Director, Research Support, Office of Research Support (Remote)

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Director, Research Support  Office of Research Support (Remote)

Occupational Summary

The Office of Research Support (ORS) is the grant pre-award and contracting support office for externally sponsored projects for the Provost-area schools, institutes, and centers. The Director, Research Support is responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations of the ORS Proposal and Awards Teams and an array of other support services provided by the office to the school-based units. The Director is also responsible for ensuring smooth coordination between ORS and external core pre- and post-award and other research-related offices across the institution, including audit, compliance, contracts, technology transfer, and federal, foundation, and corporate relations. The Director works closely with the Executive Director to evaluate ORS’s standard operating procedures with a goal towards continuous improvement. The Director also represents ORS operations and the Campus grants community on institutional initiatives that target policy development, process and systems improvement, and reporting on sponsored projects activity. This position requires a deep understanding of Duke policies and procedures as well as knowledge of federal rules and regulations, compliance requirements, and cost accounting standards.

Work Performed

ORS day-to-day operations (55%)

• Supervise and support ORS staff across the Proposal and Awards Teams in:
  • • reviewing proposals for institutional approval;
    • reviewing and negotiating terms of awards and ensuring conformity with University and agency policy, procedures, and law;
    • writing and executing subcontracts related to sponsored projects;
    • providing post-award administrative review and institutional approval for changes;
    • providing policy and administrative support for various research related regulatory requirements including conflict of interest, effort commitment, training in the responsible conduct of research and subrecipient monitoring.

• Recruit, hire and train new employees
• Train and develop new and existing staff members to ensure consistency of performance across the University
• Direct the annual employee performance review process and performance improvement processes, as necessary
• Maintain human resource employment records
• Support the Associate Director in their management of the ORS Awards Team

Manage and support Campus research admin initiatives. (35%)

• Represent ORS and Campus research on initiatives focused on the development and implementation of institutional policy for research and sponsored projects in cooperation with the Office for Research & Innovation and coordinate with other related offices.
• Assist with the development and implementation of strategies and systems to ensure University compliance with sponsor's regulations and requirements, to include federal agencies for-profit companies, foundations, and non-governmental entities
• Identify issues and develop and implement that will enhance the environment on Campus for the conduct of research administration and other sponsored activities.
• Develop and deliver training programs to departmental and school grants administrators, students, staff, and faculty on topics of urgent or general interest and concern in research administration (pre-award processes, grants and contracts management, integrity in research, etc.)
• Oversee the preparation and dissemination of regular reports on sponsored projects activity for senior administration, deans, and chairs.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of sponsor requested reports, surveys, and certifications on behalf of the University: NSF R&D Expenditures Survey, NSF Facilities Survey, ORCA Annual Certifications and Representations, SAM.gov etc.

Outreach activities (10%)

• Represent the interests of ORS and the broader Campus research community at various university committees and task forces.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Required Qualifications at this Level:

Education/Training

• Work requires communications, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor's degree program. Research or grants education and/or certification is preferred.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of eight years of progressive experience in grants and contracts oversight.
• Experience in higher education strongly preferred.
• Two years of demonstrated success in staff supervision, performance management, and service innovation preferred
• or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Skills

• Leadership skills
• Innovative problem-solving skills
• Ability to coach and develop employees
• Ability to build employee commitment through frequent feedback and meaningful performance evaluations
• Demonstrated skills in analyzing data and formulating conclusions
• Ability to learn changing technologies related to grants and contracts management
• Full command of grants and contracts systems; requires solid working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, Power Point)
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing with all levels of the organization
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects/tasks simultaneously
• Ability to create verbal and written reports
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal rules and regulations relating to grant and contract activity and ability to apply knowledge to Duke University policies and procedures
• Knowledge of grant and contracts processes, systems and offices related to and/or involved in grant and contract submission and management
• Knowledge of responsible conduct of research, management of advanced compliance issues
• Knowledge of processes and systems related to or involved in the management of cost-sharing and effort allocation
• Experience with functions in SPS, R3, grants.duke, SES, iForms and eCrt and other related systems associated with assigned duties

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.