Assistant Director, Award Management

$107,000 - $125,000/Yr

Northwestern University - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Chicago, IL

Educational Services

About the position

The Assistant Director Award Management is a professional member of the Office for Sponsored Research, and part of the leadership of the Proposal and Awards Acceptance team, reporting to the Sr. Director Proposal and Awards Acceptance. The Proposal and Awards Acceptance team is responsible for the review and submission of proposals for a large variety of sponsors, review and negotiation of awards and managing post award non-financial requests using the highest levels of professionalism and service. The Assistant Director supervises approximately five Associate Sponsored Research Officers while also maintaining a complex portfolio and set of constituency assignments. The Assistant Director will oversee the various activities of the team which include amendment review and processing, award modification request, invention reporting, and other duties as needed. As part of Northwestern University's commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse campus community, Northwestern Sponsored Research is committed to being BRAVE (Battling Racism and Valuing Equity). Through deliberate words and actions we actively endeavor to acknowledge the humanity of and value each of our colleagues. The Assistant Director Award Management will support the OR mission and values of understanding empathy, modeling accountability, ensuring fairness, embracing community, and valuing creativity.

Responsibilities

• Manages a team of Associate Sponsored Research Officers (Assoc SRO). Provides daily guidance and mentoring to staff on operational and policy issues, as well as routine activities.
• Reviews and monitors the daily workflow of proposals, change requests and award agreements and reassigns work as needed.
• Maintains awareness of individual workload and flow of proposals and other administrative activities.
• Provides input to office-wide meetings.
• Facilitates cross-team collaborations to understand important and frequent contracting issues and to ensure seamless handoffs between Sponsored Research Officers and Contract Officers in all SR units.
• Hires, promotes, evaluates and counsels staff with input from Sr. Director and Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Research (AVP-SR).
• Maintains and manages an advanced portfolio of sponsored research activity for designated university schools, departments and/or centers.
• Exercises delegated signature authority from the Assistant Vice President.
• Reviews, and signs proposal applications, award amendments and administrative correspondence to sponsors as authorized by the University president.
• Safeguards university interests with respect to intellectual property, publications, export controls, liability, effort reporting, and compliance issues.
• Ensures compliance and fiscal integrity of proposal submissions and appropriated awards.
• Supports Associate Sponsored Research Officers (SROs) and ensures that a high level of service support is provided to principal investigators and departmental, Center, school and central administrators.
• Evaluates the risk associated with the variety of transactions processed by Sponsored Research Officers and SR.
• Serves as expert in pre-award and post-award proposal management.
• Participates in establishing standard operating procedures for pre-award and post-award service delivery.
• Monitors internal performance metrics to ensure high levels of service and accomplishment of objectives.
• Solicit input from Principal investigators and other central administrative offices, such as COI, IRB, ACUC, INVO, ASRSP, General Counsel, and Risk Management as appropriate.
• Represents Sponsored Research in meetings with principal investigators, school administrators, and senior university administrators in areas related to sponsored research.
• Accurately convey current practices in research administration and work collaboratively across all sectors of the university to develop appropriate changes in procedures and policies, and implement best practices that will benefit the research community.
• Presents as needed to a variety of constituents including campus-wide and national meetings.
• Develops, implements and trains staff in standard procedures that support Northwestern University research policy.
• Coordinates with other units to ensure the timing and integrity of the sponsored research life cycle.
• Communicates and presents procedures and policy within SR and externally to the university community.
• Assists in the development of the agenda for the campus-specific sponsored research campus meetings.
• Monitors policy changes implemented by external sponsors (related to electronic research administration and otherwise).
• Assists faculty and staff in award monitoring.
• Provides significant input to optimize enterprise-level systems supporting research administration, and participates in managing change within the research administration community.
• Provides education, training and research information for SR staff and NU departments, schools and Centers through a variety of venues.
• Participates in designing and implementing research administration training programs.
• Leads ongoing service excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Optimizes staff skills and organizational structure and is responsible for staff development and continuing education.
• Provides staff with feedback and direction.
• Advises Sr. Director and AVP-SR on emerging and pressing issues.
• Participates in resolution of issues.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 5 years previous work experience in the administration of sponsored research at an educational institution, in the federal government, or entity engaged in sponsored research.
• Previous, proven experience supervising and mentoring staff.
• Capable of presenting at various meetings across campus including faculty meetings and campus-wide meetings and at professional organizations (MAGI, FDP, NCURA, UIDP, SRA, etc).

Nice-to-haves

• Five years previous work experience in the administration of sponsored research or other central research-related office at an educational institution, government, or other entity engaged in sponsored research.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct training sessions.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage staff.

Benefits

• Meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans.
• Retirement benefits.
• Tuition discounts.
• Comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities.
• Support for flexible work arrangements.
• Programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care.
• Support for employee career development.