"Director of Research Administration, Pre-Award, YSPH"

Overview

Reporting to the Lead Administrator of the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), this position leads and manages a team of professional staff dedicated to the pre-award function for YSPH, responsible for preparing and submitting approximately 300 proposals per year. The position includes active oversight of all externally sponsored proposals at YSPH and the associated workflow, ensuring they are prepared accurately, efficiently and in compliance with regulations, policies and identified best practices. Responsibilities also include providing advice to YSPH leadership; ensuring appropriate oversight and administrative review of all proposals; developing, reviewing, and revising policies, procedures, and guidelines; supervising staff and managing workflow; and maintaining records and documentation.

Additional Responsibilities Include:

• Lead and supervise the pre-award team to ensure the highest levels of customer service, quality, efficiency and staff satisfaction and engagement.
• Provide training, support and guidance to the pre- award unit and other personnel at the school that are involved with the management of grants and contracts. Lead the development and documentation of best practices, guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Develop and use metrics to monitor workflow within the unit to ensure the timely and effective preparation and submission of proposals. Develop and manage evaluation activities to assess the effectiveness of the pre and post award function at the School. Provide regular updates to the Associate Dean of Research and Lead Administrator regarding trends.
• Actively participate in the management of sponsored project administration for the School; establish, promote and monitor cross-functional teamwork between Pre- and Post-Award Teams.
• Provide expert-level support services to investigators and staff including, but not limited to, the development and management of externally sponsored applications and contracts. Keep investigators and department administrators informed of contract negotiation progress.
• Ensure that all required reports and other data are submitted accurately and on time, including monthly and annual reports, and other reports as requested by the Deans and administration. Serve as a member of the YSPH Office of Finance & Administration leadership team and participate with senior administration in the development of policies to promote grants and contracts which support the University's objective.
• Serve as a liaison to University personnel regarding grant and contract requirements and the exploration and development of best practices. Investigate non-routine issues impacting an investigators’ ability to fulfill grant/contract requirements, secure approvals; provide historical information to administrators and faculty in the pursuit of agency support for non-routine funding issues; via partnership with the Office of Sponsored Projects, resolve major problems with agency in matters regarding the submission, award, extension and reporting of complex grants and contracts.
• Keep abreast of laws, regulations, external and internal policies and procedures governing the administration of externally sponsored research agreements and other complex agreements and serve as a resource to faculty, staff and administration units in the School.
• Work closely with other University personnel in the development and implementation of initiatives to support the growth and management of research activities including development of training initiatives to promote best practices at all levels of research administration.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Well-developed managerial, financial, decision-making, planning, organizational, problem-resolution and leadership skills. High level strategic planning skills. Ability to anticipate and manage change in the business environment.
2. Demonstrated ability to manage people on a day-to-day basis and inspire a high level of commitment and performance. Visionary with ability to influence, generate a strategic vision and influence others to achieve this vision.
3. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to adapt communication style to address the needs of individuals at all levels throughout the University and negotiate skillfully with both internal and external constituents. Ability to lead; sought after for direction, reassurance, counsel and advice.
4. Proven experience in strategic leadership, grant administration, and organizational development. Ability to champion change, defend decisions based on an evaluation and to drive results in a work group, keeping team aware and ensuring incentive and interest.
5. Solid understanding of internal control concepts and the implementation of internal control systems in a complex business environment. Strong computer skills with an ability to effectively employ the MS Office suite, multitask, prioritize, and adapt to changing priorities.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. 5 years experience in research administration.
2. Knowledge of federal, state and sponsor regulations, guidelines pertaining to contract and grant administration, electronic proposal systems.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Directs, monitors, and assesses needs and directs the application of resources of an administrative University office dealing with one or more major functional areas.
2. Directs and implements solutions to problems that are routine to complex in nature and that affect multiple functional areas of responsibility.
3. Plans and/or participates in planning University activities on a long-term basis to comply with University goals and objectives.
4. Establishes and implements consistent university-wide policies in multiple functional areas of responsibility.
5. Ensures that University office policies and procedures are in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.
6. Develops and monitors goals and objectives for managerial and professional staff in compliance with University strategies.
7. Directs a staff of exempt and non-exempt employees.
8. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in related field and eight years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.