Executive Director for Research and Sponsored Programs

Overview

Primary Purpose: Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Executive Director for Research and Sponsored Programs is responsible for leading and managing the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs ( ORSP ). This role emphasizes proactively supporting faculty in identifying external funding opportunities, providing feedback on drafts to create compelling proposals, and successfully securing external funding. The Executive Director will cultivate a team that encourages and supports research, scholarship, and creative activities across the university and emphasizes student-centric learning opportunities.

Note: The description contains duplicate paragraphs and formatting that has been refined in this version to meet readability and accessibility standards.

Responsibilities

• Serves as core member of the provost’s administrative leadership team.
• Proactively identifies and shares information on external funding opportunities.
• Maintains comprehensive records of funding opportunities in a manner that is easily accessible, timely, and useful for faculty.
• Executes a comprehensive communications plan to share, remind, and engage faculty with ORSP to pursue opportunities and celebrate successes.
• Oversees the development and implementation of essential research practices that support the diversity of research proposals.
• Guides faculty through the proposal development process with the team, ensuring alignment with funding agency guidelines and university priorities.
• Assists in editing proposals to ensure clarity, precision, and competitiveness.
• Assists in drafting proposals for institutional grants from the provost’s office.
• Coordinates the preparation of budgets in accordance with university policies and funding agency requirements.
• Ensures reliable customer service, streamlined operations, and optimized use of technologies.
• Designs and delivers workshops, seminars, and proactively conducts individual consultations to build faculty capacity in grant writing and proposal development.
• Maintains awareness of best practices, emerging technologies/innovations, and new potentials in research funding opportunities and strategic research development.
• Manages the undergraduate research faculty director to ensure targeted support of experiential learning for undergraduate students.
• Designee and signatory for official research, grants/contracts, and research compliance functions.
• Manages the Institutional Review Board ( IRB ), Material Transfer Agreements ( MTA ), and oversees the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee ( IACUC ) including operational management of the vivarium and research laboratories conducting animal research.
• Serves as ex-officio, non-voting member of the university Faculty Research Committee ( FRC ).
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Includes a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) emphasis, recognizing its foundational role in student and employee success and prioritizing policy and decision-making that addresses socio-cultural factors related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, and socio-economic status.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Eight (8) years of relevant experience in research administration and financial management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of opportunities, trends, and issues of research and scholarship, including grant/contract/foundation funding mechanisms, IDC/ICR models, funding strategies, and identification of university-wide initiatives.
• Understanding of the Federal grants and awards system and relevant federal regulatory agencies.
• Evidence of budget and fiscal experience and accountability.
• Ability to work within complex organizations on research initiatives involving individuals, groups, and across academic units.
• Some advanced or mid-level management experience in the higher education sector, preferably in a multi-campus/site setting.
• Ability to develop and implement clear, action-oriented, innovative research strategies through collaboration with academic units, technology, and university leadership.
• Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting.
• Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in work.

Work Schedule

Work Environment/Work Week/Travel: Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment. Work performed in person during standard business hours. Occasional travel for professional development and/or engagements on the Sacramento or San Francisco campus.

Note on content accuracy: The description has been refined for formatting and readability while preserving the original information and context.

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