Associate Vice President for Research Operations and Executive Director of the O

The Associate Vice President for Research Operations and Executive Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs is responsible for OSP pre-award, post-award grants management, contracts management, research business operations, onboarding & training. The position serves as the Institutional Official in all pre-award and post-award grants and contracts management areas, including signature authority on all proposals, awards, agreements and other documents related to sponsored project administration totaling over $500 million annually in research awards.

This is a hybrid eligible position based in Charlottesville, VA.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Serves as Institutional Official for all pre-award and select post-award activities, including grants, cooperative agreements and contracts to federal and state agencies, foundations and corporations. Monitors all sponsored projects proposals and awards for compliance with federal agency and UVA regulations. Fosters compliant environment by staying abreast of changes in agency regulations, requirements and policies, and by disseminating agency information. Keeps informed of emerging federal issues that will impact UVA's sponsored research program.
• Ensures that a high level of service support is provided to principal investigators and departmental grant and finance administrators; establishes standard operating procedures for service delivery; develops and monitors internal performance metrics to ensure high levels of service and accomplishment of objectives. Supervises staff, fostering excellence and effectiveness and optimizing staff skills and organizational structure. Provides leadership in the area of staff development and continuing education, ensuring that all OSP staff interact and communicate promptly and effectively within OSP and with other university units and be expert on current federal and state regulations and procedures.
• Responsible for providing education, training and research information for OSP staff and UVA departments, Schools and Centers through a variety of venues. Plays a critical role in the design, implementation and delivery of research administration training programs.
• Works collaboratively with the Director of Electronic Research Administration to identify, develop and implement new and improved systems for proposal development and award management. Responsible with the ERA Director, central finance and school users for the effective and efficient operation of the University's Huron Grants and Agreements system and its interface with the Workday Financial platform.
• Serves as a member of the Office of Vice President for Research leadership team. Develops and maintains strong collaborative relationships within OSP. Reports on important, complex or sensitive issues and provides guidance on appropriate actions to resolve the issues. Briefs VPR office leadership on specific cases of non-compliance when cases may have an impact on the ability to safely and properly conduct research, including cases that may result in negative publicity, regulatory agency penalties, or funding agency sanctions.
• Works openly and communicates productively with multiple UVA central and school administrative units, including the Office of University Council, select VP for Finance offices, and leadership from the schools. Resolves administrative and management problems that may be complex and that may involve a number of central offices and school departments.
• Oversees and manages the efficient operation of the OSP office, annual budget and expenditures.
• Leads interactions with federal agencies and other institutions to promote awareness of the national research agenda and solve common problems, including relevant policy development and implementation.
• Represents the Office for Sponsored Programs on university-wide committees. Represents University of Virginia and participates in national task forces and research administration organizations, including the Federal Demonstration Partnership, Council on Governmental Relations and National Council of University Research Administrators. Responds to requests for information in the Federal Register.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment across organizational units and at all levels, including faculty, deans, central administration and senior institutional officials.
• Proven ability to build internal and external relationships.
• Strong management experience and exceptional leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Customer-focused and dedicated to providing optimum service. Experience in developing performance measurements and quality service principles.
• Highest level of professional and personal integrity.
• Thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment. Is able to handle significant stress and a large workload.
• Strong understanding of research finances.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters degree in relevant field or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Doctoral degree preferred.
• 10 years demonstrating progressive responsibility in the administration of sponsored research at a major research university, in the federal government, or at another entity engaged in sponsored research.
• Experience in negotiating government and corporate contracts.
• Experience in supervising and motivating professional and administrative staff, including change management, in a large team environment. Working knowledge of current management principles and practices, skill in dealing with others in work relationships involving mentoring, conflict resolutions and the ability to make difficult decisions.
• Proven ability to produce and deliver educational and training curriculum and complex information on technical issues to a diverse audience at all levels of the institution.
• Experience in the development, implementation, and use of grants management information systems.
• Experience using technology and developing or using business metrics to improve operations and processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated working knowledge of federal grant and contract administration, practices related to the protection of intellectual property rights, and an understanding of the mission and principles of higher-educational institutions.
• Experience in negotiating government and corporate contracts.
• Experience in supervising and motivating professional and administrative staff, including change management, in a large team environment. Working knowledge of current management principles and practices, skill in dealing with others in work relationships involving mentoring, conflict resolutions and the ability to make difficult decisions.
• Proven ability to produce and deliver educational and training curriculum and complex information on technical issues to a diverse audience at all levels of the institution.
• Experience in the development, implementation, and use of grants management information systems.
• Experience using technology and developing or using business metrics to improve operations and processes.
• Proven experience in change management in a large university setting.
• Proven experience implementing Huron grant management system.
• Deep understanding of clinical trials agreements, cost-accounting principles, conflict of interest issues, and effort reporting.

Physical Demands:

• This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.