Associate Director of Office of Sponsored Projects

The University of New Mexico’s Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), seeks a motivated, detail-oriented, results-driven, self-starter, and proactive and resourceful individual to join our team as the Associate Director of the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP). OSP’s mission is to support the University’s research mission by providing administration, management, and oversight of extramural sponsored research, under the direction of the OVPR.

OSP provides support and assistance with proposal submission and management of successfully awarded projects. The OSP office works closely with faculty, department administrators and support staff across the Main and Branch campuses to ensure project success and compliance throughout the sponsored projects lifecycle.

The Associate Director directs the integrated pre-award proposals, awards, and contracts and grants functions for the University of New Mexico Main and Branch Campus. This position provides high-level direction, leadership, and consultation to faculty investigators and staff in support of funded research pre-award efforts. This individual oversees and provides leadership in the negotiation and execution of complex research grants and contracts. This position directs and coordinates the resolution of award-related administrative and operational issues among internal and external stakeholders.

Additionally, the Associate Director serves as the official chief negotiator for the University and has delegated signatory authority from the Vice President for Research for external funding proposals, contracts, grant documents, and other agreements for sponsored projects, and proposal funding approval authority. 

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides leadership and vision to the three OSP teams, Proposals, Awards, and Contracts. These are diverse teams of staff involved in review, approval, negotiation, and administration of research, educational, and public service proposals, grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, subawards and may include ancillary research agreements such as material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements and data transfer agreements and the provision of technical and administrative guidance and support to faculty and staff seeking outside funding for research, public service, and special sponsored institutional projects
2. Sets strategic goals for OSP and leads the efforts to achieve those goals. Aligns departmental goals with the OVPR’s, and university's mission statement and provides guidance, training and mentorship to managers and staff in areas of expertise. Includes responsibility for implementing and maintaining a departmental budget and ensuring projects are completed within budget guidelines.
3. Directs, coordinates, and oversees the pre-award review and approval process for funded research, and related programs on UNM’s Main & Branch Campuses, ensuring compliance with Federal regulations and guidelines and University policy governing the administration of research.
4. Works collaboratively with other UNM units including the Faculty Research and Development Office, Office of Research Integrity & Compliance and Contract & Grants Accounting for effective research administration and to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
5. Works with the University’s Research Development Office in provision of assistance to researchers in the development of competitive proposals and the pre-award administration of research projects; provides authoritative direction to faculty, staff, and administrators regarding rules, regulations, and policies related to grants and contracts.
6. Serves as principal source of consultation and expertise to the enterprise with respect to research contract planning, development, interpretation, implementation, and maintenance.
7. Represents the organization to external agencies and constituencies in the negotiation of major scientific research contracts.
8. Oversees all facets of the daily operations of the organizational unit, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, policies, and operating agreements. This includes monitoring, implementing, and enforcing federal, state and local policies including the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 and Federal Acquisition Regulations to ensure compliance of proposal and awards in the form of grants, cooperative agreements and contracts.
9. Develops or assists with the development and implementation of policies and procedures consistent with those of OSP, OVPR, and/or UNM to ensure efficient and safe operation of the unit.
10. Oversees the supervision of all OSP personnel, but specifically for direct reports: the Proposal, Awards, and Contracts managers. Supervision includes work allocation, training, development, promotion, enforcement of internal procedures and controls, and problem resolution; evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions; motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance.
11. Responsible for ongoing stakeholder relations, which includes presenting to and meeting regularly with Main Campus Associate Deans for Research, Chancellors of Branch Campuses, Research Center Directors, Compliance Officers, UNM Foundation Personnel, and Sponsors. Co-lead the University’s Research Administrators Network, which develops and hosts monthly trainings, and networking opportunities for research administrators at all levels of the research enterprise.
12. Identifies, analyzes, and evaluates contractual compliance issues as they arise. Works with the Office of Research Integrity & Compliance to resolve or facilitate resolution of compliance-related problems among constituencies as appropriate.
13. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.