Executive Director, Research and Grants Administration

Updated: 10 months ago
Location: Chicago, ILLINOIS
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

Department
 

BSD AFA - Budget and Compliance


About the Department
 

The University of Chicago biomedical enterprise houses three entities, University of Chicago
Medicine (UCM), the Biological Sciences Division (BSD), and the Pritzker School of Medicine (PSOM). UCM is one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions and has been at the forefront of medical care since 1927, when it first opened to patients. UCM is the health delivery system comprised of hospitals and ambulatory facilities staffed primarily by BSD physicians. The PSOM is dedicated to medical education, and the BSD is committed to research, education, and training in the basic biological sciences and clinical disciplines. UCM is consistently ranked among the best hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. These organizations are led by Mark Anderson, MD, PhD, Dean of the Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine, and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at UChicago.
The tripartite mission of the University of Chicago:
Patient Care: Providing the highest quality patient care with access to the most advanced therapies and interventions is core to being a leader in academic medicine.
Scholarship: Being at the forefront of discovery in science and medicine is what propels University of Chicago’s reputation as a leader in providing the most advanced and life-saving care.
Education: Training the next generation of basic biological scientists and clinicians is at the heart of what makes University of Chicago unique among most of its competitors and is part of UCM’s legacy.
The BSD is home to faculty in 10 basic science and 14 clinical departments, ranging from Ecology & Evolution and Human Genetics to Medicine, Surgery, and Pediatrics. UCM and the BSD are consistently recognized for groundbreaking research, excellence in medical education, complex medical care, and scientific innovation. UChicago scientists and physicians have been pioneers and leaders in many important fields of scientific investigation, including cancer, digestive diseases, evolutionary biology, paleontology, diabetes, organ transplantation, and sleep research. Twelve Nobel Prize winners in physiology or medicine have been affiliated with the Biological Sciences Division.
In line with the University of Chicago’s mission of cultivating an inclusive community, the Biological Sciences Division is home to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI). Led by Iris Romero, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, ODI partners with basic science and clinical departments to create a sense of belonging for all members of the division, with particular emphasis on those faculty underrepresented in science and medicine. Over the past three years, BSD’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion has distributed over $100,000 in small grants to faculty, students, and staff to support research, develop novel pathway programs, and cultivate initiatives that address inclusion. Faculty in the division have also nurtured an array of interdisciplinary research agendas partnering with the University’s Center for the Study of Race, Politics, & Culture and Center for the Study of Gender & Sexuality as faculty affiliates.
The BSD and the Medical Center have sustained a period of robust growth, with outstanding faculty providing complex care and leading exceptional research and teaching programs. BSD research enterprise growth in our basic and clinical science departments has been significant. Divisional extramural grant expenditures of $377 million represent an increase of 44% since FY2018. Major donors have also contributed their support to the academic mission, including a $100 million dollar gift from the Duchossois family in 2016, the largest single gift ever to the biological sciences at the University. In recent years, UCM has expanded beyond the South Side of Chicago to grow into a highly competitive, academically anchored regional healthcare provider.


Job Summary
 

The Executive Director of Grants Administration is a senior leader and subject matter expert working with BSD executive leadership on building organizational capabilities for grant administration aimed at improving the division-wide research enterprise.
Reporting to the BSD Vice Dean of Academic Administration and Finance, this position will develop division-wide grant administration policies, goals, and operating plans. The Executive Director of Grants Administration will oversee effectiveness of pre-and post-award efforts across the enterprise, provide knowledge and expertise to individual department leaders and faculty, ensuring each research unit is resourced and positioned for meeting their own goals. The ED will also ensure strategic alignment across the research enterprise and support the growth of our research portfolio.

Responsibilities

  • Provide divisional leadership on policies and practices, and organizational structure related to the administration of pre-and post-award research grants.  

  • Provide leadership and development to pre/post award staff across all BSD units to include Basic Science, Clinical Departments, and Centers and Institutes. Ensure staff is knowledgeable and performs to set standards and expectations.

  • Build and lead a central pool of pre/post award professionals available to units as needed.

  • Partner with department administrators to communicate and monitor performance goals for pre- and post-award staff across BSD research units to include Basic Science, Clinical Departments, and Centers and Institutes.

  • Research and establish best practices ensuring the BSD is current on industry trends and agency or regulatory changes.

  • Provide communication, education, and training to unit leaders on best practices and new procedures, ensuring faculty and research staff are fully informed and able to perform according to new practices.

  • Represent BSD to the University, the University Research Administration (URA), and other offices in research administration and compliance. Serve as the BSD lead on investigations of non-compliance and advocate for research administration needs with URA. 

  • Prepare financial and progress reports for senior leadership. Manage divisional tools for research activity monitoring, strategic planning and forecasting, and reporting.

  • Provide support to faculty and administrative leaders for continued growth of research activities.

  • Partner with leaders of the respective units to identify resource needs and create plans for addressing deficiencies or shortages to ensure continuation of grant administration processes.

  • Partner with Departments, unit leaders and HR to competitively recruit pre- and post-award staff. Create staff development and growth opportunities leading to employee engagement, retention, and internal mobility.

  • Lead to the highest level of integrity in the conduct of research, including compliance with institutional, industry, and government regulations.

  • Establishes performance goals, allocates resources and assesses policies for direct subordinates. Ensures service and communication to PIs, standardized information, best practices development, and that all faculty and research staff are aware of any new grant policies and changes.

  • ​Maintains knowledge of industry trends and remains current with agency and regulatory changes. Plans for department/ unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.

  • Oversees industry trends and remains current with agency and regulatory changes. Monitors department/unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.

  • Performs other related work as needed.


Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 10+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, strongly preferred.

Experience:

  • Work experience in an academic research environment.

  • Experience leading and developing a large team of professionals.

  • Experience within a large and complex academic medical/clinical research institution.

  • Experience in financial analysis, budgeting, cost allocation methodologies, and project funding models.

  • Experience influencing academic and administrative leadership toward continuous process improvement.

Preferred Competencies

  • A strategic thinker with the ability to understand broad organizational needs of an academic medical institution.

  • Ability to translate strategic plans into operational objectives and ensure successful implementation.

  • Ability to drive organizational change and system transformation.

  • Ability to build strong, trusting relationships with University leadership, BSD faculty and staff, and medical center leaders.

  • A genuine communication style which demonstrates integrity and fosters respect, trust, understanding, and collaboration.

  • Proven capability to juggle multiple priorities and ability to delegate responsibility and empower leaders.

  • A significant capacity for work and a strong level of optimism to mentor and motivate others.

  • A skilled negotiator with a collaborative approach who can effectively manage conflict.

  • Flexible, has a tolerance for ambiguity understanding that success is often achieved through incremental steps.

Application Documents

  • Resume (required)

  • Cover Letter (preferred)



When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.



Job Family
 

Financial Management


Role Impact
 

People Manager


FLSA Status
 

Exempt


Pay Frequency
 

Monthly


Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40


Benefits Eligible
 

Yes


Drug Test Required
 

No


Health Screen Required
 

No


Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No


Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.



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