Director, Sponsored Programs

The Director leads manages and facilitates pre-award research administration to advance Clemsons research goals and institutional priorities. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Research Scholarship and Creative Endeavors the Director provides strategic and operational leadership for the Office of Sponsored Programs working closely with faculty staff and administrators to support external funding while ensuring compliance with federal state sponsor and university regulations and policies. The role coordinates pre-award activities in close partnership with research compliance and post-award functions ensuring a seamless and integrated research administration ecosystem.

This is a rare opportunity to lead pre-award research administration at a Carnegie R1 land-grant university with strong momentum in sponsored funding interdisciplinary collaboration and industry engagement. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to senior research leadership and faculty balancing strategic vision with operational excellence while strengthening policies advancing systems and processes and fostering a collaborative service-oriented culture that supports researchers throughout the proposal and award lifecycle.

The successful candidate will join Clemson at a time of continued growth and investment in research infrastructure. This role offers the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide practices lead complex negotiations as the Universitys Authorized Organizational Representative develop and mentor a high-performing team and help position Clemson for sustained competitiveness in an increasingly complex federal and sponsor funding environment

Opportunities and Expectations

Operations and Organizational Leadership

Provideleadershipandoversightofthe OfficeofSponsoredProgramsinsupportof -to-day pre-awardoperationsincludingproposalsubmissionandawardacceptance processesstaffingperformance improvementsandprocessdocumentation andcontinuouslyassessorganizational structureandworkloadtorespondtoevolvingresearchactivityandsponsor requirements.

Policies Procedures and RegulatoryOversight

WorkcollaborativelywiththeSeniorVicePresidentforResearchto developimplementandrefinepoliciesandproceduresgoverningpre-awardresearch consistentprocessesforthereviewand negotiationofsponsoredresearchgrants contractscooperativeagreementsand requirementsandrecommendpolicy analysesandpositionpapersasdirected.

ContractReviewandNegotiation

Provideinstitutionaloversightforthereviewand negotiationofsponsoredresearchagreements including grants contractsnon-disclosureagreementsdatauseagreementsmaterialtransferagreementsandotherresearch-relatedinstruments. (AOR).

Outreach and Collaboration

Communicateuniversitypoliciesandbestpracticesrelatedtopre-awardresearch administrationtofacultystaffand ofGeneralCounseltheOfficeofEthics andComplianceandothercampus pointofcontactandAORforexternal sponsorsandorganizationsincluding COGR and FDP.

StrategicPlanningandSpecialInitiatives

ServeasakeymemberoftheSenior VicePresidentforResearchsleadership teamandcontributetostrategic initiativesthatstrengthentheDivisionofResearch and support research excellenceatthehighestlevel. Participateinplanningactivitiesthat enhanceresearchcapacitycompliance andinstitutionalcompetitiveness.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Mastersdegreeinarelevantfield
  Aminimumoffiveyearsof professionalexperienceincluding three to five years of experience in research administration.
• Demonstratedknowledge of pre-award research administration sponsored programs regulations and compliance requirements.
• Strong communication collaboration and problem-solving skills with the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with faculty administrators and research support units.
• Proven experience leading supervisinganddeveloping professional staff.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Doctoralorprofessionaldegree.
• Demonstrated leadership experiencewithmeasurable impactinuniversityresearch administration.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Financial ResearchAdministrator(CFRA).
• Experience serving as or supporting an Authorized OrganizationalRepresentative (AOR).
• ExperienceinacomplexR1or public research university environment.