Assistant Director, Award Management

The Assistant Director, Award Management is a key member of the Office for Sponsored Research, responsible for leading the Proposal and Awards Acceptance team. This team is responsible for reviewing and submitting proposals to various sponsors, negotiating awards, and managing post-award non-financial requests with the highest level of professionalism and service.

• Supervise a team of Associate Sponsored Research Officers, providing daily guidance and mentoring on operational and policy issues.
• Review and monitor the daily workflow of proposals, change requests, and award agreements, reassigning work as needed.
• Provide input to office-wide meetings and facilitate cross-team collaborations to ensure seamless handoffs between Sponsored Research Officers and Contract Officers.
• Hire, promote, evaluate, and counsel staff with input from the Sr. Director and Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Research.
• Maintain and manage an advanced portfolio of sponsored research activity for designated university schools, departments, and/or centers.
• Exercise delegated signature authority from the Assistant Vice President, reviewing and signing proposal applications, award amendments, and administrative correspondence to sponsors.
• Support Associate Sponsored Research Officers and ensure a high level of service support is provided to principal investigators and departmental, Center, school, and central administrators.
• Evaluate the risk associated with the variety of transactions processed by Sponsored Research Officers and SR.
• Serve as an expert in pre-award and post-award proposal management, participating in establishing standard operating procedures for pre-award and post-award service delivery.
• Monitor internal performance metrics to ensure high levels of service and accomplishment of objectives.
• Solicit input from Principal Investigators and other central administrative offices as appropriate.
• Represent Sponsored Research in meetings with Principal Investigators, school administrators, and senior university administrators in areas related to sponsored research.
• Presents as needed to a variety of constituents, including campus-wide and national meetings.
• Develops, implements, and trains staff in standard procedures that support Northwestern University research policy.
• Coordinates with other units to ensure the timing and integrity of the sponsored research life cycle.
• Communicates and presents procedures and policy within SR and externally to the university community.
• Assists in the development of the agenda for the campus-specific sponsored research campus meetings.
• Monitors policy changes implemented by external sponsors.
• Assists faculty and staff in award monitoring.
• Provides significant input to optimize enterprise-level systems supporting research administration and participates in managing change within the research administration community.
• Provides education, training, and research information for SR staff and NU departments, schools, and Centers through various venues.
• Participates in designing and implementing research administration training programs.
• Leads ongoing service excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Optimizes staff skills and organizational structure and is responsible for staff development and continuing education.
• Advises the Sr. Director and AVP-SR on emerging and pressing issues.
• Participates in the resolution of issues.

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 5 years previous work experience in the administration of sponsored research at an educational institution, in the federal government, or entity engaged in sponsored research.
• Previous, proven experience supervising and mentoring staff.
• Capable of presenting at various meetings across campus, including faculty meetings and campus-wide meetings, and at professional organizations.

• Advanced knowledge and application of relevant codes, regulations necessary to administer and manage externally funded sponsored research.
• Ability to supervise and motivate professional and administrative support staff in a team environment.
• Working knowledge of current management principles and practices, skill in dealing with others in work relationships involving mentoring, conflict resolutions, the ability to resourcefully solve problems, and the ability to make difficult decisions.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment across organizational units and at all levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Customer-focused; dedicated to providing optimum service to internal and external customers.
• Highest level of professional and personal integrity.
• Thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to handle significant stress and a large workload.
• Computer proficiency - software use may include Microsoft Office suite, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Access, web browsers, email, and systems including enterprise applications and various sponsor systems.
• Compliance - honor Northwestern University policy and external regulatory requirements.
• Communication - oral and written communicates effectively and concisely one-to-one, in small groups, and in public speaking contexts.
• Decision Making - exercises professional judgment in all matters.
• Dependability - professionally performs duties and responsibilities.
• Diversity - creates an environment of inclusion and openness.
• Ethics and Integrity - consistently follows through on commitments.
• Initiative - exhibits dynamic energy and strong desire to achieve.
• Judgment - demonstrates professional level of logic, rationality, and objectivity.
• Listening - actively listens to others' opinions and ideas.
• Negotiations - expertly seeks common ground to accommodate the conflicting needs and wants of different stakeholders.
• Organization - plans, organizes, and schedules in an efficient, productive manner.
• Problem Solving - formulates ambitious, but plausible, plans and contingencies.
• Research Regulations - demonstrates knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations governing the participation of human and animal research subjects.
• Substantial, demonstrated knowledge of federal and international regulatory requirements and guidelines involving clinical trials and research.
• Demonstrated expert-level knowledge of sound contracting and subcontracting practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of grant and contract administration for sponsored projects and an understanding of FDA regulations governing clinical trials along with GCP Guidelines, IRB regulations, and requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Government grant and contract administration and a demonstrated understanding of core contracting principles for educational institutions.
• Ability to read statements of work, and other sponsor or investigator-provided study documentation and sufficiently understand the research in order to elucidate potential contractual or regulatory issues.
• Ability to read clinical protocols and consent forms and sufficiently understand the research in order to elucidate potential contractual or regulatory issues and assure research is consistent with contractual obligations.
• Demonstrated understanding of the technical issues affecting protection, use, and exploitation of intellectual property.
• Demonstrated knowledge of indemnification and liability issues.
• Demonstrated understanding of issues affecting publication.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the distinctions between gifts, grants, and contracts and the ability to articulate these distinctions to faculty, staff, and industry sponsors.
• Knowledge of general management principles and practices, skill in dealing with others in work relationships involving mentoring, teamwork, conflict resolutions, and the ability to make difficult decisions.
• Management and professional experience, business acumen, judgment, and integrity to effectively serve investigators and sponsors, while continuously advancing the best interests of the University.
• Ability to effectively work with and deal with difficult people.
• Ability to efficiently and effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong service orientation.

• Five years previous work experience in the administration of sponsored research or other central research-related office at an educational institution, government, or other entity engaged in sponsored research.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct training sessions.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage staff.

• Managing staff - empowers others through delegating key tasks functions.
• Performance management - establish clear expectations, reviewing progress, providing feedback and guidance, holding people accountable, and accepting accountability for leadership responsibilities.
• Organization - plans, organizes, and schedules in an efficient, productive manner.
• Leadership - involves team members in solving problems and making decisions.
• Service Focus - regularly monitors key service metrics as established by the Director, and engages with team members as needed to ensure the highest level of service.