Executive Director, Grants and Research Development

The Executive Director for the Office of Grants and Sponsored Research Development (GSRD) manages and optimizes all aspects of the university’s grants and contracts administration, including office operations, pre-award and compliance personnel, proposal development and submission processes and research compliance, and provides grant administration support services to faculty, staff and students in pursuit of internal and external funding for research, creative activity and program development.

• Develops proposal budgets and writes budget justifications.
• Reviews all grant applications to ensure compliance with university policies and procedures, State of South Carolina laws, federal regulations and sponsor guidelines. Ensures applications are formatted, packaged and submitted according to sponsor requirements.
• Oversees grant application processing, electronic approvals, records maintenance and proposal tracking in university systems.
• Serves as an Authorized Organizational Representative to submit and administer all federal grant applications and signs official grant documents on behalf of the university.
• Serves as liaison to funding agencies to resolve questions or challenges that arise during research development and pre-award processes.
• Reviews and processes grant and contract awards, ensuring accuracy and compliance while coordinating award setup and tracking within university financial systems.
• Reviews and coordinates all award modifications and grant extension requests, working with sponsors to obtain award amendments.
• Prepares, administers and approves all subawards with partner institutions and sponsors.
• Serves on the Research Council, reads and scores all applications, participates in application review sessions and makes funding recommendations to the Provost.

• Identifies potential funding opportunities and cultivates a portfolio of federal, state and local sponsors, companies and foundations to support research, training, creative activity, professional and program development and institutional infrastructure needs. Disseminates to the campus community regularly.
• Meets, collaborates and stays engaged with members of the campus community to discuss and remain aware of their research, creative and programmatic interests and funding needs.
• Provides technical assistance to faculty and staff by designing and presenting research development and pre-award administration training activities that cultivate interest and increase knowledge and skills.
• Assists faculty and staff in the development of competitive proposals to external funding agencies and fosters an environment that supports the campus community’s pursuit of external funding.
• Assists in writing grant applications as needed.

• Provides leadership to and managerial oversight of Grants Office staff and operations to ensure a high level of service to the campus community.
• Supervises the Compliance Coordinator, who is responsible for administering the Institutional Research Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Biosafety Committee.
• Completes GSRD’s annual Continuous Improvement Report and Plan.
• Updates website content as needed.
• Develops and maintains GSRD operational procedures. Writes and updates guides and handbooks.
• Supports internal committees to ensure compliance with rules and policies for research occurring on campus.
• Compiles proposal data and provides periodic reports to the Provost, Deans and Board of Trustees.
• Generates effort reports quarterly.
• Hires and trains staff.

• Master’s degree in business, public administration, research discipline, social science or other appropriate…