Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

About the Role

The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation is responsible for the comprehensive administration and compliance risk mitigation of the externally sponsored portfolio overseeing the entire sponsored project lifecycle from administrative proposal review and submission through award closeout. In all responsibilities, establish and maintain a positive working environment that encourages productivity and retention of all SPA staff, including opportunities for professional development.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage the activities of Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), a service unit under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (OVCRI), with responsibility for supporting faculty and staff in pursuing and conducting sponsored research and other sponsored activity across the campus. Direct the SPA staff dedicated to administering sponsored project funding for research, instruction, and outreach and responsible for reviewing and authorizing proposals, negotiating contracts and setting up awards, managing expenditures and accounts receivables, and monitoring compliance. Work closely with the appropriate authorities on institutional or project-specific audits and contribute to campus- and institution-wide reviews and audits of operations supporting or impacting sponsored research. Establish policies and procedures to maximize the opportunities for support of faculty research and to create an environment conducive to such scholarship. Assist the institution with managing financial and other compliance risks associated with sponsored programs and maintaining the fiscal vitality and reputation of the university, working closely with members of the senior administration, deans, college research officers, and faculty. Represent the interests of the faculty, staff and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for defining, developing, and implementing institutional business operations to effectively encourage and support sponsored activity.
• Provide continuous innovation to better support the research enterprise and leverage new tools and information technology to increase efficiency of service across the sponsored project lifecycle. Maintain executive oversight of the research administrative information systems by providing operational oversight of the institution- and enterprise-wide software systems and electronic research administrative tools. Continuously look to reduce the faculty and staff administrative burden while maintaining institutional compliance. Establish goals, develop performance metrics, and implement programs to provide streamlined and effective administrative support for sponsored programs administration.
• Provide leadership to the campus in administering and interpreting applicable federal and/or state laws, regulations, and directives regarding grant and contract implementation and compliance. Identify potential financial and other compliance risks to the institution and help develop pragmatic and proactive solutions to mitigate those risks. Participate with senior administration and in close collaboration with the Office of General Counsel in the development of policies and procedures for the administration of grants and contracts supporting the university’s mission and objectives. Anticipate the need for improvements in such policies and represent the university in liaison with agencies providing grant and contract funding.
• Collaborate with the Security Management Office and the institutional Facility Security Officer responsible for administering employee security clearances and ensure institutional compliance in managing the institutional classified sponsored portfolio. Work closely with the Office of Research Security to ensure the sponsored portfolio is compliant with federal regulations governing foreign engagement and collaboration.
• Oversee the development and implementation of organized training and outreach efforts to faculty and staff. Work closely in the support and administration of the Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance (SPaRC) quarterly meetings and support and advocate for the SPaRC’Ed certification series. Responsible for envisioning the development of SPaRC tools and resources for faculty and staff and for advocating for university staff to participate and volunteer their time to share their knowledge of sponsored programs administration
• Serve as official signatory authority for campus proposal submissions and sign on behalf of the institutional authorized organizational official when needed. Coordinate preparation of statistical reports and other data for reports to university administration, including monthly and annual reports, and other reports as requested by administration. Work closely with the OVCRI and campus leadership in responding to requests for analytics. Serve on appropriate University committees as required and direct the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files related to the support of grants and contracts.

Qualifications

• J.D., Master’s degree, or Ph.D.
• 10 years of experience, including demonstrated leadership, strong organizational and administrative skills related to supporting the entire sponsored project lifecycle in a complex academic research institution. Experience should include a record of commitment to and delivery of responsive service to the research community.
• Experience in both the pre-award and post-award functions; federal cost principles, research compliance; knowledge of federal agency practices, regulations and policies; and evidence of leadership success in comparable situations.
• Experience in producing creative and innovative solutions and approaches to common problems.
• Experience in working with program officers at State and Federal agencies and with private sponsors and acting as an effective liaison between investigators and funding agencies, including dispute resolution.

Abilities

• Demonstrated management skills, including budget preparation and management, personnel management (hiring and training staff) with an ability to motivate and retain professional staff.
• Ability to work effectively, collaboratively and diplomatically with investigators and senior level administrators responsible for providing services to support the sponsored portfolio.
• Must have demonstrated interpersonal and organizational skills and willingness to reach out to various parties in the performance of their duties.
• Ability to work with executive administration to address the resource needs of SPA and a demonstrated experience in negotiations for and management of a large and heterogeneous non-governmental sponsored research portfolio.
• Comprehensive understanding of federal regulations and agency guidelines for grants management and sponsored research, including NSF, US DOE, NIH, USDA, DOD, NEA and NEH.
• Knowledge of the federal Uniform Guidance.
• Comprehensive understanding of state regulations and agency guidelines for grants management and sponsored research, as well as a working knowledge of State of Illinois statutes.

To apply, please use this link: https://go.illinois.edu/AssistantViceChancellorforResearchandInnovation