Sr. Director - Sponsored Projects Integration

Johns Hopkins Sightline: Unleash Your Impact

The Johns Hopkins Sightline Business Modernization Project is more than just a job - it's a mission. We're tearing down walls to unleash the full potential of our people. Baltimore, ranked a top 2024 destination by the New York Times, is your backdrop as you join a dynamic and entrepreneurial team to reimagine the way Johns Hopkins works. We're not just simplifying processes and transforming technology - we're empowering people to focus on what matters most: research, teaching, patient care and community impact.

Does this sound like you?

• Thrive in fast-paced environments with daily new challenges and opportunities.
• Are passionate about simplifying complex systems to change people’s lives.
• Believe in transformation that empowers, not hinders, the front-line people.
• Have experience in process improvement, technology implementation, or project management.
• Enjoy analytical thinking and problem solving.
• Communicate clearly with a team.
• Possess a desire to grow and learn.

Joining Sightline means you’ll,

• Work with cutting-edge technology.

• Join a collaborative team of experts in higher education and healthcare.
• Build new skills with a team that encourages creativity, innovation, and personal growth.
• Gain valuable experience and expertise in process improvement, technology implementation, and change management.
• Enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement savings plans, telework options, and generous paid time off.

We are seeking a Senior Director - Sponsored Projects Integration  who will be a key member of the Sightline – Business Modernization project leadership team and provides leadership, oversight and management in support of the mission of the project. The candidate plans, organizes, leads and directs multiple functional units within the project organizational structure. The candidate possesses superior interpersonal, communication and collaboration skills to foster transparent and service-oriented relationships throughout the University. The candidate also supervises the sponsored projects team on the project.

The Senior Director interacts with executive leadership and trustees. The candidate advises the University Administration leadership team on questions/issues related to accounting, finance and business processes. The candidate represents the University in a wide variety of forums internally and externally and is responsible for accomplishing organization-wide objectives by developing and implementing strategic solutions related to the Sightline project. The candidate manages large complex University-wide projects and efforts to improve University systems, and business processes, or accomplish other significant University objectives in a collaborative, transparent and consensus-building manner.

Sightline is a multi-year initiative that leverages a cross-disciplinary, inter-entity team and hundreds of stakeholders in selecting and implementing the next ERP software platform for the Johns Hopkins enterprise. In addition to the software platform, all associated business transformation related to processes, policies and other operating considerations within post-award administration are in scope.

Job Scope/Complexities

Typically has the responsibility for multi-million-dollar budgets within JHU. Business decisions made within JHU are highly complex and must take into account the various customers that are supported across JHU to ensure appropriate consideration has been given.

The Sightline program will be focused on change management and communication as it relates to changes in policy and process redesign. This role will be responsible for ensuring impacts of such changes and redesign efforts are well known and well communicated throughout the Hopkins community to impacted stakeholders and cohorts. Role will work closely with the Sightline Change Management team as it pertains to sponsored research to develop and implement communications, engagement and training throughout the project.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• The responsibilities listed below are typical examples of the work performed by this position.
• Not all duties assigned to this position are included, nor is it expected that everyone in this position will be assigned every job responsibility.

Strategic Planning

• As a member of the Project Sightline leadership team, lead strategic and tactical initiatives by prioritizing, developing and implementing those initiatives in order to achieve institutional goals.
• Provides information that executive leadership and trustees need to make strategic financial decisions.
• Based on an understanding of institutional goals, mission and culture, assess impact and effectiveness of business processes to ensure it supports the institution’s needs.
• Ensure that applicable JHU policies and procedures, and federal, state and local regulatory requirements are addressed and followed within her/his area of responsibility.
• Works with constituents in conjunction with other financial leaders to interpret customers business needs and makes recommendations for strategic investments in business processes, personnel and technology that meets the agreed upon goals of the institution.
• Balances available personnel and funding resources in support of meeting operational and strategic initiatives.
• Translate the strategic direction and business objectives established by JHU leadership into holistic change strategies appropriate within JHU’s operating environment.
• Develop the strategy for system use across JHU, primarily in support of sponsored programs, and at appropriate intersection and integration points with other functional areas including HR, supply chain and business operations
• Works with finance leaders and Human Resources to create JHU’s finance and sponsored programs workforce of the future; identifies changing skills, designs the future sponsored position framework and define sponsored program career paths.
• Chairs committees and engages JHU finance leaders to develop strategic direction, recommend improvement areas, elevate potential strategic and operational risks and to determine mitigation strategies. Coordinates, organizes and manages planning and execution of selected strategies and system improvements.
• Supervises the broader sponsored projects team on the project.

Relationship Management

• Represent the Sightline Project Team in executive meetings both within and outside of JHU.
  
• Represents the interest of JHU at industry, state and federal meetings to ensure that the best interest of JHU is considered.
  
• Manage customer relationships inside and outside of JHU.
  
• Create and promote the highest quality of services and support for our customers effectively and efficiently.
  
• Foster a collaborative, transparent and consensus-building environment.

Project/Financial System Responsibility

• Lead projects and efforts to improve business processes that satisfy customer needs and are essential to the ongoing operations of JHU.
  
• Ensure continuous delivery of customer support and services through the oversight of service level agreements and financial quality control operations.
  

