(Hybrid) Director of Sponsored Programs - Research Office

West Virginia University is seeking a Director of Sponsored Programs for its Research Office. This hybrid position requires significant on-campus presence and involves overseeing sponsored projects, managing proposals, awards, and compliance with regulations. The role includes strategic planning, operational leadership, and collaboration with various units within the Office of Sponsored Programs. The position offers generous benefits, including a 37.5-hour work week and paid leave.
The Research Office at West Virginia University is currently
accepting applications for a Director of Sponsored Programs.

About the Opportunity

The West Virginia University (WVU) Research Office, 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
Associate Vice President (AVP).

The WVU Director of OSP must have demonstrated expertise in change
management, expert knowledge of electronic research administration
systems, and understand that while this is a hybrid position,
significant on-campus presence is required.

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 (
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
• 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 department data and performance reports to
deliver and present to the research office leadership. Develop
measurable goals and metrics for each of the three OSP
units.
• Work with leadership of the three units to deeply understand
the respective business processes and direct the day-to-day
operations of OSP.
• Provide critical leadership on issues related to proposal
development and submission, award negotiation, award management and
closeout. 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 an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) with
signature authority for proposals, agreements, and post-award
documentation for WVURC/WVU.
• Responsible for independently gaining and maintaining access to
sponsor portals, as needed.
• Oversee the preparation of required special reports for grants
and special programs.
• Plan, develop, and implement appropriate training for principal
investigators, their administrative staff, and the WVU research
community on the wide range of sponsored project topics.
• Provide mentoring and educational opportunities developed
specifically for a hybrid team 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.
• Initiate and develop organizational leadership for each unit
within OSP (Pre-Award, Award Negotiations, and AIM), 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 hybrid/remote
employees in the core functions of the OSP.
• Provide substantive and technical input to Research Leadership
(VP and AVPs of Research) on aspects of administration and
management, including determining priorities and goals, finding
innovative and collaborative ways to ensure their timely delivery,
staying within budget, and determining budgetary and resource
needs.
• In consultation with research office leadership (VP and AVPs of
Research), advance and monitor progress on the research office
initiatives, and identify, assign, prioritize and track specific
assignments/projects.
• Provide support to the research office on an institutional
level and assure the seamless functioning, management, and
integration of OSP endeavors.
• Lead OSP Electronic Research Administration (ERA) activities,
including testing and improvement recommendations, as
needed.
• Maintain expert knowledge of 2 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) 200.
• Foster an environment that focuses on the research office
mission of quality, collaboration, and professionalism through
service.
• Maintain strong, positive relationships with WVU leadership and
key internal and external stakeholders, contact sponsors and
researchers to establish rapport/understanding, and facilitate the
use of the organization’s services.
• Complete other duties as assigned by the research office
leadership (VP and AVPs of Research).

Qualifications :
• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in the following:
• Research Administration, including application of 2 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) 200
• Electronic Research Administration
• Significant experience with the policies, procedures, and
missions of NIH, NSF, NASA, DoD, and the Department of
Agriculture
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the following:
• Staff Supervision & hands-on training and career
development
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or
experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Demonstrated expertise with Electronic Research Administration
Systems.
• Ability to expertly utilize a variety of software
packages.
• 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 a hybrid
and remote team.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and appropriately
apply discretion.
• Demonstrated superior supervisory skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team and delegate a hybrid and
remote team.
• 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 work accurately under short deadlines.
• Maintain skills in, or knowledge of, professional principles,
legal and/or reporting requirements affecting areas 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; exercises discretion and
sound judgment; is tactful and responsible for own
actions.
• Demonstrates excellent executive presence and bearing.

Preferred Qualifications
• Master’s degree
• Certified Research Administrator
• Expert knowledge of 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
200

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We
take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and
are committed to the personal and professional growth of our
employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in
Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in
Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in
Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the
state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions
work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core
values — service, curiosity, respect, accountability and
appreciation — unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a
lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu .

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We
invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic
information, or Veteran status.