Summary

This is a management position in research administration and under administrative direction supports one functional area including, but not limited to: funding information; regulatory compliance; proposal preparation and processing; award negotiation and acceptance (including contracts and subcontracts); and award setup. This is a core function with university wide scope. Positions in this classification are reserved for the Office of Sponsored Projects use only and have delegated signatory authority from the Chancellor for Health Sciences and/or the Vice President for Research for all sponsored projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Manages and oversees all day-to-day activities of a work unit involved in the review, negotiation and administration of research, educational, and public service proposals, grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, subawards and may include ancillary research agreements such as material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements and data transfer agreements and the provision of technical and administrative guidance and support to faculty and staff seeking outside funding for research, public service, and special sponsored institutional projects.
2. Oversees the activities of a diverse team of professional staff and senior officers to include staffing and hiring, training and development, work allocation and prioritization, performance evaluation, and performance management of departmental staff.
3. Responsible for work unit budgeting, personnel activities, customer relations, training and staffing plans.
4. May be responsible for managing a specialized program or area, such as program development or information technology.
5. Ensures university compliance with local, state and federal laws, regulations and requirements.
6. Initiates measures to improve customer service, use of technology, employee professionalism and communication.
7. Develops, implements and evaluates major programs and/or projects.
8. Oversees developments and improvements to new or existing applications software to include the development of user requirements, project specifications and implementation programs, and advises on alternative system/application implementation approaches.
9. Coordinates the analysis of user project proposals, identifies potential problem areas, and recommends innovative and practical approaches.
10. Reviews the development of training materials, and coordinates training programs and workshops in parallel processing and use of large computer systems.
11. May coordinate the development, implementation, installation, and testing of applications software; reviews designs, analyses, and codes for quality and adherence to standards, and develops procedures for the maintenance of applications software.
12. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree; at least 5 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of grant funding policies and procedures and applicable University, Local, State and Federal regulations, guidelines, and policies covering contracting and granting process for public institutions.
• Skill in the formulation, negotiation, and establishment of complex, integrated contractual arrangements.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and training to assigned staff, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments and the ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to present information effectively to groups.
• Project management, budget preparation and fiscal management skills and the ability to meet multiple deadlines and resolve complex problems and issues.
• Ability to utilize strong cross unit knowledge to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments within broadly defined practices & policies in selecting methods, techniques & evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Knowledge and understanding of financial analysis, intellectual property rights laws, guidelines, and policies.
• Analytical, evaluative, critical thinking and negotiating skills.
• Ability to effectively respond to highly complex situations involving numerous and sometimes competing university constituencies.
• Demonstrated customer service skills, and ability to influence resolution of complex issues to achieve outcomes and resolve issues.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, computer data base systems and of computer-aided research administration systems.
• Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Position requires: a) management and oversight of one or more units within a Sponsored Projects Office; b) makes procedural and administrative decisions and judgments within the Sponsored Projects Office policies and procedures, and UNM policies and procedures.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• No or very limited physical effort required.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

The University of New Mexico provides all training required by OSHA to ensure employee safety.

Revised Date: 11/06/2017