Associate Director of Research and Sponsored Programs

ABOUT SIMMONSLocated in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons University was one of the first higher education institutions to prepare women to become leaders and has evolved to become a university offering a women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as one of our strategic goals is to become the most inclusive campus in New England. You’ll find that people who work here are truly committed to our mission of preparing students to become champions of social justice and leaders in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace. Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience.As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.JOB SUMMARYThe Associate Director of Research and Sponsored Programs is positioned within the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE). Reporting to the Executive Director, the Associate Director oversees federal grant submission processes, provides support to faculty as they locate sources of funding and prepare persuasive and compelling grant proposals, oversees regulatory compliance for the University, oversees some post-award processes, and provides operational support and oversight for the IRB. The Associate Director is a key thought-partner in the development and implementation of a University-wide vision for supporting faculty research at Simmons, and works closely with multiple leadership and operational roles across the University. There is also opportunity for engagement in designing and leading research-related professional development programs for faculty. This position is eligible for campus-based, partial remote, or fully remote work.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONSReasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.Serve as the University’s primary point person for federal grants, research administration, and sponsored programs, including continuously improving submission and compliance processes.Support the development and implementation of a strategic vision for supporting faculty research, serving as an advisor and thought-partner to the Executive Director.Provide guidance and support for faculty in identifying sources of external funding, including training and support for Pivot software.Support faculty as they prepare persuasive and compelling external grant proposals.Manage and oversee all compliance aspects of the federal pre-award process, including oversight of the internal approval process through InfoReady, approval and submissions compliance with funders, budget preparation and justification, supporting documentation, and required institutional information.Serve as administrative co-chair of the External Funding Priorities Committee and coordinate the review of applicable proposals.Serve as the institutional signatory; review and negotiate institutional agreements governing sponsored projects.Oversee federal post-award processes and compliance, including approving expenses, submitting amendments and no-cost extensions, and assisting with and approving financial reports, ensuring that post-award accounting and reporting is compliant. Communicate regularly with the Controller’s office on post-award management and accounting; including reviewing the work of the post-award specialist, facilitating award set-up, internal reporting, supporting collaborative relationship-management with and training for faculty, and monitoring and supporting any required external reporting.Manage all aspects of research compliance for the university: analyze and interpret policies and procedures relevant to research administration and expertise, ensuring compliance with regulatory policies governing research involving human subjects and conflicts of interest; including overseeing Simmons University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).Responsible for the overall institutional compliance and registrations, as required for federal funding recipients.Monitor developments and trends in federal and state agencies as they impact funding regulations, policies or guidelines; serve as the University liaison to agencies as needed.As assigned and as bandwidth allows, design and implement research-related faculty professional development programs.Create the Research at Simmons annual report, collaborating with other offices as needed.Collaborate with the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations.Coordinate with University Communications, PIs, and other stakeholders to announce major successful awards on the Simmons website and on social media.Contribute as needed to planning recognition events related to faculty scholarship.Supervise full and/or part-time staff as assigned.OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESOther duties as assigned.REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSBachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.Minimum of three years of higher education professional experience in faculty research support and/or sponsored programs.Familiarity and applied experience with all types of award mechanisms, including but not limited to, grant writing, contracts, sub-contracts, cooperative agreements and compliance reporting.Demonstrated pre-award management experience, including proposal development and completion of budget forms.Experience with federal agencies, such as NIH, NSF, and/or NEH.Extensive experience with the operational and financial management of sponsored research grants.Knowledge and understanding of regulations regarding research integrity and financial conflict of interest.Superb skills and significant experience with project management, data collection and management, and developing and implementing a communication plan.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONSMaster’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.At least three years’ experience involving federal funding agencies.Experience with developing professional development programming for faculty research.Experience overseeing an internal IRB process.Supervisory experience.COMPETENCIESDemonstrated ability in cultivating collaborative relationships with a diverse campus community, including faculty, senior administrators, and other campus partners as well as external constituents.Strong quantitative, analytic and problem-solving skills to assess all aspects of a situation and make appropriate and timely decisions.Excellent written and oral communication skills.Highly organized and attention to detail.WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDSThis position is eligible for campus-based, partial remote, or fully remote work. Year-round position, 40 hours/week.Office environment.Essential physical requirements including typing and light physical effort/lifting (up to 10 pounds).Work is primarily during business hours but occasional work on evenings or weekends may be needed to meet grant deadlines.Travel requirements include occasional travel to professional conferences.Instructions to Applicants : Please upload

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applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

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