Assistant Vice Chancellor Research Administration

Job Summary

The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Administration (AVC-RA) is a senior leadership position within the Office of Research and Economic Development at the University of Mississippi. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development (VCRED), the AVC-RA provides strategic guidance and coordination for the University’s sponsored programs administration infrastructure and serves as a key partner in advancing the institution’s research mission.

The AVC-RA is responsible for supporting effective stewardship, compliance, and operational excellence of sponsored projects throughout the award lifecycle, with primary coordination for post-award administration and research financial management. The position works closely with pre-award administration, procurement, finance, compliance, and academic leadership to promote an integrated and service-oriented research administration environment that supports faculty success while maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance and fiscal stewardship.

As a senior research administration executive, the AVC-RA serves as a strategic advisor to university leadership and plays a critical role in supporting the continued growth of the University’s research enterprise through operational excellence, process improvement, risk mitigation, and customer-focused service delivery.

• Provide strategic guidance and coordination for sponsored programs administration operations and related research administration initiatives.
• Advise the VCRED and other university leaders on matters involving sponsored programs administration, research operations, financial stewardship, compliance, and institutional risk.
• Develop and implement strategies that support the University’s goals for research growth, competitiveness, and operational excellence.
• Promote a culture that balances regulatory compliance, accountability, efficiency, and exceptional customer service.
• Champion organizational change initiatives designed to improve research administration processes and faculty support.

• Coordinate post-award administration functions, including award acceptance, account establishment, financial monitoring, invoicing, reporting, effort certification, cost sharing, subrecipient monitoring, award modifications, and closeout activities.
• Ensure compliance with federal regulations, sponsor requirements, state laws, and institutional policies governing sponsored projects.
• Maintain effective internal controls designed to safeguard sponsored funds and mitigate institutional risk.
• Coordinate institutional responses to sponsor reviews, audits, monitoring activities, and compliance assessments related to sponsored programs administration.
• Monitor emerging regulatory developments and help implement appropriate operational and policy responses.

• Foster strong coordination between pre-award and post-award functions to ensure seamless support throughout the sponsored project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with academic units, principal investigators, research centers, and administrative offices to improve the effectiveness and consistency of research administration services.
• Partner closely with Contracts and Grants Accounting, Finance, Research Compliance, Internal Audit, Procurement Services, Information Technology, and the Office of General Counsel.
• Serve as a senior institutional resource on sponsored programs administration matters and support strategic decision-making involving sponsored activities.

• Collaborate closely with Procurement Services to develop and maintain research-focused procurement practices that support sponsor requirements, scientific acquisition needs, and institutional compliance obligations.
• Serve as a key research administration liaison to Procurement Services on matters involving sponsored projects, federally funded acquisitions, scientific equipment, specialized research materials, sole-source justifications, and subawards.
• Identify opportunities to streamline…