Assistant Director, Contracts and Awards (JMU Only)

Working Title: Assistant Director, Contracts and Awards (JMU Only)

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

 

College/Division: Vice President - REDI

Department: 539001 - Sponsored Program Accounting

 

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

 

Is this a JMU only position? Yes. This is a JMU only recruitment, only current JMU employees are eligible to apply.

Is this a grant-funded position? Yes. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon continued funding.

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

 

Beginning Review Date: 02/17/2025

 

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

 

General Information:

The Assistant Director, Contracts and Awards is a critical role within the Office of Sponsored Programs, responsible for the meticulous management, negotiation, and compliance of contracts, awards, and subrecipient agreements. This position ensures that the university's contractual obligations align with regulatory standards and institutional policies, while also providing essential support to Principal Investigators (PIs) throughout the award lifecycle. A significant component of this role involves managing the deployment and integration of the university's electronic research administration (eRA) system. By working closely with IT professionals, research administrators, and other stakeholders, the Assistant Director, Contracts and Awards will ensure the eRA system is implemented efficiently and effectively. This includes optimizing data management, enhancing research administration processes, and supporting institutional compliance through a well-executed system integration.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Their responsibilities as head of contracts and negotiations will include:
• Negotiation and Execution: The Assistant Director will review, negotiate, and execute complex contracts and agreements with various sponsors, including federal agencies, foundations, industry partners, and international entities. They will serve as the chief negotiator for high-profile and complex sponsored projects.

• Compliance and Policy Interpretation: They will ensure compliance with university policies, sponsor guidelines, and applicable federal and state regulations. They interpret and apply institutional policies and procedures related to sponsored activities.

• Risk Management: They assess and mitigate risks associated with contract terms and conditions and provide counsel and recommendations to university leadership on risk management strategies related to sponsored programs.

• Systems Support: They will create and maintain systematic processes for data analysis and reporting.

• Collaboration and Liaison: They will act as a liaison between the university and sponsors, regulatory agencies, and other external stakeholders. They w