Director - Sponsored Programs

Overview

Georgia Tech prides itself on its technological resources, collaborations, high-quality student body, and its commitment to building an outstanding and diverse community of learning, discovery, and creation. We strongly encourage applicants whose values align with our institutional values, as outlined in our Strategic Plan. These values include academic excellence, diversity of thought and experience, inquiry and innovation, collaboration and community, and ethical behavior and stewardship. Georgia Tech has policies to promote a healthy work-life balance and is aware that attracting faculty may require meeting the needs of two careers.

About Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 45,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.

2. We strive for excellence.

3. We thrive on diversity.

4. We celebrate collaboration.

5. We champion innovation.

6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.

7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.

8. We act ethically.

9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

The Director - Sponsored Programs role (Government and Not-for Profit Contracting Teams for GTRI/RI) will lead teams responsible for preparing, processing, submitting, negotiating, executing and administering assigned sponsored proposals and awards, which may include governmental, industry, non-U.S. and/or not-for-profit funding of grants, contracts, and other sponsored agreements and donations in the support of research. The teams are responsible for providing services and guidance to faculty and research staff including review, analysis, and interpretation of new award terms and conditions, including contracts and other complex agreements. Serve as an institute-wide subject matter expert for sponsored projects agreement and administration related matters and apply advanced expert technical knowledge and expertise to recommend solutions that impact institute-wide policies and strategy related to research administration and sponsored agreements. This role provides leadership and management and coordination of operations-related functions with responsibility for overall success including setting employee and directorate goals, assigning workload, and assessing employee and directorate performance.

Job Duty 1 -
Develop and propose strategic plans for the team. Identify and resolve strategic issues of substantial significance that have campus-wide impacts. Set goals and determine priorities for the teams and their managers.

Job Duty 2 -
Guide and advise teams in timely analysis of solicitations and review of proposals to ensure proposals are adequate, reasonable, complete, and compliant with Institute policies, agency regulations, and solicitation requirements.

Job Duty 3 -
Guide and advise teams in timely negotiation of terms and conditions and post award administration including coordination with researchers' Unit administration, Grants and Contracts Accounting and research administration departments responsible for research integrity assurance.

Job Duty 4 -
Provide assistance and monitoring of team members' interpretation of complex contract language, including contractual rights and obligations, and negotiation of contract changes. Identify risks, review mitigation strategies with leadership, and execute agreements on behalf of the Institute's research corporations, with an approved corporation officer.

Job Duty 5 -
Serve as subject matter expert on research administration including applicable federal regulations, state laws, Institute policies, and agency requirements. Provide institute-wide subject matter expertise and resources for developing and delivering campus-wide training on an array of sponsored award related topics.

Job Duty 6 -
Develop and implement OSP policies for administration of sponsored agreements and oversee the development and maintenance of internal documents and procedures to ensure work product and workflow are efficient and up to date.

Job Duty 7 -
Use complex problem solving and advise teams, faculty, project directors and staff on proposal submission process, post award administration, regulatory compliance requirements and Institute policy. Manage escalations and resolve complex problems brought forward from staff, department administrators, and others.

Job Duty 8 -
Advise senior management on programmatic, operational and policy development. Participate in or lead strategic initiatives in conjunction with a unit or at the Institute level.

Job Duty 9 -
Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Educational Requirements
Master's Degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Experience
Ten or more years of job-related experience with five years of supervisory experience

Additional Preferred Qualifications
Certified Research Administrator, Certified Associate Contract Manager, Certified Professional Contract Manager, Certified Pre-Award Financial Administrator and/or State Bar of Georgia membership.

Have or able to obtain a high-level security clearance

Preferred Educational Qualifications
JD or equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred Experience
Application of required skills within an institution of higher education, federal government contractor, federal government organization, or other not-for-profit institution receiving sponsored research awards

ABILITIES
Ability to organize and prioritize multiple objectives, exercise independent judgement, and consistently meet deadlines; negotiate complex intellectual property clauses in research contracts; communicate complex contact requirements to others with only lay knowledge of the subject matter; work effectively and professionally with all levels of internal and external customers on complex issues and problems; proactively make decisions and produce practical solutions in challenging situations; and, establish effective relationships within and between teams to accomplish objectives.

KNOWLEDGE
This job requires in-depth knowledge of sponsored contract and grant administration policies and regulations, which may include those specific to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), 2 CFR 200, Bayh-Dole Act, and specific federal agency requirements including DOD, NSF, DOE, and NIH. Knowledge of different contract types (including Cost Reimbursement, Fixed Priced, Time and Material, Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity, Other Transaction Agreements, etc.) and terms applicable to sponsored research is preferred.

SKILLS
Leadership management, and customer service skills to excel in a complex, compliance driven, high-pressure environment. Exemplary reading comprehension and logical reasoning skills. Excellent negotiation and communications skills, both verbal and written. Proactive decision-making and problem-solving skills to respond to high-pressure situations. Skills related to the use of office equipment and specialized computer applications and systems.

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

More information on these policies can be found here: https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/c2714 Board of Regents Policy Manual | University System of Georgia (usg.edu).

This is a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does require security clearance.

Job Grade: R13

Salary Range: $161,777.00 - $273,404.00

Location: Atlanta, GA

Successful candidate must be able to pass a background check. Please visit http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/employment/pre-employment-screening