Associate Director Research Administration (Research Finance)

We are seeking an Associate Director Research Administration who will provide leadership and management of financial, operational, and administrative activities related to sponsored grants and contracts in the School of Nursing (SON). The position focuses on best practices, processes, and policies to ensure a collaborative operation that demonstrates high levels of communication, productivity, effectiveness, efficiency, and engagement. Reporting to the Vice Dean of Research and the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration and collaborating with the Associate Dean for Research, the position requires a seasoned research administrator with demonstrated ability to provide leadership to a busy cross‑functional team. In addition to managing pre‑award staff who are responsible for compiling and reviewing documentation for proposal submissions, the Associate Director will supervise the manager of the post‑award team and will assist with portfolio assignments, workload assessments, overall processes, and workflow.

The Associate Director Research Administration provides leadership in training, direction, and management of a team of grants, subawards, and/or contracts analysts. The role may oversee or manage teams engaged in pre‑award and/or post‑award functions, such as proposal preparation, documentation review, portfolio management, workload assessments, process improvements, and workflow coordination. The Associate Director may also serve as a support resource for the pre‑award and post‑award teams during periods of increased workload, staff absences, or vacancies.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervise staff who perform the primary transactional actions related to grants, subawards, and/or contracts.
• Provide expert advice to faculty and staff regarding sponsored projects and related activities.
• Provide regulatory and compliance oversight and guidance to research administration staff related to university policies and procedures and all applicable rules, regulations, and sponsor guidelines. Monitor risk and compliance concerns.
• Implement systems to track research administration reporting and metrics as well as sponsored projects deadlines and activity.
• Project and analyze long‑term trends in total research funding and sponsored effort across the division.
• Monitor and manage staff onboarding and ongoing training and ensure processes are effective. Ensure that effective ongoing training programs are in place for all key positions and processes supporting research administration, including developing and participating in training/guidance of students, staff, and faculty in understanding university and sponsor policies and regulations as well as the systems that support sponsored projects.
• Participate in institutional committees for research compliance and sponsored programs administration across the University.
• Create and implement policies and procedures to address new regulatory changes in alignment with university, federal, and other sponsor guidelines.
• Serve as a research administration ombudsperson for faculty and staff by providing leadership and guidance in support of sponsored projects.
• Participate in long‑range and strategic planning related to policy, organizational structure, process, outreach, and professional growth and development of staff. In coordination with leadership, assess gaps and overlaps in business processes and lead efforts to analyze and streamline processes to improve organizational metrics, performance, and service levels, and ensure consistency across the division.
• Other duties as assigned.

In addition to the duties described above

• Oversee strategic direction and provide operational leadership of the Nursing Office of Research Administration ("NORA") team. Develop annual goals for the NORA team that align with the SON strategic plan.
• Ensure timely responses to requests for research administration support from SON leadership, faculty, University administration, and sponsors.
• Ensure sound fiscal management of the sponsored research portfolio including pre‑ and post‑award management of grants, contracts, and subcontracts - both domestic and foreign.
• Monitor the JHU Sponsored Research dashboards and Effort Reporting System (ERP) reporting functions on a regular basis for timeliness of cost transfers, effort reporting, invoices, reports, and other deliverables. Escalate potential issues to the Associate Dean of Finance and Administration along with a plan for prevention or resolution.
• Represent the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration / Vice Dean for Research in their absence.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's Degree in a related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible directly related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD or JD in related field and relevant specialized training.
• Experience in sponsored projects, contracts and/or research compliance administration experience.

Technical Skills & Expected Level Of Proficiency

• Contract Negotiation - Advanced
• Grant Regulations - Advanced
• Interpersonal Skills - Advanced
• Policy Development and Implementation - Advanced
• Process Improvement - AdvancedResearch Administration Knowledge - AdvancedResearch Administration Training - AdvancedStakeholder Engagement - AdvancedStrategic Planning - Advanced

  The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.

  Classified Title: Associate Director Research Administrati

  Job Posting Title (Working Title): Associate Director Research Administration (Research Finance)

  Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PG

  Starting Salary Range: $99,800 - $175,000 Annually ($137,400 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)

  Employee group: Full Time

  Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30 -5:00

  FLSA Status: Exempt

  Location: Hybrid/School of Nursing

  Department name: Research Finance

  Personnel area: School of Nursing