Director of the Research Administration Collaborative

Job Description

Position Purpose

The Director of the Research Administration Collaborative will lead a transformative realignment of research administration in support of the UWs research partnership with OR SOM ABC FPB UW-IT and academic units across UW the Director will design implement and scale a centralized grants management structure that elevates service quality strengthens compliance increases efficiency reduces departmental administrative burden and creates enterprise synergies overseeing 6 teams and 8 functional areas with an estimated staff of 100 employees.

The Director will serve on the OR Executive Committee and drive the vision to standardize award lifecycle business processes from proposal development through award set-up spend down reporting and closeout ensuring operational continuity and responsiveness to the natural cycles of sponsored programs. This position will lead change management across schools colleges campuses and research units establishing tools training and metrics to sustain performance.

Position Complexities

The Director of the Research Administration Collaborative operates within a highly complex and evolving environment that requires navigating significant organizational operational and cultural change across the UW research enterprise. The role requires balancing strategic transformation with day-to-day operational demands and coordinating activities across multiple central units and decentralized academic units with varying practices priorities and resource levels. Key complexities include:

-Leads a major institutional transformation to centralize and standardize grants management across diverse schools colleges and campuses.

-Directs up to 100 employees organized into 8 functional areas and 6 teams who manage pre-award and post-award service delivery across UW schools colleges campuses and research units.

-Manages multi-stakeholder coordination with OR units SOM ABC FPB UWIT central offices and academic departments requiring shared governance and strong relationship building.

-Operates within a highly regulated environment ensuring compliance with rapidly evolving federal sponsor and institutional requirements.

-Oversees complex high-stakes operational workflows across the full award lifecycle with significant consequences for faculty competitiveness research continuity and institutional risk.

-Navigates cultural and organizational change unifying decentralized processes systems and staff while maintaining service quality and fostering an inclusive service-oriented culture.

Position Dimensions and Impact to the University

The Director of the Research Administration Collaborative oversees a high impact institution wide transformation that reshapes how core grant and award lifecycle services are delivered across all UW schools colleges campuses and research units. By standardizing processes integrating systems and centralizing staffing models the role directly influences service quality institutional compliance operational efficiency and the competitiveness of UWs $1.7B research enterprise. The Directors leadership ensures sustainable administrative structures that reduce costs mitigate risk and strengthen the Universitys long term research capacity.

Position Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Partnership (20%)

- Manage the design and execution of the centralized grants management model aligned to UWs future-state vision.

- Lead operational strategy implementation and assessment in partnership with OR unit directors and campus stakeholders.

- Serve as primary liaison with OR leadership central HR UWIT central finance and academic units for organizational restructuring and change management.

- Translate strategic planning workgroup recommendations into actionable plans ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.

Model Development Organizational Design & Continuous Improvement (35%)

- Develop build and maintain the central research administration services model including organizational structures staffing plans and service line definitions in collaboration with university partners.

- Evaluate cost models and alternative service delivery approaches. Engage with OR leadership on financial impacts and resource allocation.

- Standardize processes systems and tools across the award lifecycle to eliminate silos and promote cross-coverage and resiliency.

- Implement best practices for process workflows systems tools and performance metrics in collaboration with UW-IT and other Directors.

- Lead continuous process improvement and redesign using Lean principles and root-cause analysis (CAPA).

- Establish and monitor service-level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs) developing and maintaining dashboards for real-time performance tracking.

Service Operations & Compliance Oversight (20%)

- Provide leadership for RAC directing operations of up to 100 employees organized into 8 functional areas and 6 teams who manage pre-award and post-award service delivery across UW schools colleges campuses and research units.

- Ensure timely accurate and compliant execution aligned with sponsor University and system requirements safeguarding faculty timelines and research continuity.

- Act as grants management subject matter expert (SME) guiding policy interpretation and operational decisions in partnership with compliance and fiscal units.

- Coordinate with OSP Grant & Contract Accounting Post-Award Fiscal Compliance and sponsors to resolve complex issues.

Training & Professional Development (15%)

- In partnership with Office of Research Learning Programs central offices and campus support a comprehensive training program for service personnel and academic unit partners to ensure onboarding and ongoing development are consistently delivered. This includes curriculum SOPs best practices and reference materials aligned with evolving systems tools and policies.

- Support professional growth and career development for team members.

Stakeholder Engagement Governance & Communication (10%)

- Build and sustain collegial partnerships with OR SOM ABC FPB UW-IT and academic units ensuring collaborative decision-making and shared accountability.

- Establish and facilitate governance committees for the service (e.g. Service Advisory Committee Faculty Oversight Committee).

Represent the service in UW research administration networks (MRAM CoPRA RAPN RAPIT).

Develop and implement communication strategies (email forums newsletters online postings) and maintain feedback channels (PI surveys listening sessions).

Actively manage relationships with departments and central offices. Conduct semi-annual meetings and post-mortems to capture improvement opportunities.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelors Degree in business public or health administration or related field and 10 years of relevant experience.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements such as a license/certification/registration.

Desired:

- Masters degree in business public or health administration or related field.

- CRA PMP Lean/Six Sigma certification or equivalent experience.

- Demonstrated success in partnering with IT and central finance to deploy tools/workflows. Experience with enterprise research administration systems and data/reporting tools.

- Demonstrated success in building centralized or shared services involving diverse stakeholders.

- Demonstrated success leading change initiatives and standardizing processes.

- Skilled at fostering strong partnerships and engaging in shared governance to achieve enterprise-wide objectives.

- Demonstrated ability to think strategically and design systems that align with institutional goals and future-state visions.

- Deep knowledge of sponsor and federal regulations (Uniform Guidance/OMB NIH policy agency-specific requirements) and experience in risk mitigation within research administration.

- Experience with pre-award and post-award operations budget development and compliance.

- Strong people leadership: hiring onboarding performance management professional development.

- Experience in inclusive leadership and supporting talent development through coaching and professional growth.

- Exceptional customer service communication and relationship management skills.

- Proficiency with Lean/continuous improvement.

- Experience with metrics SLAs and CAPA methodologies.

- Prior leadership in a centralized or hybrid grants management environment.

- Proven track record of operational excellence including leading continuous improvement initiatives and implementing best practices for efficiency and quality.

- Ability to make data-informed decisions with a commitment to transparency and accountability in reporting and communication.

- Demonstrated resilience sound judgment and adaptability in managing complex issues and priorities in a fast-paced dynamic environment.

Working Environmental Conditions

This position operates in a standard office environment on the UW Seattle campus with limited hybrid work flexibility. Travel between UW campuses may be required. The role requires attendance at meetings across varied schedules and occasional extended hours during critical project phases or system issues.

Compensation Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

Temporary or Regular

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

Union/Bargaining Unit:

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier return they enjoy outstanding benefits opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity intellectual excitement artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race color creed religion national origin citizenship sex pregnancy age marital status sexual orientation gender identity or expression genetic information disability or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process contact the Disability Services Office at or .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.