Associate Director – DISC Office Post Award

Associate Director – DISC Office Post Award

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree required, advanced degree preferred (MA/MS/JD/MBA/PhD)
• 5+ years work-related experience, including 3-5 years of supervisory experience; 8+ years of experience preferred.
• Developed management skills and experience in personnel management including the ability to recruit, train, empower and retain a highly effective workforce.
• Significant experience and demonstrated expertise in university research administration and compliance, including management of sponsored projects administration and policy or a related field involving regulatory work and application preparation (i.e. banking, etc.).
• Understanding of Federal funding agencies and regulatory bodies, and experience in developing approaches to emerging administrative and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage ambiguity and be able to juggle and prioritize multiple time-sensitive demands in a rapidly changing organization and environment.
• Demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking, along with well-honed project management and change management skills.
• A collaborative and inclusive professional style, ability to build strategic relationships with staff at all levels, excellent organizational and communication skills (written, verbal, listening), ability to make strategic connections, and utmost respect for discretion, confidentiality and professionalism.
• Broad and deep knowledge and perspective of the University including academic and central administrative functions.
• Ability and inclination to anticipate future opportunities and consequences.
• Resonance with the mission and goals of the Office’s priorities.
• Certification in Research Administration field is helpful, or an ability to obtain within 1 year of start date, or Advanced Degree.
• Legal, regulatory, scientific, or social science background helpful.
• Some exposure to university senior management, often providing recommendations and analysis to senior leaders; provide support to faculty, students, and staff of all levels.
• Expected to lead diverse teams consisting of non-direct reports, requiring a high degree of collaboration and inspiring confidence with team members.

Responsibilities

• Maintains in-depth and expansive knowledge of external sponsor regulations and requirements and stays fully abreast of all proposed changes in federal and state regulations and laws affecting sponsored programs, including Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and state and institutional policies and reporting requirements to ensure continued compliance.
• Leads the development of institutional policies and operational/administrative procedures in relevant areas in coordination with the Associate Provost for Research Administration and other university offices, develops communications and training materials to provide guidance regarding the interpretation of regulations, laws, and policies to the research community. Leads and advises in the continuous development of office tools, including data management (FileMaker Pro), accounting software implementation/optimization (Priority Software/WorkDay), creation and refinement of internal forms, including budget planning and forecasting tools, and templates for DISC, and website materials.
• Liaises with deans, academic staff, finance staff, institutional advancement staff, and other senior leaders and central administrators to cultivate open communication channels to proactively address issues affecting research administration within the institution. Fosters internal collaborations and builds effective relationships and partnerships with key Brandeis stakeholders with tact and diplomacy to advance strategic initiatives and build alignment around key post-award issues affecting the research mission of the institution.
• Serves as a primary or alternate institutional representative to various internal committees.
• Manages, mentors, and develops the post-award DISC staff, including the assignment and allocation of portfolios, workload balance, quality control, professional development, position description development/performance management, hiring/promotions, and goal setting.
• Develops best practices and oversees operational effectiveness of the DISC post-award team in all post award management functions, ensuring service excellence and full compliance throughout the entire post-award process to ensure success from the notice of award to project closeout. Works with the Division of Science to implement/improve post-award software.
• Facilitates a close collaboration between DISC/ORA Pre-Award Services, Human Resources, Payroll, Procurement, Sponsored Programs Accounting and other administrative support teams to work through issues of post award administration; models open and proactive communication with PIs.
• Maintains a portfolio of PIs and researchers post-award management including budget planning and forecasting, reconciliation, tracking cost share expenses, effort management, current and pending reports, just-in-time reports, RPPRs, continuing applications, etc., as well as proactive outreach to researchers.
• All other duties, as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in Research Administration field is helpful, or an ability to obtain within 1 year of start date, or Advanced Degree.
• Legal, regulatory, scientific, or social science background helpful.