Dir of Research and Sponsored Programs

University of Arkansas System

About The Position

Position Summary The Director of Research and Sponsored Programs provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all pre-award and post-award research administration activities. This position supports faculty and investigators in securing external funding, ensures institutional compliance with sponsor and regulatory requirements, and advances the organization’s research mission through effective systems, policies, and partnerships.

Requirements

Master’s degree required; doctorate or terminal degree preferred.
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in research or sponsored programs administration.
Demonstrated knowledge of pre-award and post-award processes and compliance requirements.
Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Proven ability to manage complex projects and teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education or research-intensive environments.
Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or equivalent credential.
Experience with federal funding agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, DoD).
Demonstrated success in increasing external funding.

Responsibilities

Provide vision and leadership for the research and sponsored programs enterprise.
Develop and implement strategies to increase external funding and research productivity.
Advise senior leadership on research trends, funding opportunities, and institutional readiness.
Foster a culture of research integrity, collaboration, and excellence.
Oversee identification, dissemination, and development of funding opportunities.
Support faculty and staff in proposal development, budgeting, and submission.
Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant proposal review and approvals.
Develop training and resources to strengthen grant competitiveness.
Oversee award negotiation, acceptance, and account setup.
Ensure effective financial management, reporting, and closeout of sponsored awards.
Monitor compliance with sponsor terms, institutional policies, and regulations.
Resolve post-award issues in collaboration with finance, legal, and principal investigators.
Ensure institutional compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and regulatory requirements (e.g., human subjects, animal care, conflict of interest, export controls).
Maintain policies, procedures, and internal controls related to sponsored programs.
Prepare for and respond to audits and sponsor reviews.
Serve as a trusted advisor to faculty, researchers, and administrators.
Deliver training and professional development related to grants and research administration.
Promote high-quality research support services.
Oversee research administration systems and data reporting.
Use metrics to assess performance, improve processes, and inform decision-making.
Manage departmental budget and resources effectively.
Serve as institutional liaison with funding agencies, partners, and collaborators.
Represent the institution in professional organizations and consortia.