Associate Director, Research Stewardship

Associate Director, Research Stewardship Overview

Portland State University is seeking an experienced research administration leader to serve as Associate Director, Research Stewardship within Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA). This role is part of a newly implemented organizational model designed to strengthen lifecycle coordination, institutional stewardship, operational consistency, and faculty support across the sponsored project enterprise. This is an opportunity to help shape and modernize sponsored projects administration at a growing urban research university during a period of organizational transformation.

SPA is the university’s centralized sponsored projects office responsible for the oversight and administration of externally funded grants, contracts, and other sponsored agreements across a diverse research portfolio supported by federal, state/local government, private industry, nonprofit, and international sponsors.

The Associate Director, Research Stewardship provides leadership for SPA functions related to award acceptance, agreement negotiation, financial compliance, and post-award administration. The position oversees award and agreement execution, restricted fund oversight, cash management, financial reporting, and audit coordination while helping ensure compliance with sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and federal regulations.

This position works closely with SPA leadership and campus partners to strengthen operational consistency, improve lifecycle coordination, support sound financial stewardship, and implement process improvements across sponsored projects administration functions. The Associate Director also supervises managers and staff responsible for award management and financial administration activities and serves as a key institutional resource for complex compliance, operational, audit, and sponsor-related matters.

Experience with award negotiation, institutional risk assessment, financial compliance, and audit management is particularly valued.

• Bachelor’s degree and seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, including interpretation and application of federal and state regulations and significant financial management experience;
• Demonstrated leadership experience in sponsored projects administration;
• Minimum of three years of supervisory experience, including mentoring and developing professional staff in a collaborative environment; and
• Significant experience in post-award administration, financial compliance, award management, agreement negotiation, or related sponsored projects administration functions.

We recognize that strong candidates may bring relevant experience from a variety of professional backgrounds and may not meet every preferred qualification listed in the posting. Applicants with transferable experience in areas such as compliance, contracts and negotiations, financial oversight, audit, risk management, or other regulated environments are encouraged to apply. We are particularly interested in candidates who bring strong operational judgment, collaborative leadership skills, and experience navigating complex compliance or regulatory environments.

The starting annual salary range for this position is anticipated to be between $96,468 and $112,146, depending on qualifications and experience. Salary above this range may be considered based on depth of related experience, specialized expertise, and demonstrated leadership background.

This position is based on Portland State University’s vibrant urban campus in downtown Portland. The role is expected to work primarily on campus as part of SPA’s collaborative leadership team. Limited hybrid flexibility, typically up to one remote workday per week, may be available under an approved remote work agreement consistent with university policy and operational needs.

Applications will be reviewed as received.