Director, Research & Sponsored ProgramsResearch and Sponsored Programs

Openings: 1

Description

JOB SUMMARY: Research & Sponsored Programs (RSP) administers the development and submission of proposals for external funding and manages financial post-award administration. The Director serves as the Gustavus Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) when applying to, negotiating, and managing grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements with government agencies or pass through entities. In this capacity, RSP also supports faculty and staff in seeking and managing external funding for curricular, programmatic, and College initiatives. 

Employment Type: Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Exempt (Salaried), Benefits-Eligible

Salary Range: $70,000-85,000

Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Provide strategic leadership and management for RSP, ensuring a high level of service to faculty and staff. 

  • Cultivate an environment that encourages and supports faculty and student engagement in research across all disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
  • Proactively research and disseminate information on external funding opportunities from federal agencies, foundations, corporations, and state programs that align with faculty and/or staff interests and institutional strengths.
  • Ensure ongoing compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and College regulations and policies as they relate to grant preparation and post-award administration. 
  • Oversight of budget development for external proposals, ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance with College, federal, and sponsor guidelines to mitigate risk related to the following areas of the College budget:
  • Institutional cost share and financial commitments on external grants
  • Revenue projections from grant related salary savings and indirect cost recovery
  • Grant Incentive Funds
  • Foster strong collaborative relationships with the strategic partners across campus, including the Provost’s Office, Advancement and Finance.
  • Develop, implement, and update College policies and procedures related to sponsored programs that ensure compliance with federal, state, and sponsor regulations. 
  • Coordinate and oversee negotiations regarding intellectual property, confidentiality, and non-disclosure agreements related to grants and contracts. 

Ensure comprehensive guidance and support to faculty and staff throughout the proposal development process. 

  • Develop and offer resources for faculty to build the capacity to compete for external funding for their research, scholarship, and creativity.
  • Collaborate with faculty, staff, and campus partners to prepare submissions for curricular, programmatic, and College initiatives to public and government sponsors.
  • Coordinate grant development with academic priorities and institutional strategic planning.
  • Ensure proposals align with funding agency guidelines and College policies.
  • Facilitate internal review and approval processes for proposals.
  • Design and deliver workshops, seminars, and individual consultations to enhance faculty and staff capacity in grant writing, proposal development, budget creation, and compliance.

Manage the process of accepting awards, negotiating terms and conditions with sponsors, and establishing award accounts in College financial systems. 

  • Monitor financial aspects of awarded grants/contracts, including accurate cost allocations, expenditures, and budget adherence.
  • Collaborate with the Finance Office to ensure proper fiscal administration, budgeting, and compliance with financial reporting requirements. 
  • Assist Principal Investigators (PI) with budget revisions, extensions, and other changes to awards.
  • Assist with internal and external audits related to sponsored projects.

Manage the RSP Office.

  • Supervise and mentor RSP staff, ensuring efficient workflow, clarity of responsibilities, and opportunities for professional development.
  • Develop and manage the RSP operating budget. 
  • Maintain and utilize appropriate grant management systems and databases to track proposals, awards, compliance data, and generate reports for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Maintain a central repository of successful and unsuccessful proposals, award documents, and compliance records.

Other duties as assigned.  

Prerequisites

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field (e.g., higher education or public administration, business, or a scholarly discipline) or Bachelor’s degree with minimum 10 years of professional work experience.
  • 3-5 years of experience in research administration, sponsored programs, or grants management.
  • Demonstrated experience with the full grant lifecycle, including proposal development, submission, award negotiation, post-award management, and closeout.
  • Experience with federal rules and regulations related to the administration of higher education grants.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex information to diverse audiences (faculty, staff, external funders).
  • Proficiency in grant management software and databases.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
  • Commitment to the mission and values of a liberal arts undergraduate college.
  • Ability to maintain high levels of confidentiality.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • Doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D) from an accredited institution.
  • Certification in Research Administration
  • Supervisory experience
  • Successful record of securing and managing a diverse portfolio of grants (federal, state, and private).
  • Experience developing and delivering training and workshops on grants and research.
  • Familiarity with intellectual property policies and technology transfer in an academic setting.
  • Two years of experience working in higher education.


WORKING ENVIRONMENT: 

  • Position is an on-campus work position, with possibility of one day/week remote work.
  • Evenings and weekends as needed (specifically surrounding proposal deadlines).  

How to apply: Visit https://gustavus.edu/jobs/ to complete the online application and submit a resume and cover letter. 

Gustavus offers competitive and comprehensive benefits which include:

  • Medical insurance (which includes access to Nice Healthcare) as well as dental, vision, and life insurance
  • Workplace accommodations for physical or mental health concerns
  • Onsite health services
  • Free parking, exercise classes, and use of library and athletic facilities
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employer contribution to retirement savings plan (after one year of employment)
  • Tuition scholarships for dependents
  • Tuition benefit plan for employees and spouse
  • 13 paid Holidays + generous PTO plan

Gustavus Adolphus College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities. 

Gustavus Adolphus College is one of the nation’s leading private liberal arts colleges serving approximately 1,800 students. The College aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people. Known for its strong science, writing, music, athletics, study-away, and service-learning programs, Gustavus is located on a scenic 340-acre hill in St. Peter, Minnesota only one hour southwest of the Twin Cities.

Contact

Kyle Chambers | kchamber@gustavus.edu | 507-933-7541

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025

Apply Now