitor emerging trends to ensure an efficient infrastructure within OSP.
• Provide support to Research Leadership (VP and AVPs in the Research Office) for policy issues related to sponsored projects.
• Understand and interpret complex federal regulations and develop internal policies to ensure compliance.
• Serve as Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) with signature authority for proposals and awards.
• Oversee the preparation of required special reports for grants and special programs.
• Plan, develop, and implement appropriate training for principal investigators and their administrative staff on the wide range of Sponsored project topics.
• Provide mentoring and educational opportunities to OSP staff.
• Serve as an OSP representative on auditing and accounting, matters including negotiations of resolutions of audit findings as well as developing and implementing changes required due to audit findings.
• Plan, develop, and implement appropriate training for principal investigators and their administrative staff on the wide range of Sponsored project topics.
• Initiate and develop organizational leadership for each unit within OSP (AIM, Negotiation, and Post Award units), building depth through OSP operations.
• Work closely with first-level unit leadership to implement the overall OSP direction intended for each unit. Meet regularly with second and third-level unit leadership to reinforce strategic plans, share updates, and solicit feedback and recommendations for each unit.
• Strategically direct, manage, and approve all personnel matters in collaboration with the unit leadership.
• Coordinate with Research Office leadership (VP and AVPs of Research) and unit leadership to cross-train all employees in the core functions of the OSP.

• Master’s degree is required.
• Expert knowledge of 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience involving:
  • Research Administration, including application of 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200.
  • Significant experience with the policies, procedures, and missions of NIH, NSF, NASA, DoD, and the Department of Agriculture Electronic Research Administration.
• A minimum of four (4) years of experience involving:
  
  • Training and development of staff.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience involving:
  
  • Staff supervision and hands-on training and career development.
• Excellent communication and listening skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact with various customers throughout WVU.
• Demonstrated commitment to customer and team-oriented management.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, empower, and lead employees.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and appropriately apply discretion.
• Demonstrated superior supervisory skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team and delegate.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of research administration.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and appropriately apply Federal, State, and University policies and procedures, and interpret cost principles.
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulatory and compliance issues, federal and state laws, and public policy.
• Working knowledge of Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), OMB Circulars, and other regulatory documents.
• Demonstrated ability to productively and successfully work in a deadline-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with senior administrators regarding technical issues.
• Must be enterprising, judicious, entrepreneurial, and diplomatic.
• Ability to learn academic, administrative, and organizational policies and procedures that impact OSP, with the ability to apply these policies and procedures to daily work assignments.
• Ability to apply judgment, discretion, and initiative in coordinating many different and complex tasks, determining relative importance of each, setting priorities, and completing project in a timely fashion.
• Ability to utilize a variety of software packages.
• Ability to work accurately under short deadlines.
• Maintain skills in, or knowledge of, professional principles, legal and/or reporting requirements affecting area of responsibility.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; pursues training and development opportunities; assess strengths, weaknesses, and shares expertise with others.
• Manages difficult or emotional matters with objectivity and openness; responds promptly to needs and requests for service and assistance; meets commitments and dates, notifies others if change occurs; provides, solicits and applies feedback; and builds goodwill through balanced contributions, positive approach, respect and support of others.
• Demonstrated group presentation skills, participates in meetings, listens and gets clarification, is responsive and speaks clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations.
• Writes and edits clearly and informatively, varies style to meet needs, presents numerical data effectively, and able to read and interpret written information.
• Aligns work and develops strategies to meet organizational goals; seeks to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; and upholds organizational expectations and values.
• Responds to leadership direction; resourcefully adapts to changes in work environment and circumstances; responds well under pressure and manages competing demands; takes calculated risks, asks for and offers help when needed; exercise discretion and sound judgment; is tactful and responsible for own actions.
• Demonstrate excellent executive presence and bearing.

Certifications:

• Certified Research Administrator, preferred.

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia's land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley — the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you're a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic learning environment is core to WVU’s academic mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.
To learn more about West Virginia University, visit go.wvu.edu. View current career opportunities at careers.wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.