Staff Management

• Develops and implements strategies to attract and maintain a highly skilled and engaged workforce of approximately 15-20 JHU and JHHS staff by diagnosing capability gaps, recruiting, selecting and developing talent, supporting mentorship, workforce development and succession planning and leveraging the capabilities of new and existing talent.
• Ensures staff provide high levels of customer service, both internally and externally.
• Cultivates an environment in which staff respect and adhere to integrity and ethics by integrating those values into work processes.

Special Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Possesses process improvement skills that are compliant with accounting and control rules and regulations.
• Extensive knowledge of accounting and reporting systems, processes and practices.
• Experience with and understanding of Uniform Guidance and the rules of sponsored activities for higher education.
• Sound analytical skills.
• Excellent management and project management skills.
• Able to interact well with all levels of management.
• In-depth understanding of accounting pronouncements and GAAP.
• Acts and speaks professionally with the ability to represent JHU at federal, state and industry levels.
• Builds highly successful teams.
• Collaborates with peers, colleagues and staff, exercises persuasion and objectivity.
• Ability to prioritize work and ensure projects are completed on time.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Exemplary customer service skills and ability to exemplify and instill this orientation throughout the department.
• Strong leadership skills, able to achieve results in a large, complex setting.
• Diplomatic, creative, innovative, able to work effectively at both the strategic and detail level.
• Possesses sharp financial skills and talent for developing and communicating key financial metrics to both internal and external audiences.
• Organizational skills, ability to prioritize conflicting demands.
• Knowledge of federal regulations related to sponsored funding for educational institutions (OMB Uniform Guidance).
• Ensure compliance with university and/or federal and/or private agency regulations and restrictions (NIH, Foundations, For-Profit, etc.).
• Ensure compliance in all other areas related to grant and contract management, including federal regulations, sponsoring organization guidelines, award terms and conditions, institutional, departmental, and divisional policies, internal protocols, accurate protocol information within grant documents, conflicts of interest, etc.
• Ensure compliance in all other areas related to grant and contract management, including sponsoring organization guidelines, internal protocols, accurate protocol information within grant documents, conflicts of interest, etc.

Addendum – Sr. Director of Sponsored Projects Integration

• Provide superior customer service to divisions, departments and faculty and answer questions and provide information to sponsors and JHU personnel in a prompt, accurate and cordial fashion.
• Provide training and support to departmental administrators pertaining to sponsored policies and procedures.
• Directs and coordinates staff to identify and implement business process improvements.
• Advanced capabilities in understanding and creating various reports from the University’s accounting systems to summarize data and perform various analyses.
• Maintain the data integrity of the University’s accounting system, and effort reporting system in accordance with federal regulations and University policies.
• Understand the maintenance and compliance of University’s awards supported by sponsored funds, completion of financial reports required by external sponsoring organizations, invoicing external sponsoring organizations for work performed, approval of cost transfers impacting sponsored awards, closeout of sponsored awards, effort reporting process and various other financial research compliance initiatives.
• Maintain an advanced working knowledge of Federal cost principles and administrative guidelines.
• Represent the University in a variety of forums such as Council on Government relations (COGR) and National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA).
• Supervises professional staff who oversee various departments responsible for accounting and reporting within Sponsored Projects/Accounts Receivable.
• Ensure staff provides high levels of customer service both internally and externally.
• Articulates goals, allocates resources, manages workflow.
• Understand/design efficient and effective business processes in collaboration with finance and sponsored program leaders to allow for optimal utilization of systemic tools.
• Coordinate and plan major system implementations across JHU, accounting for needs to standardize system usage to maintain effective and efficient processes and consistent financial controls. Assists in vendor management for large projects.
• Provides oversight to internal and consulting resources as dictated by specific projects.
• Serves as a key business contributor to long-term overall technology strategic planning. Liaison with Information Technology for the evaluation of new technologies to assess enterprise value and impact.
• Support the design and implementation of governance functions, both pre- and post-system implementations, primarily in sponsored programs and at appropriate intersection and integration points with other functional areas including HR, supply chain and business operations.
• Plan, design, develop, deliver and evaluate training and knowledge management programs to cultivate desired workforce capabilities. For major system installations, ensure appropriate training and job aid resources are developed and maintained to promote appropriate in-system behavior.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Accounting or related field required. An advanced degree in any of these fields and/or CPA certification is strongly preferred.
• Ten years of progressively responsible related work experience with at least 5-7 years leading and managing in a higher education or complex setting.
• Additional education may substitute for experience and additional experience may substitute for education in accordance with the JHU equivalency formula.

Classified Title: Sr. Dir. Sponsored Projects Integration
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Sr. Director - Sponsored Projects Integration
Role/Level/Range: L/05/LJ
Starting Salary Range: Min $163,400 - Max $286,000 Annually (Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/Mount Washington Campus
Department name: ​​​​​​​Sightline
Personnel area: University Administration 

Total Rewards
The referenced salary range is based on Johns Hopkins University’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines:
JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

**Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate’s conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion .

Accommodation Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at [email protected] . For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu .

Johns Hopkins has mandated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as applicable. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/ .

The following additional provisions may apply, depending on campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

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