Director of Research and Sponsored Programs - Farmingdale State College

Job Description: Farmingdale State College (FSC), a dynamic public university serving more than 10,000 students, invites applications for the position of Director of Research and Sponsored Programs. As the College embarks on a strategic initiative to deepen its commitment to faculty scholarship and high-impact undergraduate research, it seeks an experienced, entrepreneurial, and results-oriented leader to direct its central sponsored programs office. The Director will play a crucial role in developing the vision, infrastructure, and culture necessary to increase external funding substantially. The ideal candidate will be a proactive partner to our faculty, helping them identify promising funding opportunities and develop compelling proposals. The Director will provide hands-on support throughout the grant lifecycle and serve as a key champion for scholarly and creative activities across campus. The Director will oversee all aspects of pre- and post-award administration, manage a small team of grant specialists, and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and service. This role is critical for scaling the University's capacity to secure and manage a larger and more complex portfolio of grants and contracts from federal, state, and industry partners. The successful candidate will be an expert in federal regulations and will work to foster a robust culture of compliance and research integrity. The Director reports to the Senior Vice President and Provost, and works closely with the Chief Financial Officer. Key Responsibilities: * Strategic Leadership: Collaborate with academic leadership to develop and implement a strategic plan for growing the College's portfolio of sponsored research and programs. * Strategic Collaboration: Partner with the President, Provost, and academic deans to identify and prioritize strategic funding opportunities. Develop and maintain strong working relationships with federal program officers, foundation representatives, and industry partners. Works closely with legal advisors, including SUNY Research Foundation Central Office, on issues and opportunities, including technology transfer, collaborative research agreements, and program audits. * Faculty Development & Support: Proactively identify and disseminate funding opportunities from federal, state, foundation, and corporate sources (e.g., NSF, NIH, private foundations) that align with faculty expertise. * Pre-Award Services: Lead team to provide expert guidance and assistance to faculty and staff in all aspects of proposal development. Provide final institutional review and approval for all external grant and grant-related contract applications. * Operational Management: Direct the day-to-day operations of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), including supervising professional staff, managing the office budget, and optimizing workflows through the use of electronic research administration systems. Serves as SUNY Research Foundation Operations Manager on campus. * Post-Award and Financial Management: Provide comprehensive oversight of post-award functions, including award negotiation and acceptance, subcontracting, financial reporting, effort certification, and award closeout. Ensure compliance with federal regulations, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance). * Compliance & Training: Coordinates with SUNY Research Foundation in assuring all mandated procedures and policies are followed. Develop and deliver workshops and training for faculty on grant writing and research ethics, academic misconduct, pre-award budgeting, etc. Requirements: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: * Master's degree and a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored research administration. * Demonstrated success in helping secure external funding. * Broad knowledge of major funding sources, including federal and state agencies and private foundations. * Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, with a strong customer-service orientation. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: * Terminal degree (PhD, JD, etc.). * Certified Research Administrator (CRA) designation. * Experience in a university setting working with faculty. * Supervisory experience. * Experience implementing or managing electronic research administration (eRA) software (e.g., Cayuse, Kuali). * Experience conducting outreach to funding agencies on behalf of the university to promote faculty research, develop relationships, and identify opportunities. * Experience creating training programs for faculty and staff. Additional Information: This is a full-time M/C position. * CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: Open Until Filled * SALARY: $140,000/year. Salary may increase commensurate with experience. The State University of New York offers excellent fringe benefits including health insurance options and retirement plans. Click here for New York State Benefits Summary Visit our Why Work at FSC page to learn more about FSC and the total rewards we offer. VISA SPONSORSHIP IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION The Consumer Information web page can be viewed at the following link This page describes various services, information and statistics on many different aspects of the College's operations. Farmingdale State College's commitment to inclusive excellence is an important part of our mission of public education and our culture. At Farmingdale State College, we continue to work on building a community that supports freedom, mutual respect, and civility. We seek others who support these values of diversity and inclusiveness and candidates of all diverse backgrounds who wish to participate in our cultural aspirations are welcome and encouraged to apply. The College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status. Application Instructions: Interested candidates may apply by clicking on the "Apply Now" link at the top or bottom of this page. The following documents are required for all positions: * Cover Letter - Please include your vision for this role * Resume/C.V. * References - Provide at least three professional references (references will not be contacted until the candidate pool is narrowed) Only applications made through Farmingdale's electronic application system will be accepted. Once you successfully apply you will receive an email as confirmation. Returning applicants may login to their Farmingdale State College Careers Account to apply for this position. See the FAQ for using our online system. Please contact us if you need assistance applying through this website.

Apply Now