Director Research Operations (Remote) - CCI - College of Computing & Informatics

Job Summary 

Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean for Research, the Director for Research Operations (Remote), College of Computing & Informatics is responsible for overseeing day-to-day research operations, in conjunction with the Senior Associate Dean for Research. This is a vital position to provide higher level administrative, project and program support and management of the College’s research, grant, and contract activities.  This is a supervisory position with one or two direct reports, Program Administrators, who serve to support grant/research efforts for the college.

Essential Functions 

Support the Senior Associate Dean of Research in coordinating research efforts within the College, including duties that pertain to Centers/Institutes, cross-college efforts, and other special projects:

• Research Operations.
• Perform and manage staff on pre-award, post-award, and all other administrative aspects of the College’s research program.
• Oversee pre- and post-award compliance, contractual reporting, mandatory effort reporting, and export controls.
• Maintain central repository of research operation files, including all proposal/award documents and tracking, internal process and policy guidelines, and research reports.
• Review and facilitate execution of new contracts, non-disclosure agreements, and ongoing negotiations.
• Plan for cyclical projects and deadlines and manage the calendar of opportunities for extramural funding with faculty.
• Connect faculty and students with central University offices and resources, as appropriate.

Pre-Award activities including, but not limited to:

• Oversee CCI’s internal grant proposal process and tracking.
• Work directly with faculty, external collaborators, and other research administrators to draft proposal budgets, obtain associated documentation, route for approvals, and create and upload grant application packages to submission platforms in advance of sponsor deadlines.
• Assist faculty and staff with Drexel’s electronic proposal submission systems.

Post-Award activities including, but not limited to:

• Monitor all phases of award setup and closing to detect and address issues as they arise.
• Monitor funds to ensure transactions are accurate and allowable per sponsor guidelines, and deficits avoided.
• Effectively communicate with Drexel, sponsor contacts, and external collaborators throughout the award/closeout process to ensure all administrative tasks are completed and issues addressed. Work to rectify deficits on sponsored funds and address invoicing issues.
• Prepare, submit, and follow-up on all paperwork pertaining to budgetary procedures for extramural grants and some intramural funds (PAFs, transaction corrections, etc.)
• Working directly with faculty and/or Department Heads, develop spend plans for all grant funds to aid with fiscal year budget projections and quarterly hiring of PhD students.
• Coordinate with the Director of Finance on issues and procedures that intersect both Research and Finance, such as expenditure projections and reporting, purchasing, hiring of personnel, consulting agreements, and other financial administration items.

Research Management:

• Serve as the College representative on university-level research administration-related committees, and as the primary liaison to the Office of Research & Innovation, Research Accounting, and other academic and administrative units, for research administration-related activities as needed.
• Serve as the College representative for research-related process and information technology enhancements.
• Oversee compliance training programs for CCI faculty and research program administrators.
• Coordinate completion of data requests from Senior Associate Dean for Research.
• Oversee the operation of CCI’s proposal tracking system, report generation and research projections for the Dean’s office, department heads, and finance team.
• Assist with preparation of research related data for faculty annual performance review, promotion, and tenure.
• Stay abreast and disseminate information regarding sponsor and relevant University policies and procedures.
• Support and advise CCI Research Committee.
• Research special reports and projects as requested.

Support for Senior Associate Dean for Research:

• Assist with the creation, oversight, and enforcement of CCI research policies, processes, and procedures.
• Develop and support ongoing systems and process improvements for research operations.
• Assist with the preparation and presentation of research findings at internal and external events, including posting materials and publica