State Title: Director
Bargaining Unit: Non-Unit
Employment Type: 35 hours per week/Full-time
Salary Range: $95,000 - $110,000
NON-UNION POSITIONS : For non-unit positions, salary
commensurate with experience and is accompanied by a competitive
benefits package.
About TCNJ
Founded in 1855, TCNJ offers a highly personalized and
collaborative liberal arts education with over 7,400 undergraduates
and 700 graduate students. The college is consistently ranked among
the top comprehensive colleges in the nation, offering small
classes, a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, and an immersive
living-learning experience. With a 4-year graduation rate ranked #1
in New Jersey and #9 among U.S. public institutions, TCNJ is a
model for public higher education.
Position Overview:
The Associate Director of Grant Development provides strategic
leadership and institutional oversight for sponsored research
development and compliance activities. The Associate Director
serves as an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) with
delegated institutional authority to review, certify, and submit
proposals on behalf of the College.
The role includes independent interpretation of sponsor
regulations, certification of institutional representations to
federal agencies, leadership of research compliance processes,
oversight of federal registration systems, and campus-wide research
development programming.
The Associate Director exercises independent professional judgment
in determining proposal readiness, regulatory compliance
requirements, and institutional submission authorization.
Responsibilities:
- Provide college-wide leadership and expert guidance for grants,
sponsored research, and externally funded projects.
Serve as an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) with
authority to review, certify, and submit grant and contract
proposals on behalf of the institution.
Exercise independent professional judgment in certifying
institutional representations and assurances to federal and state
sponsors.
Interpret sponsor regulations and determine proposal compliance
readiness prior to submission.
Provide advanced guidance regarding research design, goals,
budgets, timelines, sustainability plans, and compliance
requirements.
Foster interdisciplinary collaborations aligned with
institutional strategy.
Lead development of major institution-wide grant proposals as
needed.
Supervise and direct the Graduate Assistant supporting grant
development activities.
Engage in and oversee prospect research to identify strategic
funding opportunities.
Review and approve complete and compliant proposal packages,
including institutional approvals and regulatory disclosures.
Attend funder technical sessions and interpret evolving sponsor
requirements.
Prepare and distribute institutional funding
communications.
Maintain current institutional registrations in federal systems
(e.g., SAM.gov, Grants.gov, Research.gov) to ensure continuous
eligibility for funding.
Oversee institutional research administration platforms
including CITI and SPIN to ensure operational readiness and
compliance training completion.
Lead campus-wide implementation of Financial Conflict of
Interest (FCOI), Export Control, Responsible Conduct of Research
(RCR), and intellectual property compliance processes.
Serve as institutional point of contact for iEdison reporting
and federally funded invention disclosures.
Determine when Export Control review is required and coordinate
with appropriate institutional offices to ensure regulatory
adherence.
Plan and execute Tri-Annual Faculty Writing Retreats and
research development programming.
Develop and deliver institutional training on non-fiscal
sponsored research compliance requirements.
Manage and oversee OGSR website content, communications, and
research development materials.
Track programming outcomes for institutional reporting and
assessment.
Provide continuity of compliance leadership and proposal
certification authority during administrative transitions.
Stay current on regulatory updates affecting sponsored research
administration.
Participate in professional research administration
associations to maintain institutional best practices.
Plans, directs, and manages own work with broad institutional
authority. Exercises delegated signature authority on behalf of the
College for sponsored research submissions. Supervises: Graduate
Assistant (1)
Other duties as assigned by the Director.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Master's degree with 5–7 years of directly related experience
in sponsored research administration, research development, or
compliance oversight in higher education.
- Experience with federal regulatory compliance and proposal
certification authority preferred.
- Professional certification (CRA or CPRA) preferred or
willingness to obtain.
- Thorough knowledge of grant seeking, proposal development, and
sponsored research administration.
- Advanced knowledge of federal and state regulatory frameworks
governing sponsored research, including FCOI, Export Control,
Responsible Conduct of Research, intellectual property, and federal
invention reporting requirements.
- Demonstrated experience serving in a compliance oversight
and/or Authorized Organizational Representative capacity.
- Ability to interpret complex regulatory language and apply
institutional policy accordingly.
- Strong leadership, project management, and cross-functional
coordination skills.
- Experience with federal submission portals (Research.gov, eRA
Commons, Grants.gov) and compliance systems.
Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations
in order to perform the essential functions of the position. If the
requested accommodation(s) cannot be made because it would cause
the employer undue hardship, the applicant may not be eligible for
the position.
Employer Qualifications
Employment at TCNJ is contingent upon the successful completion of
an applicable background check, reference checks, and verification
of identity and authorization to work in the United States (Form
I-9).
Accommodation: Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation to
apply or interview should contact
hr@tcnj.edu .
Employee Benefits
As a member of The College of New Jersey Community, you will be a
part of an exciting and rewarding public college career. Eligible
full-time employees will be able to take advantage of a generous
benefits package that includes health, welfare, and retirement
benefits, including:
- Comprehensive benefit plans covering medical, dental and
prescription plans
- Generous leave entitlements program and Energy Savings
Program
- Employee and dependent Tuition Waiver and Reimbursement
Program
- Pension, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, group
life insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Employee affinity groups
- New Jersey State Employee Discount Program (Pet
insurance, cell phone plan discounts, discounted amusement park
tickets, etc.)
- Access to extensive learning opportunities
To view a comprehensive list of benefits available to employees,
visit our Health Benefits Plans and Programs page to
learn more!
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should apply online and submit a letter of
interest, resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information
for three professional references. Applications will be considered
until a viable finalist has been found.
The College is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive
campus community that respects and uplifts individuals from all
backgrounds. We value the varied perspectives, experiences, and
talents of all members of our community and strive to create an
environment where everyone has equitable access to opportunities
for success. As an equal opportunity employer, we comply with all
applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and
aff irmative action. We encourage applications from
individuals whose lived experiences and professional interests
align with our institutional mission of academic excellence,
access, and integrity.
