Job Details

Job no: 493335
Work type: Exempt Staff
Location: Gambier, OH

Kenyon College is seeking qualified applicants to fill the position of Director of Sponsored Faculty Projects (OSFP). Reporting to the Provost, the Director of OSFP will provide strategic direction for the continued evolution of a grant-seeking culture at Kenyon College, including hands-on support to faculty members seeking funding opportunities for their research, creative endeavors, scholarly work, and pedagogical innovations. Primary focus will be on managing a highly-effective, service-oriented office aimed at streamlining proposal development and submission, ensuring compliance with college and sponsor regulations/policies, celebrating faculty achievements, and supervising a small team, which the new Director will envision and staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and continually improve all grant-seeking activities across the grant life cycle, including assisting faculty with idea development, identifying funding opportunities, interpreting agency guidelines, advising concept and proposal development, editing as requested, assisting in drafting budgets, ensuring compliance, facilitating submission, and collaborating with the Business Office on post-award management.
• Meet with individual faculty members to gain insight into their research, creative, and scholarly agendas.
• Collaborate with the Provost’s Office to coordinate areas of faculty growth and training as well as OSFP development needs.
• Hire, supervise, and mentor an Assistant Director of OSFP.
• Work closely with the Assistant Controller (or other assigned staff in the Business Office) on all grant-related budgetary matters in accordance with Uniform Guidance and sponsor regulations, compliance with college policies, submission, award and subaward negotiations, and post-award oversight.
• Serve as one of the college’s three designated Authorized Organizational Representatives (AOR), along with the Assistant Controller and Provost, responsible for institutional sign-off and submission of completed applications.
• Provide training and resources to grant seekers and project leads.
• Remain current on grant opportunities and compliance requirements, including applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and policies.
• Manage grant records, including submission data, pending status, awards, declines, and reporting requirements.
• Manage OSFP social media platforms, including posts of faculty achievements on the OSFP blog.
• Inform the work of the grants coordinator related to timely/appropriate expending of budget lines for grant projects and reporting.
• Act as Academic Division liaison to the Advancement Division, ensuring that academic priorities are conveyed, providing information as requested, and participating in strategy sessions for solicitations to major foundations, corporate partners, and government agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s/PhD preferred).
• At least 3-5 years supervisory and institutional leadership over a pre-award or combined pre/post-award office.
• Minimum of 5-8 years as a grants administrator, preferably directly assisting faculty at an institution of higher education.
• Proven facility navigating online funding portals, (esp Research.gov, Grants.gov, commons.era.nih.gov, and Fastlane.NSF.gov).
• Experience serving as an authorized organizational representative (AOR) for an institution of higher education.
• Record of successful support of competitive grant applications across a variety of disciplines (personally successful individual grant awardee preferred).
• Demonstrable experience editing and managing federal and other sponsor grants.
• Participation in the development of institutional grants administration policies/procedures.
• Collegial with highly-developed communication, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills.

Application Process

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of references. Your cover letters should describe how your background, interests, and experience align with the position and how you plan to support Kenyon's work and mission.

The position is open until filled, and completed applications received by August 1, 2026, will be guaranteed full consideration. All inquiries can be sent to Travis Landry, Associate Provost, landryt@kenyon.edu.