Executive Director of Research Admininistration

Who we are:

The University of New Haven, founded in 1920, is a private university whose mission is to prepare students to excel and lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a global society. The university offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate programs and has been recognized for academic excellence, nationally and internationally. In addition to its main campus in West Haven, the university has a campus in Tuscany, Italy. Learn more at newhaven.edu.

The University of New Haven is seeking an experienced, highly motivated, hands-on research administrator to lead the collegial and knowledgeable team in the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs and to support the University’s continued growth in areas of research and external funding.

The position is responsible for leading the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs (OGSP), overseeing all aspects of proposal review and submission, facilitating negotiation of award terms and conditions, and identifying and resolving issues through the life-cycle of an award. The Executive Director will be responsible for responding to the needs of researchers, supporting research processes, infrastructure, and procedures, and working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators to foster a positive, productive, and growing research environment.

The Executive Director collaborates with the Office of the Provost, Deans, the Business Office, the Finance Director of Sponsored Programs and other leaders as well as external sponsors and agencies to ensure compliance with funder requirements and cooperation in the execution and management of sponsored programs/projects. The Executive Director will be responsible for collaborating with other research stakeholders on issues such as research agreements, fee-for-service contracts, material transfers, confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements, sub-award management, export controls, and FCOI. The position is responsible for maintaining knowledge of and responding to changes in federal government requirements, sponsor terms and conditions, and shifting levels of sponsor funding. The Executive Director will lead strategic planning and policy development for OGSP and will develop goals, objectives, and strategies and operational plans in accordance with the direction of the strategic plan.

You will:

Strategic Leadership & Administration

• Provide vision, direction, and operational management for the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs (OGSP), including supervision and professional development of all office staff.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and systems for the administration of sponsored programs consistent with federal regulations (2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance), sponsor requirements, and institutional priorities.
• Collaborate with the Provost, Deans, and academic department chairs to align sponsored programs strategy with institutional research goals and the University strategic plan.
• Oversee all aspects of proposal review and submission, negotiating award terms and conditions and resolving issues throughout the award life cycle.
• Serve as institutional liaison to federal agencies, private foundations, and corporate sponsors on matters of policy, compliance, and relationship management.
• Respond to researcher needs and support research processes, infrastructure, and procedures in collaboration with faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Oversee the OGSP operating budget, and report regularly to institutional leadership on research activity metrics.
• Lead the development and maintenance of the institution's F&A cost rate agreement in coordination with the cognizant federal agency and institutional finance leadership.
• Allocate staff workload to maximize OGSP effectiveness and ensure appropriate resource allocation.
• Implement Artificial Intelligence where appropriate in alignment with University initiatives.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Serve as the institution's primary point of accountability for compliance with all federal, state, and sponsor regulations governing sponsored programs, including Uniform Guidance, agency-specific requirements, and research integrity standards.
• Serve as the institutional point of contact for export control policy and administration, ITAR registration, intellectual property requests, and technology transfer inquiries.
• Coordinate the institution's human subjects research administration in conjunction with the Chair of the IRB committee, ensuring Federalwide Assurance (FWA) compliance, protocol coordination with active awards, and appropriate training for research personnel.
• Manage institutional risk related to sponsored programs, including identification of compliance vulnerabilities, development of mitigation strategies, and coordination with internal audit and legal counsel as appropriate.
• Ensure timely and accurate institutional reporting to federal and other sponsors, including FFATA/FSRS subaward reporting, Single Audit preparation, and closeout documentation.
• Oversee export controls, conflict of interest disclosures, and responsible conduct of research (RCR) training in coordination with relevant institutional offices.
• Track, disseminate, and respond to changes in federal government requirements, sponsor terms and conditions, funding trends, and local, state, and federal regulations affecting sponsored programs administration.

Faculty & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as primary advisor to principal investigators on sponsored programs matters, providing guidance on complex compliance issues, sponsor relationships, and research administration strategy.
• Collaborate with principal investigators on budget development and proposal submissions.
• Develop and deliver faculty training and outreach programs on sponsored programs policies, procedures, and funding opportunities.
• Partner with research stakeholders on research agreements, fee-for-service contracts, material transfer agreements, confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements, sub-award management, export controls, and financial conflict of interest (FCOI) matters.
• Establish and maintain clear protocols with the Office of Advancement for the handoff of private foundation awards and with the Office of Innovation for corporate awards carrying sponsored program obligations, ensuring appropriate administrative oversight.
• Collaborate with the Business Office and Finance Director of Sponsored Programs to ensure compliance and cooperation in the execution and management of sponsored programs.
• Represent the institution in professional organizations including NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators) and relevant regional networks.

Signatory Authority

• Serve as the institution's Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) for all proposal submissions and award acceptances.
• Execute grant agreements, contracts, subaward agreements, memoranda of understanding, and other sponsored program instruments on behalf of the institution.
• Negotiate award terms and conditions with federal agencies, state agencies, and private sponsors to protect institutional interests while advancing the research mission.

You need:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree strongly preferred in research administration, public administration, business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored programs or research administration in a higher education setting, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Significant experience in pre-award and non-financial post-award areas and an understanding of post-award financial management;
• Knowledge of compliance issues and implementation strategies;
• Ability to communicate effectively across a wide range of constituencies;
• Excellent time management skills and attention to detail
• The Executive Director must have a hands-on style working with faculty on budget development and proposal submissions and day-to-day tasks in this very busy five-person office.
• External funding support includes federal, state, other governmental agencies, foundations, non-profit community organizations, corporate contracts, and collaborative agreements with other institutions of higher education.

Technical skills include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), some knowledge of Banner or equivalent system, database such as Cayuse or DataWarehouse, and experience with sponsor portals including Research.Gov and Grants.Gov.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received until the position is filled.

For additional information contact Dr. Ronald Harichandran, Vice Provost for Research ([email protected]).

Application materials must include: a cover letter, a resume/CV, and contact information for three professional references

What's in it for you:

• Health & Welfare Programs: Employees and their eligible family members, including spouses and dependent are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Programs.
• Wellness & Fitness: On-campus Recreation and Fitness Center for employees and families; Employee Assistant Program
• Commitment to Educational Excellence: Tuition assistance for employees and eligible dependents; Tuition exchange opportunities
• Employee Discounts on products, services and educational opportunities
• Work/Life Benefits: Generous paid time off programs; progressive paid holiday schedule (including holiday break between Christmas and New Year’s); 4 weeks of parental paid leave; flexible work schedules including summer hours where applicable

*The University of New Haven is not a qualifying E-Verify employer and its use of E-Verify is limited to specific government projects. For that reason, candidates with STEM OPT authorization cannot be considered for employment.