Associate Director Sponsored Projects Pre Award

Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly formed School of Medicine.

Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Highly responsible, professional work within Sponsored Projects Administration Pre-

Award which entails: (1) mentoring, supervising and leading the Award and Proposal Team Managers, (2) communicating and embracing the importance of appropriate and timely portfolio management across the management and staff members, (3) partnering with the managers to identify, formulate and implement internal process improvement, tracking average processing times, and facilitating improved average processing times for all functions, (4) partnering with the managers and staff to develop solutions for more complex issues which arise, (5) participating in policy/process, job aids, and web content development, update and implementation, (6) partnering with SPA and unit personnel to identify, formulate and implement external ( SPA to Unit) process improvements, (7) participating in training development and conducting training, and

(8) serve as a back-up to the Director of Pre Award overseeing the Pre Award Team during peak periods as well as during the Director's absence.

Have direct and relevant progressively responsible experience in a central pre-award office for research administration, assisting faculty with proposal preparation, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal research policies and procedures, and monitoring and reporting on awards. Significant and successful experience mentoring subordinates is needed, as is supervisory and managerial experience. He/She will demonstrate a strong commitment to customer service and have exceptional oral and written communication skills, as well as the ability to impart these skills and dedication to others. Oral presentation skills are particularly important as the incumbent will be comfortable delivering content to groups in a training and teaching setting. He/She will be able to work with minimal supervision in a deadline-orientated environment and a demonstrated ability to multi-task.

Ability to participate in the evaluation and analyses of existing techniques and procedures and to actively participate in the improvement of existing and development of new procedures, as well as the ability to document and teach those improvements to others.

Sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying up to 20 lbs. May sit or stand for long periods of time.

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Mentors, supervises, and leads the Award and Proposal Managers in their management of people and areas of responsibility. Guiding and empowering managers and staff to facilitate problem-solving and issue resolution efficiently and effectively. Communicates and ensures managers and staff embrace the SPA Customer Service Standards and the importance of accurate and timely portfolio management, communication and escalation. Serves as a subject matter expert in research administration, problem solving, human resources, employee motivation, and team management. Receives and provides guidance on how to resolve escalated critical and aged items, as well as more complex issues as they arise. Ensures managers have an up to date professional development plan to further grow strength and opportunistic areas.

Participates and facilitates the use and improvement of SPA dashboards among managers and staff with the ultimate goals of improved processing times and increased efficiency throughout SPA. The dashboards provide transparency into the processing and escalation of awards, proposals, and modifications. Dashboards ensures employees and managers are provided an accurate tool to measure workload, caseload, through-put and aging. Dashboards also allow for visibility into potential process improvements, aged items, caseload equity, over/under performance of individuals, and potential training gaps.

Contributes to the creation, revision and delivery of internal and external meetings, trainings, policy/procedure updates, communications, job aids, best practices, etc. with the goal of creating a well-trained, well-informed, and engaged research administration community inside and outside of Sponsored Projects.

Responsible for leading the Operations Meetings for the Pre-Award Team Managers to ensure consistent and reliable implementation of policies and processes (onboarding, leave, flex time, awards processing, proposal support, etc.), improve processing times, and provide a regular solution-oriented space for system and process improvement ideas and problem solving.

Partners UGA faculty and staff both external and internal to SPA, to identify, formulate and implement process improvements to best serve the research community at UGA. The research enterprise is growing at UGA, and business process improvements and system improvements are essential to remain compliant with rules and regulations, while also supporting the faculty. Gathering information and feedback from customers and end users inside and outside SPA and sharing improvement ideas within SPA is essential to continual process improvement.

Serving as back up for the Pre-Award Director overseeing the Pre Award unit during peak periods, as well as during the Director's absence. Effectively managing and approving items within the authority of the Pre Award Director. Effectively communicating and escalating items which need UGA leadership review and approval. Timely follow up to ensure all deadlines are met.