William Paterson University invites applications for the full-time position of Executive Director, Office of Sponsored Programs.

Reporting to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, the Executive Director provides leadership for the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), including the direction or accomplishment of all pre-award, post-award and compliance related activities, preparation of reports or advisements regarding the activities of the OSP, funding and related matters.  The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the OSP and the supervision of staff.

The Executive Director serves as the primary liaison to other University departments and to agencies that may provide grants or contracts to the University. 

Department overview:

The mission of the Office of Sponsored Programs is to provide value-added assistance to encourage, develop and support the research, scholarship, education, creative, and community service aspirations of William Paterson University's faculty, staff and students.

For more information visit https://www.wpunj.edu/osp/

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leads the office in assisting faculty and staff to seek, secure and manage extramural funding through appropriate means and formats available with a focus on increasing successful grant and sponsored activity.  Oversees identification of funding opportunities, development of idea/project, development and submission of proposals, and follow through with post-award management. 
• Provides vision and direction for the OSP in consultation with the Office of Academic Affairs. Is instrumental in leading strategic planning of the unit.
• Serves as the liaison to external consulting agencies; provides thought leadership for external as well as internal constituencies by establishing and maintaining professional relationships with program officers; obtains and distributes up-to-date information on funding opportunities, reporting requirements, changes in regulatory requirements, and other instances to the university community.
• Leads coordination of the Institutional Review process. Includes facilitation of planning teams, ensuring appropriate and correct authorship of proposals, collecting and analyzing data, serving as liaison to partner agencies and/or funding agencies, and final review of components submitted by individuals.
• Identifies operational issues and obstacles and barriers across all projects and recommends and implements solutions based on established metrics, audit reports, input from project leaders, faculty, statisticians, business services, project team members and sponsors.
• Identifies, creates and improves OSP and institutional grant related policies and procedures.
• Collaborates with University-wide or College/Unit-specific entities to promote research and scholarly activities. Works with the Faculty Senate Research Council on the presentation of research work through events.
• Manages contract negotiation, to include obtaining signatures and returning signed contracts, in a timely manner.  May host meetings of key individuals to insure timely and accurate establishment of accounts, submission of human resource or purchasing documentation, initiation or advancement of projects, and interim and final reporting.
• Coordinates with WP Business Services on pre-award grant/budget review and post-award grant accounting and management; works with Business Services to respond to faculty, staff or administrative questions, concerns and issues related to the support of sponsored programs.
• Coordinates the preparation and submission of institutional applications for grant-related designations; prepares and submits required reports.
• Maintains budget and approves spending for the department; oversees the process for defining positions and hiring of staff; manages office staff.
• Oversees maintenance of accurate records and files for proposals and funded projects. Works with technologies for electronic routing of proposals and other electronic system needs.
• Provides advice and support to grant project managers on administrative and reporting matters, including sub-award agreements.
• Performs other duties as assigned that are appropriate for the position.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a field related to the position or Bachelor’s degree plus equivalent years of experience.
• Five (5) or more years of experience working in grants management and/or research management.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of federal and state regulations for research administration.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to analyze and interpret institutional policies and procedures, federal and state grants management rules, and regulations relating to grant implementation and compliance.
• Experience working with faculty seeking external support for their research and scholarly activities.
• Knowledge of sponsored programs award criteria and application of federal and state regulations related to sponsored program awards required.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing policies and procedures, training, and communication.
• Demonstrated success developing and maintaining public-private sector partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience with presenting information to diverse internal and external audiences.
• Proficiency working with MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and other MS Office and industry related software products required.
• Ability to work in an online environment.
• Hybrid remote work available depending upon institutional need.

Additional, preferred qualifications:

• Experience working at an institution of higher education.
• Supervisory experience.

Personal attributes and traits:

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in oral and written format in a complex and diverse organization.
• Ability to dissect the parts of an issue and effectively address and solve problems within stated goals and agreed upon timelines.
• Capable of prioritizing work in a way that meets agreed upon goals and timelines.
• Able to collaborate effectively with a diverse constituency with competing wants and needs.

Invitation to apply:

Interested candidates will be prompted to complete an application and submit a resume and cover letter.

Submission of all documents listed above is required for consideration.

General questions related to this application process, please contact talent@wpunj.edu

About William Paterson University:

William Paterson University is the third most diverse public university in New Jersey. As a longstanding member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), we have been designated by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. William Paterson University is also proud to be designated as a NASA MSI (Minority Serving Institution). The University offers undergraduate and graduate academic programs that range from liberal arts and sciences to pre-professional and professional programs; it enrolls over 8,000 students from across the country and from over 40 nations. The University is situated on a beautiful, 370-acre suburban campus in Wayne, New Jersey, just twenty miles west of New York City.