Departmental Research Administration; DRA Manager

Position Details

• Portland State University (Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled)
• Proposed Start Date
  : 04/01/2026
• Classification Title
  :
  Fiscal Services
• Rank
  : N - No Rank
• Working Title
  :
  Departmental Research Administration (DRA) Manager
• Department
  : 400401 - SPA Sponsored Projects Office
• Position Number
  : D92383
• Representation
  : UU - Unclassified Unrepresented
• Renewable
  :
  Renewable
• Position FTE
  : 1
• Tenure Status
  : N - not applicable

The Departmental Research Administration (DRA) Manager is a professional staff member of Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA), the centralized administrative unit at Portland State University (PSU) responsible for University-wide administration of external funding received by the University in the form of grants and contracts for research and other scholarly activity. SPA staff provide expertise and professional support to faculty and staff throughout the sponsored projects lifecycle.

The DRA Manager leads a team of Departmental Research Administrators responsible for providing financial and budget administration support to Principal Investigators of sponsored projects. In addition to supervising, training, and mentoring DRAs and managing the team’s workload, the DRA Manager resolves complex issues escalated from other team members and works to ensure the fulfillment of post-award obligations, compliance and commitments.

This position is based at Portland State University’s urban campus in downtown Portland, with flexible scheduling options and, when operational needs allow, the possibility of limited remote work (typically up to one day per week) under an approved remote work agreement in line with University policy.

• Bachelor’s degree and three or more years of related experience*
• * A Master’s Degree may substitute for a portion of experience requirements
• Related experience includes:
• Experience interpreting and applying federal and state laws and regulations, including experience in financial management of sponsored awards
• Experience using financial accounting systems or fund accounting systems
• Working knowledge of federal regulations governing research (e.g., OMB Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and sponsor policies)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to learn quickly, apply creativity, understand complex processes and procedures, prioritize workload, set and meet deadlines, and perform well with a minimum of direct supervision
• Demonstrated commitment to excellent customer service and focus on customer support

Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

Required to Perform the Duties of the Position:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to learn quickly, apply creativity, understand complex processes and procedures, prioritize workload, set and meet deadlines, and perform well with a minimum of direct supervision
• Demonstrated commitment to excellent customer service and focus on customer support
• Ability to monitor and communicate project status, keep multiple projects on track
• Interpersonal skills for inter-departmental communication and team-building in complex institutional setting
• Computer and technical skills: proficiency in Google, Microsoft Office, including Word, and Excel, scheduling and email programs as well as financial information systems and the ability to troubleshoot systems and learn new applications quickly
• Ability to communicate ideas, thoughts, and meaning to clearly articulate positions and communicate clearly and diplomatically with all levels of the University, sponsors and audit agencies
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and proven skill in problem solving and decision making in the most difficult and unique areas; demonstrated ability to anticipate consequences of decisions, proactively plan to resolve problems, and identify and implement viable solutions
• Skill in thoughtfully and expeditiously dealing with diverse personnel issues and circumstances; in interacting tactfully and diplomatically, yet assertively, with persons from diverse backgrounds and in creating and supporting harmonious working relationships among employees, maintain positive morale and motivating…