Assistant Director of Post Award, Award Management

TheOffice of Sponsored Programs (OSP)at the University of Virginia (UVA) seeks an Assistant Director of Post Award, Award Management, to serve in a key management role for OSP. UVA has a growing research enterprise and is developing infrastructure to meet the demand. The Assistant Director of Post Award, Award Management, will help shape the future of sponsored programs at UVA by working collaboratively with Pre-Award and Contracts to help lead process changes and participate in initiatives to meet the University's research goals. Reporting to the Director of Post Award, the Assistant Director leads an experienced and high-performing team of 12 staff members.The Assistant Director will be expected to establish performance expectations for the Award Management team, actively manage individual and team performance, and transparently report aggregate performance metrics to the University community.

The Assistant Director of Post Award, Award Management, reviews and approves financial reports and invoices. Monitors complex awards and performs financial and administrative analyses to determine if costs are reasonable, allowable, allocable and consistently charged as direct or indirect by applying comprehensive knowledge of industry and professional standards, Federal and Institutional regulations, policies and procedures in interpreting and resolving post award issues. Works closely with Cash Management and Audit Coordination and Post Award Financial Compliance teams to help in managing subawards, payroll statements, cost compliance and cash application.

Additionally, the Assistant Director of Post Award, Award Management, is required to use own judgment and initiative to develop effective and constructive solutions to challenges by supporting the team performing special investigations into financial matters. The incumbent must possess advanced knowledge of research administration and financial compliance and be able to train others in post award research administration. In addition to sound knowledge in research administration, the Assistant Director needs to understand GAAP and possess advance knowledge of federal guidelines to provide technical advice to internal and external customers.

OSP at UVA operates as a hybrid work environment. The Assistant Director of Post Award, Award Management, has the option of a hybrid work arrangement. A regular presence in Charlottesville and on Grounds will be expected.

Competencies:

Teamwork: Develops and uses collaborative relationships to build informal or formal teams and accomplish team goals

Uncommon Integrity: Trusted, authentic, self-aware, above reproach. Operates by and adheres to the University's core values and holds others accountable for them. Interacts with others in a way that gives confidence in self and the organization. Acts in the University's best interests and puts that interest above personal gain or unit or office. Works within the limits of authority to achieve goals.

Accountable for Results: Takes responsibility for accomplishing goals and achieving quality results. Follows through on commitments; is always there in the clutch.

Critical Thinking: Practices objective rather than subjective modes of reasoning and action. Maintains perspective when assessing qualitative and quantitative information. Appropriately challenges and questions common beliefs.

Communicates Effectively; Clearly conveys information and ideas to individuals and groups through a variety of communications modes, including formal presentations. Practices attentive and active listening; synthesizes information from multiple resources and incorporates it into current discussion content.

Quality Focus: Continually seeks to improve work processes, products and services. Sweats the details. Ensures that work is free from errors and is accomplished safely; takes action to correct problems.

Responsibilities:

Financial Management: Oversee functions of the Award Management group to ensure the Team's work is accurate and timely Work closely with the Cash Management and Audit Coordination team to ensure cash is applied to awards appropriately and audit responses are timely and well-coordinated Set up procedures and update SOPs for managing awards from cradle to grave, with particular attention to timely close out of awards in the financial system Participate in negotiating financial terms of awards by collaborating with OSP pre-award and contracts teams Interpret financial award terms correctly and ensure compliance and resolve problems by collaborating with OSP and departmental peers Meet with department research administrators periodically to address issues or concerns In collaboration with OSP colleagues, recommend process improvements to the Director and OVPR

Performance Management: Ensure that expectations are clear, well communicated, and relate to the goals and objectives of OSP and Post Award Insure that the Team has necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish goals Insure that staff receive frequent, constructive feedback, including interim evaluations as appropriate Insure that the requirements of the performance planning and evaluation system are met and evaluations are completed by established deadlines with proper documentation Consistently strive to insure a safe work environment through education, assessment and the demonstrated observance of sound safety practices and further demonstrates commitment to reducing lost time by supporting the safe resumption of work by employees with work-related or non-work related illnesses or injuries. Provide meaningful and accurate management reports in accordance with established deadlines, to show risks and accomplishments. Function as backup as necessary to insure all responsibilities in the Post Award area are covered and current.

Leadership and Collaboration: Follow through on commitments and ensure others are held accountable for actions Consistently make best choices for the University and its mission Encourage intellectual curiosity and continuous desire to grow among the team Promote teamwork by discouraging "we vs them" thinking and facilitate discussion and resolution of different views Look across scopes and silos to see connections and opportunities to better align teams and functions

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:

• Strong managerial and leadership capabilities manage, train and mentor. Ability to adapt and remain flexible in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Strong accounting skills and knowledge of GAAP, and University, state, and federal policies. Ability to understand, interpret, and communicate policies and procedures, conduct activities and make decisions according to audit and ethical standards.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Proven ability to clearly articulate specific information in area of subject matter expertise.
• Excellent analytical skills; demonstrated proficiency in Excel and web-based tools.
• Advanced ability to navigate University databases and systems. Ability to access and present information to University employees, faculty, and senior leaders.
• Ability to work independently or as a part of a team. Work with senior leaders to accomplish goals. Ability to lead, train, and functionally supervise.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills. Ability to identify opportunities for process improvements and provides compelling reasons to senior leadership in support of ideas.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education: Bachelor's degree
Experience: At least seven years of grant and contract experience, typically in an academic environment. Four additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of degree.
Licensure: Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification is preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

Advanced degree, along with 7+ years of leadership experience in a university, not-for-profit research organization OR federal agency environment with advanced knowledge of OMB guidance for grants and cooperative agreements, as well as Federal Acquisition Regulations for federal contracts and other federal and non-federal agency guidelines.

Combined experience/education may substitute for minimum education.

Certified Research Administrator (CRA) OR Project Management certification.

Application Process:

Please apply online, and search for R00XXXXX. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching 'Find Jobs.' Complete an application online with the following documents:

• Resume

• Cover letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field; multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

References will be completed via UVA's standardized process SkillSurvey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process.A minimum of three is required.

For additional information regarding this search, please contact Lyndsay Thaxton, Talent Acquisition Manager, at enn9zv@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.