Department: Contracts and Grants Accounting - 415102
Minimum Qualifications
Master's degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, finance, higher education administration, research administration, or a related field.
- Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored programs administration, research administration, grants management, contract and grant accounting, or a closely related field.
License/Certification Required
Preferred Qualifications
A certified research administrator (CRA) credential is preferred.
More than 10 years of progressively responsible experience in research administration or sponsored programs leadership.
- Experience leading both sponsored programs, contracting and grant accounting functions within a university or research-intensive environment.
- Experience supervising managers or directors and leading large, multi-functional teams.
- Professional certification such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA), or Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership and Strategic AdministrationProvide leadership and oversight for all post-award administration and accounting functions across the Office of Research and Innovation.
- Manage the daily operations of the CGA department, ensuring effective coordination across pre- and post-award functions, contract negotiation, closeout, and reporting.
- Serve as a key advisor to the Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation for research administration operations, financial compliance, staffing, systems, and strategic initiatives.
- Develop and implement strategic plans, operational priorities, and performance measures that advance institutional research and innovation goals.
- Lead organizational change initiatives, process improvements, and technology implementations that improve efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.
- Establish clear expectations, workflows, service standards, and
performance measures that support timely, accurate, compliant, and
customer-oriented service to faculty and campus partners.
- Share responsibility with the Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation for ensuring that all sponsored project award implementations comply with federal, state, sponsor, and university requirements.
- Maintain productive relationships with sponsoring agencies,
partner institutions, industry collaborators, and other external
stakeholders.
- Lead or supervise contract and agreement negotiations related to sponsored programs, including grants, contracts, subawards, data use agreements, confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements, and other research-related agreements as appropriate.
- Coordinate with the Office of General Counsel, academic units, principal investigators, sponsors, and external partners to resolve contractual, regulatory, financial, and operational issues.
- Support private sector and external collaborations by ensuring that sponsored project agreements are structured to protect the university while enabling timely, productive partnerships.
- Oversee processing of post-award program reporting and authorization of project change actions.
Post-award Reporting and Financial Administration SupportOversee post-award financial administration, including financial system fund setup, sponsor reporting, invoicing, financial monitoring, effort and cost-share tracking and reporting support, budget revisions, expenditure review, and closeout.
- Ensure sponsored project financial activity is accurate, timely, compliant, and aligned with sponsor terms and institutional, federal and State requirements.
- Provide leadership for financial reporting, analysis, forecasting, and issue resolution related to sponsored projects.
- Partner with principal investigators, departments, colleges,
finance offices, and central administration to address financial
questions and support responsible project management.
- Collaborate with ORI units, Finance, General Counsel, Human Resources, Information Technology, academic colleges, and other campus partners to improve interdependent business processes and support research growth.
- Identify opportunities to leverage technology, automation, and data-informed decision-making to improve operational effectiveness.
- Ensure the maintenance, integrity, and reporting of sponsored
project data and records for institutional leadership and external
stakeholders.
- Facilitate communication and problem-solving among colleges, principal investigators, research administrators, and financial staff to improve processes and address operational challenges.
- Develop and deliver training, educational programs, guidance materials, and workshops related to sponsored programs administration, financial management, and compliance.
- Promote a campus culture that supports responsible growth in
sponsored research, scholarship, creative activities, and
innovation.
- Recruit, develop, and retain highly qualified staff committed to excellence in service, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
- Empower staff to exercise sound judgment, solve problems proactively, and assume ownership of assigned responsibilities.
- Promote professional development, succession planning, workload management, and continuous learning across the unit.
- Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented, and professional
team culture grounded in accountability, continuous improvement,
compliance, and service.
Work Schedule/Hours:Mon-Fri, 8:00 - 5:00 pm
Suggested Salary Range: $133,276 - $138,000
Closing Date: 09/27/2026
Open Until Filled: No
Evaluation of Applications Begins: 09/07/2026
Proposed Date of Hire: 11/02/2026
To apply, visit https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/55921
Appalachian State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or sexual orientation.
je-4585c1775cd54d5cafa568d5cb3dcdae