The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) supports the University of Denver community in its pursuit of research and the management of externally sponsored programs. ORSP is the key point of contact for faculty in the areas of sponsored research, other sponsored programs, and responsible conduct of research and compliance.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Senior Director of Sponsored Programs Administration, the Director of Research Grant Development is responsible for the leadership, vision, and comprehensive management and oversight for a growing research enterprise in the areas of prospecting, pre-award management, pre-award budget development, and supervision and management of a Research Grant Development Team. Responsibilities also include overseeing the services provided by the Research Grant Development team, supervise team members, convene pre-award administrators embedded in our academic departments, and provide direct support to faculty and administrators on complex proposal building and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external customers, as well as partners on campus.
This role will analyze and interpret data, policies and procedures, and other reports as needed in relation to pre-award research administration. The Director of Research Grant Development will provide leadership, planning, training, assistance, support, and compliance for all aspects of pre-award sponsored research. The position will serve as the subject matter expert for research grant development services across campus.
Essential Functions
Research Grant Development Services (50%)
- Identify and promote internal and external funding opportunities for investigators – including federal, state and local government, private industry, non-profit, and non-traditional funding sources. Provide one-on-one consultations to assist faculty in navigating funding databases and identifying relevant funding opportunities. Provide timely, actionable information regarding funding opportunities, award and fellowship opportunities and events.
- Work closely with the Sponsored Programs Team to ensure the teams provide coordinated and seamless support to departments.
- Works collaboratively and cooperatively with faculty, departmental administrators and all aspects of pre-award administration.
- Assist PIs in the development and review of sponsored programs proposals. Directly manages timelines, budget development, provides proposal development services such as, editing, proofreading, project management and the overall progression of work undertaken by the Research Grant Development Team to ensure the on-time completion of high quality, responsive and compliant proposal applications.
- In consultation with Foundation Relations, collaborate on foundation/non-profit proposals, including eligibility requirements and limited submission proposals.
- Keep Senior Vice Provost for Research (SVPR) abreast of funding opportunities and organizations the SVPR should visit.
Leadership (25%)
- Supervise Research Grant Development staff and provide oversight for pre-award services related to grants and contracts.
- Provide problem resolution to Research Grant Development staff and departmental pre-award staff which may include escalation, work delegation, retention, training, performance management feedback, and alignment to achieve department goals.
- Coordinate efforts to review and improve business practices, provide action oriented and expert support to PIs.
- Serves as a technical resource to Research Grant Development staff in interpreting sponsor rules and regulations during the proposal development stage.
- Hire, supervise, and train junior Research Grant Development team members. Provide mentorship and support the ongoing development of the team.
- Develop and set team metrics addressing and ensuring internal operational efficiencies, maximum productivity, customer satisfaction, and employee proficiency. Ensure monitoring of key performance indicators and reporting to research leadership.
Operations Management (20%)
- Direct and establish priorities for day-to-day operations, conduct strategic planning to align with research administration and research leadership.
- Establish and ensure ongoing application of processes and best practices for all research grant development services. Standardize workflow, communications flow, status tracking and documentation processes for all tasks, such as proposal development and proposal routing.
- Represent the Research Grant Development Team throughout the University, interacting with Department Chairs, Department Administrators, Sponsored Programs Administration, and others. Promote success of the Research Grant Development Team by working closely and collaboratively with these contacts and by partnering with faculty and administrative leaders in departments across campus. Maintain positive relationships with clients, address escalating issues and concerns, especially complex matters involving multi-PI grants. Ensure cross-coverage and seamless support during personnel leaves and transitions.
- Manage all internal seed funding.
Other duties as assigned (5%)
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
- Ability to write project narratives, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, faculty and staff.
- Ability to develop grant budgets with a solid understanding of federal cost principles.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Proficient in the use of computer software packages including spreadsheets, word processing and mainframe general ledger systems.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree plus 7-10 years of related experience in pre-award and/or sponsored research administration in a university setting
- Experience with prospecting and grant budget development.
- Experience with proposal submissions to federal funding agencies.
- Broad understanding of university and sponsored research environment.
- 2-3 years supervisory and leadership experience.
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, including Excel.
- Prior experience with and understanding of funding agency systems required, including NSF’s Research.gov, Grants.gov and eRA Commons.
- Experience with prospecting tools such as SPIN, Pivot and electronic research administration systems such as InfoEd.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in business administration, public health, public administration or a directly related field.
- Certification in pre-award grants management.
- Knowledge of and coordination with post-award services to support a high-quality service orientation throughout the sponsored award life cycle.
- Specific knowledge of the higher education industry and research administration operations and regulations, including 2 CFR 200.
Working Environment
Physical Activities
Work Schedule
University operating hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This position is full-time for 37.5 hours per week.
Remote work, hybrid work and telecommuting options as well as flexible hours are available.
Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) November 3, 2023.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 14.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $100,000 – $103,000.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .
Please include the following documents with your application:
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights (” POWR”) Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver’s Non-Discrimination Statement .
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
Advertised: October 11, 2023
Applications close: