Director, Sponsored Programs

Employer: Texas State University

Location: Texas, United States

Salary: Salary Not specified

Date posted: Oct 13, 2025

Position Type: Administrative, Business & Administrative Affairs, Grants & Contracts

Employment Level: Senior-Level

Employment Type: Full Time

San Marcos, TX

Texas State University

Director, Sponsored Programs

Posting Number: 2026088

Location: San Marcos

Department: Sponsored Programs

Recruitment Type: Open Recruiting

Job Type: Full-Time

Monthly Salary: $8,750-$9,583.34

Job Category: Exempt

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, with at least 3 years in a leadership, supervisory or management role.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and private sponsor regulations and policies (e.g., Uniform Guidance, NSF PAPPG, NIH Grants Policy Statement).
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including staff supervision, training, and team development.
• Experience managing complex proposal submissions and interpreting sponsor requirements.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency with research administration systems (e.g., Kuali, Cayuse, Huron, InfoEd, or equivalent), Microsoft Office Suite, and sponsor submission portals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, higher education, or a related field.
• Certification in research administration (CRA, CPRA, CFRA, or equivalent) from the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC).
• Experience developing budgets and overseeing unit-level fiscal planning.
• Prior experience serving as an Authorized Organizational Representative.
• Demonstrated ability to foster faculty engagement, provide exceptional customer service, and implement process improvements.
• Strong record of professional development, conference participation, and knowledge of emerging trends in research administration.

Job Description:

The Director of Sponsored Programs provides strategic leadership and oversight of all pre-award research administration activities at Texas State University. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Research (AVPR), this position manages the pre-award team, ensuring efficient, compliant, and customer-focused support for faculty and staff across the university. The Director serves as a key liaison between Texas State and external sponsors, provides training and guidance, and contributes to strategic planning, policy development, and continuous improvement of research administration services and processes.

Job Duties:

• Strategic Leadership & Policy Implementation (20%)
  Implements strategic goals, policies, and procedures. Ensures consistent interpretation and application of sponsor and institutional requirements. Liaises with internal and external partners to fulfill strategic goals. Oversees regulatory compliance for proposal submissions.
• Supervision & Training (20%)
  Supervises staff, including assistant directors and coordinators. Provides professional development opportunities and delivers training to faculty and staff.
• Reporting, Data Analysis & Performance Metrics (20%)
  Gathers, analyzes, and interprets proposal and award data to monitor trends, assess performance, and prepare reports for AVPR, university leadership, and external audiences. Partners with Research IT on training, management, and upkeep of databases and ERAs for proposals submissions and awards. Oversees review, approval, and routing process for proposals and awards. Prepares compliance reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Budget Planning & Resource Allocation (10%)
  Develops unit-level budget requests and resource plans. Advises AVPR on financial, staffing, and operational needs.
• Sponsor Relations & Escalation (10%)
  Responds to sponsor inquiries, coordinates proposal submissions, and serves with AVPR as a point of escalation for problem resolution.
• Authorized Organizational Representative (10%)
  Serves as an official Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR), ensuring Texas State is appropriately represented in sponsor communications and submissions.
• Special Projects & Other Duties (10%)
  Leads or participates in special projects, cross-unit initiatives, and process improvements as assigned.

Job Open Date: 10/13/2025

Job Close Date: 11/07/2025

Open Until Filled: Yes

Normal Work Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Normal Work Hours Start: 8:00AM

Normal Work Hours End: 5:00PM

Quicklink: https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/54565

For a detailed description of this position and to apply, visit https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/54565 or call (512) 245-2557 or visit our office at 601 University Dr., J.C. Kellam Bldg., Suite 340.

About Texas State and San Marcos:

Texas State University is an emerging research institution located in the burgeoning Austin-San Antonio corridor and in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. It is the largest of eight campuses in the Texas State University System and one of the 75 largest universities in the country, with over 38,000 students and approximately 4,000 faculty and staff.

Texas State is located in San Marcos, a growing community of over 50,000 people located about half way between Austin and San Antonio. Texas State enjoys a setting that is unique among Texas universities. The beauty of the crystal-clear San Marcos River and the stately cypress and pecan trees on the campus add to the charm of the university's picturesque setting. Our location on the banks of the San Marcos River provides outdoor recreational activities throughout the year.

Why work @ Texas State?

• Amazing health insurance: various coverage options starting your first day of employment for full-time employees with Texas State paying 100% of the employee premium and 50% for your dependents!
• Generous paid time off: vacation, holidays, sick days and many more!
• Excellent work life balance resources: mother and family-friendly resources in addition to a comprehensive FREE wellness program
• Great professional development opportunities: choose from a variety of workshops, training, online learning and even access educational leave opportunities and reimbursement for academic courses
• An inclusive Bobcat community: join our many social networks offered on and off-campus
• Retirement peace of mind: TRS pension, retirement plans and voluntary saving options with generous employer contributions

By joining the Texas State Bobcat team, you’ll be a part of one of the most beautiful, diverse, and growing universities in the nation.