Senior Program Administrator - CIMS

Job Summary

This Senior Program Administrator position is responsible for grant and contract administration as well as project management support for the applied research center (CIMS) at the Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) at Rochester Institute of Technology. The role works directly with the GIS technical director, collaborating on strategic planning for the Center of Excellence in Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing (COE-ASM), including development of the annual work plan and commercialization plan.

The Senior Program Administrator works closely with COE-ASM, Industry 4.0 Transition Assistance, and other program managers, supporting program‑level planning and goal setting, and reports to the GIS technical director on progress toward achieving overall goals. To support continued growth of the applied research center and advance the GIS mission, this position identifies new funding opportunities in alignment with the GIS research thrusts, facilitates and guides staff on the development and preparation of sponsored research proposals, and contributes to writing these proposals.

With support from the RIT/GIS administrative, sponsored research (SRS), and finance teams, the Senior Program Administrator is responsible for executing research grants and programs in accordance with contract requirements and RIT policies and procedures, and assists with the hiring process for GIS research staff resources. The position reports to the GIS Assistant Director for Program Administration and is a full‑time, in‑person position, Monday–Friday, at RIT’s Rochester, NY campus.

• Contribute to strategic planning and implementing tactical methodologies for COE-ASM and other research programs; coordinate, plan with the technical director, and participate in COE-ASM Advisory Board meetings.
• Report to GIS technical director on the status and overall progress of assigned programs; coordinate and plan with the GIS technical director ways to achieve optimized beneficial outputs and associated metrics to NYS.
• Work with the technical director, program managers, and marketing team to determine the marketing strategy in support of the programs and work plan goals. Work with the marketing coordinator to ensure messaging accurately represents GIS/CIMS and its sponsor(s) and complies with contract requirements.
• Work with the program managers to develop program strategies and goals and objectives, and track progress to successfully deliver on contract deliverables and goals. Solve complex problems that may arise by taking a new perspective on existing solutions; exercise judgment based on the analysis of multiple sources of information.
• Stay abreast of relevant research, business trends, environmental initiatives, Dept. of Energy, NYSERDA, Dept. of Defense, and other relevant sponsoring agency focus and emphasis areas, etc. in support of strategic planning.

• Assist staff with preparation of scopes of work and budgets for industrial sponsors and for subawards/subcontracts with project partners. Review company project SOWs ensuring a sound project plan with regard to scope, schedule, and budget, as well as compliance with RIT, GIS, and sponsor requirements.
• Use critical thinking skills in the creation of and review of outputs; work with staff as needed to make corrections/modifications to ensure materials are accurate and reflect approved and appropriate messaging; ensure proper markings are included in compliance with RIT and contractual requirements.
• Assist project managers with review of final project technical reports, including inclusion of sponsor required acknowledgements and disclaimers; secure technical writer review, as needed.
• Write scopes of work and initiate POs for vendors, consultants, and partners.
• Manage subawards, including tracking progress on work scope, schedule, budget, contract compliance, etc., and resolve issues that arise.
• Develop, review, draft, and modify sponsored research contractual documents (e.g., grants, research agreements, non‑disclosure agreements, contract amendments, subawards) using university‑approved templates. For modifications and ad‑hoc requests, discern when…