Grants and Contracts Manager

Director Of Research Administration

Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) seeks a highly accomplished and strategic leader to serve as the Director of Research Administration in the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research. In this role, reporting directly to the Associate Dean, the Director leads all research administration functions for the College, overseeing the full lifecycle of externally funded awards across federal, state, foundation, and industrial sponsors.

This position directs the EMS Research Office in delivering high-quality pre-award, post-award, and compliance support aligned with sponsor requirements, University policies and procedures, and the College's research strategy. The Director serves as the principal liaison among EMS leadership, faculty, central administrative offices, and external sponsors to advance research growth, operational excellence, and risk mitigation.

The EMS Research Office supports proposal development and award administration services for a $95 million college research enterprise and leads a highly collaborative team of 11 pre-award and post-award professionals. College-level research administrators are a vital part of Penn State's vibrant research community, which boasts annual research expenditures exceeding $1.4 billion and ranks among the top 20 public research universities in the nation.

Responsibilities The Director of Research Administration fills a pivotal role in Penn State's research administration structure. The cadre of Directors in research-intensive colleges have the flexibility and autonomy to design and adapt processes to the specific needs of their individual college researchers based on their unique sponsor portfolios and research priorities. Specific responsibilities include:

• Lead the EMS Research Office in delivering responsive, accurate, and compliant pre-award and post-award services across the College, including proposal submission, award setup, financial stewardship, reporting, and closeout. Establish service standards, workflows, staffing models, and resource allocation strategies that support operational excellence and a high-performing team culture.
• Serve as the College's senior research administration leader and primary liaison with central University offices, including Sponsored Programs, Research Accounting, Technology Management, Purchasing, Risk Management, and the Office of General Counsel. Partner with College leadership, department heads, institute directors, and faculty to resolve complex proposal, award, compliance, and sponsor issues while advancing College research priorities.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance service consistency, operational efficiency, and researcher experience across EMS. Represent the College on University-wide committees and initiatives related to research administration modernization, policy implementation, and shared services. Champion scalable solutions and standardization of best practices.
• Contribute to College research strategy through analysis of proposal activity, expenditures, sponsor trends, faculty engagement, and portfolio growth opportunities. Develop and present metrics, dashboards, reports, and briefing materials that support strategic decision-making and research growth.
• Interpret evolving federal, state, sponsor, and University policies and translate them into effective College practices. Proactively identify compliance and audit risks and implement appropriate controls, training, and monitoring practices to safeguard the College's research enterprise.

Minimum Education, Work Experience & Required Certifications

Bachelor's Degree 10+ years of relevant experience, includes 3+ years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required

Certifications:

None

Work Arrangement

The target start date for this position is October 1, 2026. The EMS Research Office supports flexible work arrangements aligned with the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position.

The successful candidate may work remotely within the United States or through a hybrid arrangement. Given the leadership responsibilities of the role and the value of engagement with faculty, staff, and university partners, regular on-campus presence is preferred. Standard working hours are aligned with the Eastern time zone.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $97,100.00 - $.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits…