Financial Program Manager

Universities of Wisconsin • Madison, WI

1d • $90,000

About The Position

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a pre-eminent center for discovery, learning, and engagement, fostering an inclusive and empowered community while preparing current and future generations to lead meaningful and ethical lives. In partnership with the state and colleagues worldwide, UW-Madison faculty, staff, and students address some of the most urgent and complex global challenges. As one of the nation's leading research institutions, UW-Madison boasts a research enterprise exceeding $1.7 billion in annual expenditures. Ranked 6th among 920 public and private universities in the National Science Foundation's annual ranking, the university submits over 4,000 proposals each year, seeking more than $2.5 billion in funding, and receives over $1.5 billion in sponsored project awards. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) manages approximately 15,000 active projects valued at more than $4 billion. The Research Financial Services (RFS) team within the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs provides essential Post-Award support to the UW research enterprise. RFS manages compliance, reporting, invoicing, and revenue management for a diverse portfolio of federal, state, and non‑profit sponsors. This recruitment covers multiple vacancies, including: NSF–DOE Portfolio Team Manager DHHS Portfolio Team Manager Sponsored Invoicing Services Manager (newly created role) These managers serve on the RSP Leadership Team and hold primary responsibility for day‑to‑day operational oversight. They lead teams, provide direct support and development for staff, ensure the execution of daily operational activities, and guide or execute projects within their functional areas. Managers in these roles are expected to foster strong collaboration, promote service excellence, and help advance consistent, compliant, and efficient financial management practices across the research enterprise.

Requirements

• -Knowledge of research administration or sponsored program operations
• -Experience in compliance, accounting principles, policy development/interpretation, data analysis, and/or business/financial management
• -Experience leading or implementing changes in enterprise systems used in research (e.g., RAMP, PeopleSoft, Workday)
• -Demonstrated ability to work across teams to drive results and improve service

Nice To Haves

• -Experience working in a higher education or research administration environment
• -Supervisory or team leadership experience
• -Strong written and presentation skills
• -Experience with federal, state, and/or non‑profit sponsors and their guidelines (e.g., NIH, NSF, DOE)
• -Experience with mentoring, developing, and supporting staff
• -Experience in designing and improving business processes
• -Evidence of ability to manage and balance stakeholder needs, organization priorities, and leadership expectations

Responsibilities

• Serves as a key resource to leadership and staff in the unit as well as a liaison to partners and stakeholders (10%)
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (10%)
• May review and approve programmatic transactions spanning the life-cycle of sponsored projects to ensure compliance with policies and procedures (20%)
• Implements research administration operational policies and procedures including financial, administrative, staffing, and compliance (20%)
• Interacts with and provides expertise to sponsors. Provides guidance related to the sponsors to team, RSP staff, and campus (10%)
• Provides training and guidance to campus partners regarding policies, activities, procedures, or systems necessary for sponsored projects management (10%)
• Executes activities related to financial compliance, audit, or reporting on behalf of a unit (5%)
• Executes activities related to proposal submission, contract negotiation, and/or award setup on behalf of a unit (15%)

Benefits

• This position will receive a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts, and participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager