Director of Projects Administration

Director of Sponsored Projects Administration

Join to apply for the Director of Sponsored Projects Administration role at Portland State University, College of Urban and Public Affairs.

Proposed

Start Date:

01/16/2026

Classification

Title:

Legal and Compliance Rank N - No Rank

Working Title:

Director of Sponsored Projects Administration

Department: 400401 - SPA Sponsored Projects Office

Position Number: D91351

Representation: UU - Unclassified Unrepresented Renewable End date, if applicable

Position FTE: 1.0

Tenure Status: N - not applicable

The Director of Sponsored Projects Administration oversees the operations of and manages staff within the office 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. The Director provides oversight, strategic coordination, and integration of the University’s comprehensive research administration infrastructure supporting the entire sponsored project lifecycle.

This includes the centralized Pre-Award and Post-Award operations, as well as a centralized Departmental Research Administration function. The Director coordinates the seamless flow of activities across the sponsored project lifecycle—from proposal development through final award closeout—by establishing efficient, integrated processes and fostering a shared, compliant operational understanding across all teams.
The Sponsored Projects Administration unit, housed within Research and Graduate Studies (RGS), is the steward of sponsored funds awarded to PSU and the designated institutional representative with external sponsors. SPA staff manage the University’s adherence to funder requirements and policies and the terms and conditions of awards. SPA staff support proposal development, budget preparation, and submission; award negotiation and acceptance; issuance and financial management of subawards;

award setup and cash management; and administrative and financial oversight of awards as defined by the sponsor and federal regulations. By ensuring adherence to federal, state, and institutional regulations, as well as sponsor-specific terms and conditions, SPA professionals mitigate risk, ensure fiscal integrity, and ultimately enable faculty and researchers to successfully secure and execute the grants and contracts that drive innovation and knowledge creation across the university.
This position is based at Portland State University’s vibrant urban campus in downtown Portland, where you’ll be part of a welcoming and collaborative community. Directors are expected to work on campus five days per week.

• Eight years of progressively responsible experience in research administration in a higher education setting
• Four years of direct supervisory or management experience over professional staff
• Proven leadership skills related to research administration
• Thorough knowledge of federal regulations governing grant and contract administration (e.g., Uniform Guidance – 2 CFR 200, Federal Acquisition Regulations) and extensive knowledge of policies, procedures, and requirements of federal and private funding agencies
• Excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills
• High level of diplomacy, discretion, and problem-solving skills
• Experience with interpretation of laws, regulations, and policies as it relates to research administration

• Leadership and Communication:
  Exceptional leadership skills with a proven ability to foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture. Superior written and verbal communication skills necessary for engaging with faculty, senior leadership, and external funding agencies.
• Financial Acumen:
  Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, financial analysis, and developing internal fiscal controls.
• Negotiation:
  Demonstrated ability to act as the authorized organizational representative to negotiate complex grant and contract terms with sponsors and industry partners.