Director Grants & Contracts Research Operations - Boston Medical Center

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Executive Director Research Operations, the Director of Sponsored Programs Administration will lead pre-and post-award (non-financial) administration of sponsored programs, thus assuring a high quality, effective and efficient support platform for the BMC research community. This position is responsible for fostering productive relationships with faculty and departmental research administrators, departmental and section leaders, BMC institutional leadership, peer institutions, sponsors and other stakeholders. This position also initiates strategies and tools to improve service excellence, process and quality improvement, and cost effectiveness in sponsored programs administration. Responsibilities include overseeing and managing recruitment, training staff professional advancement and development, performance management, outcome measures and annual performance evaluations. This position provides direction to the sponsored programs team and leads sponsored programs topics and operational improvements related to pre-and post-award administration, ensuring that the needs of Principal Investigators, Program Directors and administrative staff are met, in the context of institutional compliance. Assists the Executive Director of Research Operations with assigned projects related to the administration of research and sponsored programs at Boston Medical Center.

Position: Director Grants & Contracts Research Operations

Department: Sponsored Programs Admin

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Represents BMC as an Institutional Signature Authority for sponsored research grants and contracts, material/data transfer agreements, and all other sponsored activities.
• Establish performance standards and metrics for research management activities; identify/implement changes to ensure performance and compliance across institution.
• Collaborates with senior Research Finance staff to identify, develop and implement systems and tools to support effective and efficient sponsored programs administration, including proposal development, proposal submission, and non-financial award management.
• Prepare for and respond to regulatory changes and address issues identified through internal and external audits and program reviews.
• Develop internal training programs for sponsored programs administrative staff in collaboration with the Training and Education Program Manager.
• Directs team and provides oversight to principal investigators and departmental administrators with sponsored programs topics including but not limited to proposal submission, budget adjustments, and interpretation of policies and regulations.
• Respond timely and effectively to meet external deadlines.
• Directs staff in the review of budgets to ensure categories and associated rates are appropriate and in conformance with sponsor and BMC policies.
• Ensures the timely submission of contract documents, negotiation of business proposals, and monitoring progress to ensure adherence to contract provisions.
• Provides guidance and leadership to sponsored programs team and research community on grants and contracts matters.
• Develops policies and procedures that comply with regulatory changes and institutional direction.
• Promotes funding opportunities through registration in InfoEd (SPIN search) and other funding announcements.
• Promotes a knowledgeable and informed research community to reduce institutional and individual risk through educational programs, policies and procedures.
• Provides subject matter expertise in grantsmanship, submission process, sponsor terms and conditions, award negotiation and administration.
• Participates/leads central office and department research administrators' meetings/forums to identify issues and implement solutions in a timely manner; improve workflows and facilitate coordination of activities and effective communications.
• Collaborates with appropriate offices to respond to changes in regulations and address problems and issues identified through internal and external audits and reviews.
• Manage direct reports, provide training, mentoring and effective delegation and oversight.
• Responsible for performance outcomes.
• Recruit and retain talent to support the needs of sponsored programs administration. Impart BMC data integrity requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Must adhere to all of BMC's RESPECT behavioral standards.
  
  (The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree in Healthcare Administration, or Certified Research Administrator preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• 8-10 years of experience in a Research Administration environment in an academic medical center or health system setting, with at least 10 years of experience in leadership and management.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Demonstrable experience with sponsored projects administration required, including but not limited to: Working knowledge of NIH, state and other federal sponsor grants policy requirements, current and emerging research administration issues and trends.
• Working knowledge of research contracts.
• Experience with the administration of foundation and not-for-profit sponsored programs, management systems and reporting requirements.
• Exceptional project planning, management and organizational skills, with the demonstrated ability to drive multiple concurrent projects to completion.
• Ability to meet deadlines and to effectively work with diverse groups.
• Strong quantitative, analytic and problem solving skills to evaluate all aspects of the situation and make appropriate and timely decisions.
• Ability to interface effectively with faculty and staff with a strong customer-service focus.
• Superior leadership, mentoring, staff development, communication, facilitation and customer service skills.
• Collaborative work style and ability to work in a matrix environment
• Ability to work closely and effectively with diverse teams, including faculty, administrators, sponsors, policy makers, and the private sector in a wide range of disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast paced environment with strict deadlines, to manage multiple priorities, and to delegate where appropriate.
• Knowledge of governmental, not-for-profit, and private grants making agencies.
• Working knowledge of Uniform Guidance, OASC-3, NIH grants policy statement, Federal Acquisition Regulations and others.

Technical skills, including MS Office suite, Adobe, and grant submission platforms
Req id: 30617