Job Title: Director of Grants & Contracts
PVN ID: RF-1805-002515
Category: Managerial and Professional
Location: RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF C.U.N.Y.

Job Description

General Description

This is a Senior Management position, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, and exercising substantial independent judgment in the fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities assigned. The incumbent oversees the Department of Grants and Contracts Management, a major administrative, policy, and service unit of the Research Foundation. The incumbent is charged with a full range of managerial and supervisory responsibilities, including communicating to staff members the mission of the Foundation and the purpose, policies and processes of the work unit. In addition to directing the ongoing operations of the unit, the incumbent leads staff members in identifying and resolving special problems, providing exemplary customer service, creating new business initiatives, implementing special projects, developing new staff skills and realizing resource efficiencies. The incumbent models the highest standards of professional ethics and stays current in the field of grants and contract management. The incumbent supports the work of other RF units by communicating effectively with other leaders and staff, by allocating resources when possible to be of assistance to others, and by participating in team-based projects as needed. 

Other Duties

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to:  

  • Evaluate, develop and create new electronic, productive systems and business processes for internal and external use.
  • Directs and trains staff in the activities of the Grants and Contracts Management Department.  In concert with the COO, establishes staff goals, sets priorities, and evaluates performance.  Develops staff competence in new areas and acknowledges outstanding accomplishments.
  • Assists staff, when needed, with complex or difficult issues and models good customer service techniques.
  • Routinely informs COO of work progress; provides timely updates on all critical matters; identifies problems and proposes solutions.
  • Coordinates responses of grants officers and other CUNY personnel in resolving and addressing issues and concerns raised by funding agencies and grantor audit representatives on matters relating to Research Foundation policies and procedures, awards and budgets, records access, account establishment, Payment and Payables, expenditure reports and Research Foundation awards and accounting systems.
  • Solicits information from principal investigators in order to respond in a timely and accurate way to inquiries by vendors, funding agencies and grantor audit representatives and departments of the Foundation’s Central Office; facilitates meetings or conferences between parties and follows up as needed; develops and implements new internal procedures and regulations.
  • Interprets regulations and provides training to staff members, grants officers and principal investigators.
  • Monitors status of accounts receivables with department Managers and Assistant Directors.
  • Assumes a delegated role from G&C management staff when project administration teams experience absences owing to sick or annual leave and during peak periods.
  • Coordinates with G&C management staff and HR all recruitment, hiring, evaluation and disciplining of office staff.
  • Prepares special reports for COO, President and others as delegated by the President.
  • Coordinates activities with controller and other fiscal personnel.
  • Participates in relevant professional activities and personal development in this field.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required with a major in accounting; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
  • Minimum six years related experience, of which three years are middle management or higher, specializing in grants accounting.  Experience in a not-for-profit organization or public institution is desired.  Familiarity with higher education environment a plus.
  • Business acumen.  Thorough knowledge of sponsor regulations, supervisory techniques, financial accounting systems and databases, and ability to work within a framework of policy and procedure.
  • Results driven.  Competency in making decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks relevant to role.  Ability to make public presentations and communicate effectively with diverse constituencies.
  • Competency in utilizing technology for generating reports, analyzing and forecasting trends, researching problems and training and mentoring.
  • Demonstrable success in initiating cooperative working relationships. Lead and develop staff towards meeting organization’s vision, mission, and goals. Ability to manage human, financial and information resources strategically.
  • Change agent with strong leadership skills and goals. Ability to envision and bring about strategic change to meet organizational goals.
  • Superb communications ability in all directions. Effective at preventing or managing conflict.

RFCUNY Benefits

RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

About the Research Foundation

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Key Features

Department
Grants & Contracts
Status
Full Time
Salary
Depends on Qualifications
Closing Date
Sep 30, 2018 (Or Until Filled)
Bargaining Unit
No

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