Director of Research Administration

Director Of Research Administration

Reporting to the Senior Director of Financial Operations and with limited direction, the Director of Research Administration will oversee end-to-end grant and contract management for the Institute, and manage the daily operations of the Office of Research Contracts, Project Management Office and the Proposals Group. The Director will work closely with administrative leadership and scientific teams to oversee efficient operations of the Institute's overall contract and grant processes to include both pre- and post-award management. Will perform contract, subcontract and grant administration in accordance with established policies and procedures, develop proposals, implement project controls, facilitate and manage effective internal and external client relationships, continuously analyze company's contractual risks and implement policies and practices to mitigate risk, research contract/new business opportunities, and perform all other related duties and tasks as required or assigned. Will be expected to oversee all contracts and grant administration processes including reviewing solicitations, developing internal analysis of contracting opportunities, and completing proposals to include reviewing and developing rates, pricing, basis of estimates, standard forms, narratives and all other related items. The Director will be responsible for monitoring the Project Management Office's oversight of ongoing performance on contracts to ensure adherence to contract terms and conditions and request contract modifications as needed, and will prepare regular and adhoc reports as needed. Will oversee external audits relating to company's contract work including GSA, Federal, HHS and DCA audits and prepare and file all necessary governmental regulatory reports and plans. The Director will also oversee and manage the daily operations of the Office of Research Contracts, Project Management Office, and the Proposals Group. Will work closely with the Senior Director of Financial Operations and other stakeholders to identify staffing needs and available expertise, provide leadership and mentoring to all department staff, direct the recruiting and selection process for all departmental positions, and work with the Human Resources Department as needed on performance evaluations, training and development of staff.

Requires a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field and a minimum of 10+ years of directly-related, progressively responsible professional-level research administration management experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been attained. Also requires a minimum of 3 years personnel management experience. Must have a demonstrated thorough understanding of and experience with the entire contract and grant life cycles (acquisition planning, pre-award and post-award). Requires in-depth knowledge of and demonstrated experience working in contracts subject Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the Department of Defense supplement to FAR (DFARS), the National Institute of Health (another other similar organizations) granting rules and guidelines, other governmental departments/agencies implementing FAR, and the ability to reference, interpret and implement Federal regulations related to Federal grants, contracts and other funding vehicles.

• The Director should have outstanding negotiating skills and a demonstrated ability navigating the complex Federal funding environment. Requires experience in researching, interpreting and resolving funding, contract and grant issues, the ability to draft, review and approve moderate-to-complex non-routine contractual instruments, and demonstrated knowledge of contracting concepts, applicable public acquisition laws and associated regulations.

• Must also have previous experience effectively leading a large team in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and the ability to prioritize departmental functions and responsibilities to meet deadlines and goals. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate previous success in developing professional and effective relationships with both administrative and non-administrative managers and colleagues.

• Must have superior professional-level written and verbal communication skills; a high degree of professionalism, diplomacy and discretion; excellent judgment, problem-solving and decision-making skills; and strong customer-service skills. Demonstrated ability in managing a wide variety of complex tasks and projects simultaneously while meeting multiple deadlines is required. The ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive situations with solid judgment and discretion is critical, as well as the ability to perform duties independently.

• Requires prior experience with Deltek CostPoint or a similar system, professional-level general computer skills, advanced experience with Microsoft Excel, and the ability to learn other department-specific computer systems as needed.

Master's degree in a related field is strongly preferred, as is previous experience in scientific research and not-for-profit environments. Relocation may be offered for this position.

As Lovelace is a Federal Contractor, all applicants offered positions with the Institute are required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to starting employment.

Salary is commensurate with experience. EEO, including disability/vets