Associate Director, Post Award

Location: New Orleans

OUR STATEMENT The San José State University Research Foundation (SJSURF) is committed to building a work environment where everyone can show up as their own self and have an opportunity to contribute, develop, and advance in their career. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are core values of the organization. We strive to attract, retain, and develop employees who reflect the community and society where we work and live.

The Research Foundation aims to develop a culture where everyone feels welcome, shares their views, and where differences in backgrounds and perspectives are seen as adding value.

GENERAL NATURE OF POSITION The San José State University Research Foundation Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) seeks an accomplished associate director of post-award to provide strategic leadership for its post-award team. This position oversees a team of post-award professionals responsible for the management and stewardship of more than $70 M of annual expenditures each year, while advancing operational excellence, service quality, and compliance across the portfolio.

As a senior-level member for the OSP leadership team, the associate director will assist in shaping post-award strategy, developing staff, and promoting consistent high-quality research administration services to faculty across the university, leveraging metrics-based tools and analytics to inform decision-making, enhance service delivery, and support operational effectiveness.

The position will provide training, direction and management of a team of post-award analysts. The role oversees and manages teams engaged in documentation review, portfolio management, workload assessments, process improvements, and workflow coordination. The associate director may also serve as a support resource for the post-award teams during periods of increased workload, staff absences, or vacancies.

The position will also establish and maintain professional, effective communication, both personally and across multiple platforms, with internal and external customers, including SJSU administrators, faculty, and community partners.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Provide active, hands-on supervision of the post-award staff performing primary transactional actions related to grants, subawards, and/or contracts.

Oversee the post-award team’s collaboration with the Accounts Receivable Team on sponsor programs' invoices and payments.

Oversee preparation of financial reports and ensure timely technical reporting in accordance with sponsor requirements. Review and approve the financial report prior to submitting to the sponsor agency.

Oversee review and approval of expenditures and cost transfers, ensuring compliance with sponsor restrictions, regulatory requirements (allowability), and availability of funds.

Lead the post-award related audits, such as SJSURF financial annual audits, including single audit, CSU audits, or any sponsor agency audits.

Provide expert advice to faculty and staff regarding sponsored projects and related activities.

Serve as liaison for compliance with regulations and Foundation and university policies.

Provide regulatory and compliance oversight and guidance to the post award team related to university policies and procedures and all applicable rules, regulations, and sponsor guidelines. Monitor risk and compliance concerns.

Implement systems to track research administration reporting and metrics as well as sponsored projects deadlines and activity.

Project and analyze long-term trends in total research funding and sponsored effort.

Monitor onboarding and ongoing training and ensure processes are effective.

Ensure effective ongoing training programs for research administration staff, including developing and participating in training for students, staff, and faculty on university and sponsor policies, regulations, and supporting systems.

Participate in institutional committees for research compliance and sponsored programs administration.

Develop and implement policies and procedures to address new regulatory requirements in alignment with foundation, university, federal, and other sponsored guidelines.

Serve as a research administration…