Associate Vice President for Research Administration

The Associate Vice President (AVP) for Research Administration leads university-wide research administration, policy development, and compliance activities. This position oversees the University of Minnesota's Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) and Office of Cost Analysis (OCA) functions. Partnering with their leadership teams, the AVP delivers a customer-centric approach to research administration and leverages data analytics, key tools and systems to develop innovative solutions to facilitate operational excellence across pre- and post-award processes. They work closely with various offices, departments and colleges across the entire University of Minnesota system to ensure adherence to federal, state, and institutional standards for research proposals and awards. The AVP acts as a policy owner for university-wide research administration policies, including regular updates and comprehensive reviews. They also serve as the institutional approver/signatory for F&A rate agreements, effort compliance, F&A waiver requests, exceptions to financial policy, and other relevant documents. Finally, the AVP provides research administration expertise to the university by serving on key institutional committees including the Senate Research Committee, Research Security Committee, and Institutional Conflict of Interest Committee, among others.

Key Responsibilities

• Research Administration Leadership
  • Lead a customer-focused research administration organization of approximately 60 staff. Provide guidance to the leadership team to effectively manage staff and operations, resulting in strong employee retention, effective budget utilization, and high employee engagement metrics.
  • Mentor the SPA and OCA leadership teams to provide opportunities to build their professional profiles and networks and participate in regional and federal activities for research administration.
  • Ensure the optimal functioning of research administration systems, especially the new MN-GEMS system, while driving ongoing improvements to enhance user experience and efficiency. This includes providing regular and timely updates to meet the essential needs of the university research community.
    
• High-Level Visioning and Strategic Planning
  • Develop strategic plans and metrics for university-wide research administration, to facilitate operational excellence across pre- and post-award processes.
  • Leverage data analytics to regularly measure operational success to drive continuous improvement, equitably allocate workloads, and ensure a high level of customer satisfaction.
  • Devise innovative solutions that ensure efficient, high-quality services while managing financial, legal, and reputational risks. Activities include both preemptive activities such as training and standard operating procedures, and reactive processes to quickly handle acute challenges.
    
• Education and Outreach
  • Oversee the development of a structured curriculum to increase knowledge of SPA regulatory procedures and functions across the University and create processes for regular curriculum delivery.
  • Educate and engage the research community with regular presentations on funding agency policy updates, uniform guidance, and other key topics in research administration.
  • Serve as a visible liaison for SPA, OCA and the Research & Innovation Office (RIO) by holding regular meetings with system campuses to ensure cross-campus navigation and system consistency.
  • Represent RIO on key University committees such as the Senate Research Committee, Research Security Committee, and Institutional Conflict of Interest Committee.
  • Represent the university by participating in external groups such as NCURA, COGR, APLU, and AAU.
    
• Policy Management and Compliance Activities
  • Prepare and manage responses to NIH, agency Offices of the Inspector General, and other notifications requiring official responses, partnering with Office of General Counsel (OGC) as needed, by all applicable deadlines.
  • Monitor agency regulations for reporting requirements and adjust university policies as needed. Provide guidance to the university community based on the assessment of policies.
  • Build strong relationships with key state and federal agency officials and serve as an institutional representative for regulatory and compliance partnerships.
  • Act as a policy owner for university-wide research administration policies, including regular updates and comprehensive reviews. Ensure consistent implementation and enforcement of policies.
  • Serve as institutional approver/signatory for F&A rate agreements, effort compliance, F&A waiver requests, exceptions to financial policy, and other relevant documents, ensuring prompt and efficient responses to requests.
  • Work with OCA Director on the preparation, submission and review of the University's F&A rate agreements.
  • Work with Human Resources (HR), OGC, Office for Institutional Compliance (OIC), and others for the investigation and management of cases related to fraud, misspending, and other non-scientific misconduct.
  • Work closely with OGC to ensure contract terms adequately protect the University and are consistent with law and University policies.
  • Work closely with Technology Commercialization to ensure Intellectual Property (IP) terms contained in contracts are consistent with University's IP policies.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• At least 10 years of experience in research administration leadership roles with progressively increasing responsibility within a major research university, federal government, or another entity engaged in sponsored research.
• Track record of effectively managing professional staff within a large organization of 25+ individuals.
• Specific experience in administering federal research grants and contracts, corporate-sponsored research, and clinical trial agreements.
• Experience in developing, implementing, and using grants management information systems.
• Ability to handle a high-intensity research administration operation characterized by 10,000+ proposals and agreements annually.
• Demonstrated experience, with specific examples, of leading teams through process and organizational change.
• Proven success in delivering a customer-centric approach to research administration.
• Specific leadership examples demonstrating the use of data analytics and artificial intelligence applications for research administration.
• Experience in designing and delivering an effective training curriculum to a diverse audience across an institution.
• Significant professional experience in serving on and leading university-wide committees in the research administration domain.
• Multiple years of experience in policy development and interpretation, particularly in the domain of federal grant agencies.
• Established track record of working with organizations such as NCURA, COGR, APLU, AAU, and other relevant groups.

The University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office oversees and supports the University's research enterprise by fostering collaboration, ensuring compliance, and driving innovation. This office serves as the central resource for conducting, managing, and sponsoring research, while also overseeing key administrative and compliance functions that cultivate a culture of research integrity.

Within this framework, the Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) is authorized to submit research proposals, receive external awards, and act as the fiduciary for grant-related matters on behalf of the Board of Regents. SPA focuses on creating a seamless project lifecycle, reducing administrative burden, enhancing knowledge, and offering robust support for externally funded research and programs. Additionally, the Office of Cost Analysis provides expertise in analytical processes, cost accounting, and effort reporting to ensure sponsored activities comply with federal principles and standards.

Together, these units contribute to the broader Research and Innovation Office mission to address society's most complex challenges, advance interdisciplinary collaborations, and bring University of Minnesota innovations to market to improve lives worldwide.

Pay Range: $175,000-$235,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 75%-100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).