(Hybrid) Director of HSC Grants Administration - Office of Research & Graduate Education

The Health Sciences Center Office of Research and Graduate Education at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Director of HSC Grants Administration.

About the Opportunity

This position serves as the Director of HSC Grants Administration for providing central coordination and oversight of Sponsored Programs across the HSC, including oversight for all schools, centers, institutes, and regional campuses. This position oversees compliance and regulatory guidance in addition to ensuring the efficient management of sponsored projects and contracts throughout the HSC in conjunction with internal and external policies and procedures. The incumbent serves in an institutional level leadership role for Grants Administration as a signing official on behalf of WVU & WVU RC.

The position is responsible to oversee, plan, direct and independently coordinate organizational activities including policy formulation, management of daily operations and resource stewardship consistent with business objectives. Provides operational leadership; requires creativity, and interpretive abilities to effectively resolve complex problems. Work effort has significant impact on personnel, budget and operations, producing major organizational, legal and financial results and/or liability. Develops and maintains a proactive grant management environment across the institution, which supports principal investigator needs and meets sponsor, university, state, and federal requirements. This is a hybrid position with weekly on-site presence required.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:
* 37.5-hour work week
* 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
* 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
* 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
* WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
* 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
* Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Sr. Leader will direct Pre- and Post-Award initiatives to provide critical leadership on research administrative services and improving the research infrastructure at the institution.
• In consultation with the Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, the HSC Director will establish essential management and strategic business operations in support of critical research programs conducted within the Health Sciences Center and its affiliated centers and institutes.
• Develops and administers the HSC-wide Pre and Post Award Shared Resource Program. Develop and provide leadership and oversight of HSC Shared Services for grants administration.
• Serves as a signing official (signature authority) on behalf of the institution for submission of federal DHHS proposals and required follow-up.
• Reviews and approves proposals at the HSC and/or institutional level for compliance and appropriateness for submission to sponsors.
• Works in close collaboration with the AVP for Finance, Operations and Research Administration, the Directors of OSP and Cost Compliance, and other central leaders for the development of operational policies and procedures relevant to grants administration across the institution.
• Serves broadly on institutional committees (in close collaboration with other institutional leadership) for the establishment and management of policies/processes institutional-wide for Research Administrative Oversight, Research Integrity, Data Management, and various Compliance matters. Serves as a member for the development of the institution's new electronic research administrative system.
• Establishes goals to increase efficiencies and implement standards which will reduce costs for the institution and HSC.
• This position is responsible for establishing processes for the financial management and labor accounting of sponsored projects, including review and approval of fiscal expenditures, as well as analysis and monitoring of budgetary controls.
• Develops and audits effective practices, procedures, and robust resource tools designed to build the pre and post award skillset of research/grant administrative support staff.
• Establishes new strategic initiatives and platforms to increase and ensure institutional compliance with university policies and procedures, Uniform Guidance, and all federal, state and agency regulations governing sponsored and non-sponsored research.
• Plans and implements training, guidance and career development for PIs and research staff on all aspects of grants administration, including communication of all pre and post award activity.
• Monitors sponsored project budgets versus actuals, analyze budget trends, and make cost control recommendations as needed.
• Develop and manages special reporting and financial trends. Analyze the data and provide possible solutions to PIs and HSC administration. Plans and forecasts research funding needs.
• Directs, trains and/or advises PIs and other senior level staff at schools and departmental levels to manage and develop high-performance teams for effective grants administration.
• Advises staff and key HSC/WVU/WVU RC leadership regarding policies and procedures related to administering grants and contracts.
• Works with the HSC Research and Graduate Education (RGE) Senior Leadership team which develops goals and resolves issues on a routine basis for the HSC Research and Graduate Education enterprise. Advise the RGE Senior leadership team on matters surrounding grants administration to handle challenges and implement improvements HSC-wide.
• Partner with other central leadership on management of proposal submissions, establishment of standard operating procedures, forms/templates, and various other award setup and management.
• Plan, develop and lead monthly working groups and other professional development opportunities to facilitate training and education in pre- and post-award across the institution.
• Guides grant support positions (both administrative and management level) across all HSC schools, institutes, and centers to ensure knowledgeable grant support is available throughout the HSC and university community.
• Provides direction and oversight of pre and post-award staff with responsibility for personnel decisions including hiring, training, evaluating, and determining priorities and work assignments.
• Provides oversight of pre and post award functions for a variety of sponsored projects/contracts with varying levels of complexity.
• Evaluate customer service data related to pre- and post-award services to refine processes and improve support.
• Other projects as assigned by HSC or WVU leadership.
  

• Bachelor's degree in finance, public administration, business administration or a related field; An equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

• A minimum of eight (8) years in the following:

  • Experience in Research Administration, including expert knowledge of Federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and demonstrated ability to apply all federal, state, university or other policies and procedures.
  • Experience in developing and implementing new policies and strategies
  • Experience in accounting specific to preparing, managing, and maintaining multiple budgets and demonstrated ability to manage GAAP, generally accepted accounting principles.
  • Pre-award grants accounting, submitting proposals, completing online applications, or reporting and other business-related experience.
  • Post-award grants accounting and administering funded grants and contracts in a higher education setting.
  • Experience in payroll processing
  • Experience and knowledge of various computer software including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access

• A minimum of three (3) years in the following:

  • Experience with developing and managing a team with demonstrated ability to empower and lead employees.
  • Experience with supervising, managing, and training personnel.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must have excellent organizational skills as well as the ability to multi-task and prioritize work.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills with advanced knowledge of Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Advanced knowledge of payroll processing systems
• Excellent management, supervisory & administrative skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead employees and programs.
• Excellent performance management skills.
• Must possess excellent critical thinking/problem solving skills while demonstrating the ability to analyze and solve complex issues in a fast-paced environment.
• Skilled at fostering a collaborative and customer service-oriented work environment.
• Must have knowledge of the policies and procedures at the departmental, school and university level.
• Must have knowledge of and ability to organize/analyze data and provide useful information to all internal and external agencies that this position is in contact with on a regular basis
• Demonstrated expert knowledge and analytical ability to interpret and apply Uniform Guidance and all Federal, State, and University regulations and policies governing sponsored research to unique University situations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage difficult matters or conflicts with objectivity and professionalism.
• Ability to handle multiple projects under tight deadlines and produce quality results with attention to detail.
• Must be able to develop, examine and/or re-engineer any policies/procedures needed to meet unique or special challenges occurring within the department while remaining within university guidelines.

• Ability to strategically align tasks and personnel with organizational goals; strategically plan and implement new or revised initiatives.

  Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using the WVU MAP/Oracle database is ideal, but not required

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.