Assistant Director, Office of Sponsored Programs Financial Administration

Working Title: Assistant Director Office of Sponsored Programs - Financial Administration

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: Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) - Financial Administration

Department: 539001 - Sponsored Programs Accounting

Pay Band:N/A

Pay Rate:Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: 65000 - 75000

Is this a JMU only positionNo

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

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated positionNo

Beginning Review Date:06/05/2026

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
Situated in the heart of Virginias beautiful Shenandoah Valley the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington D.C. and Richmond VA.

JMU is a selective public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21000 undergraduate and 1800 graduate students with over 1000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts science and technology and professional disciplines at the undergraduate masters and doctoral levels. 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 for Sponsored Programs Financial Administration provides leadership oversight and operational management of post-award services supporting the institutions research and sponsored projects portfolio. This role ensures compliant financial management effective award monitoring compliant spending on sub-awards timely reporting and exceptional service to faculty and project teams. With a customer service focus support post award analysis and monitoring functions for sponsored projects maintaining compliance with university federal state regulations in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accounts generally accepted accounting policies and procedures. Maintain high level of customer satisfaction acknowledging that Principal Investigators rarely embrace compliance administrative or accounting issues.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Sub-recipient Monitoring: Monitor/Approve payments for sub-recipients as budgeted in sponsored programs.
Review and approve financial transactions as approved for payments to sub-recipients and adjust transactions that require higher-level scrutiny.
Work with JMUs PIs to gain approval to pay submitted invoices.
Work with Finance to gain approval for pre-payments to sub-awardees as approved by external sponsors.
Work with sub-recipients to audit submitted invoices for compliance with the submitted budget and the written budget justification.

Communications: Provide guidance to principal investigators research administrators and departmental staff on post-award requirements and best practices.
Represent the office in cross-campus meetings committees and working groups.
Act as a liaison to sponsors on post-award issues financial matters and award modifications.

Financial Compliance & Reporting: Ensure compliance with federal regulations (e.g. Uniform Guidance) sponsor requirements institutional policies and audit standards.
Oversee the preparation and submission of financial reports invoices drawdowns and related documentation.
Oversee the financial and administrative management of sponsored awards including budget setup expense monitoring and cost allocations.
Serve as an institutional resource for interpreting sponsor terms allowable costs and compliance requirements.
Monitor award spending and facilitate proactive communication with investigators and departments regarding financial status.
Partner with other internal units to ensure accurate and timely transactions and reconciliations.

Leadership & Management: Supervise mentor and evaluate post-award staff promoting a collaborative customer-focused and compliance-driven work environment.
Provide training guidance and professional development opportunities to staff and campus stakeholders.
Assist the Director with strategic planning workflow optimization and operational improvements for post-award services.
Contribute to the development and implementation of policies procedures and automated tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy in post-award administration.
Identify and resolve process bottlenecks compliance risks and training needs.
Support system upgrades testing data integrity reviews and workflow enhancements in research administration systems (e.g. ERP grants management tools).

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in business administration finance accounting public administration or related field or equivalent work experience.
Experience in research administration or sponsored programs with a strong focus on post-award management.
Demonstrated knowledge of federal regulations governing sponsored projects (e.g. Uniform Guidance federal agency guidelines).
Experience with grant management systems financial reporting and audit processes.
Strong analytical organizational and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Highly developed time-management problem resolution organizational skills and attention to detail.
Proficiency in multi-tasking and prioritizing assignments in a deadline driven environment.
Capability to work independently or as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications:

Supervisory experience in research administration setting.
Experience in higher education or a large research organization.

Additional Posting Information:

JMUs Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information please visit of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age color disability gender identity or expression genetic information national origin parental status political affiliation race religion sex sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access inclusion and diversity for all students faculty staff constituents and programs believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: .

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at or You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office located at 752 Ott Street Harrisonburg VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.