Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, with a strong accountability to the Senior Vice President for Research, the Director, Sponsored Research Administration (SRA) leads the three divisions that comprise the SRA office - Pre-award, Post-award, and Accounting—in support of approximately $110M in research expenditures. 

The Director leads a team of approximately 30 at the Bar Harbor and Farmington sites and provides information and counsel to the faculty and research staff on research program management and planning. The Director also advises JAX senior leadership on strategic, administrative, financial, and resource allocation issues related to sponsored research. In addition, the Director oversees the professional development of department staff members.

Day-to-day functions include oversight of submission of grant proposals, including the coordination of all scientific and administrative reviews; administrative management of institutional grants; administration of all pre-award and post-award activities including budget oversight of grants; oversight of all sponsored technical reporting, accounting and relevant compliance requirements (in conjunction with the Corporate Controller’s office); and coordination of financial analytic support to faculty and senior management.

• Provide leadership and vision to a diverse team of staff involved in the review, approval, negotiation and administration of research and education proposals, grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and subawards as well as ancillary research agreements (e.g., material transfer agreements, data transfer agreements).
• Set strategic goals for the SRA office and lead efforts to achieve those goals.
• Provide administrative guidance and support to faculty and other research staff seeking outside funding for research and special sponsored institutional projects.
• Provide support and guidance for all financial aspects of pre- and post-award and sponsored project accounting.
• Maintain working knowledge of, and ensure compliance with, all federal (e.g., Uniform Guidance), state, foundation and JAX policies, procedures and guidelines in the management of sponsored research-funded projects.
• Develop and implement well-defined policies and procedures relevant to the internal grants administration process, inclusive of the pre-award, post-award and management/financial management processes.
• Provide information and counsel to JAX senior management on sponsored research administrative and financial issues.
• Make executive decisions and judgments regarding the resolution of highly complex, urgent, administrative and operational issues pertaining to grants that may require a high degree of initiative and flexibility.
• Provide oversight and administration of FCOI reporting and compliance and global research compliance, in partnership with Legal and the Senior Vice President for Research.
• Work with the Research leadership and Strategic Communications & Public Engagement to maximize opportunities for publication and visibility of awards and faculty research projects, both internally and externally.
• Serve in a key strategic planning capacity, providing institutional expertise regarding financial modeling, program planning, and resource allocation for the Laboratory's research enterprise.
• Work in close partnership with the Director of Research Program Development, and the Director of Clinical and Translational Research Support to develop funding strategies and complex grant applications for individual faculty, collaborative JAX programs, and multi-institutional collaborations supporting basic, translational and clinical research at the Laboratory.
• Provide information and counsel to the faculty on program financial management, labor allocation, budget development, funding strategies, and resource management and compliance.
• Provide oversight and support to faculty and staff regarding grant and sponsored program activities to include contract and subcontract preparation, negotiation, and recommendation for acceptance.
• Provide information and counsel to faculty, campus Scientific Directors, VP of Education and SVP of Research regarding program and resource allocation issues.
• Serve as the authorized institutional official/signatory in negotiations with sponsoring agencies, ensuring compliance with sponsor-mandated requirements on funds management, cost accounting standards, animal welfare and human subject research, data sharing, conflict of interest, research integrity, and management of systems.
•  

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance or related field.  A minimum of (7) years of professional experience in sponsored research in a university/research setting is required.  Preferred qualifications:  Master's degree; Certified Research Administrator (CRA) designation.
• Demonstrated pre- and post- award financial management experience including proposal development and post- award management. Familiarity with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements. Extensive experience interpreting and applying federal and state research guidelines, policies and practices and complex sponsor requirements and recommending actions and resolving complex issues.
• Possess a broad working knowledge of Federal funding agencies; deep knowledge of NIH and DOD funding is particularly valuable. Must have a familiarity with the NIH Grants Policy Statement, Uniform Guidance, Code of Federal Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulations and audit requirements.
• Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills, ability to work under pressure with constantly changing priorities and deadlines. On time delivery of assignments.
• Advanced skills in the procurement and use of sponsored research IT systems is required.
• Demonstrated supervisory and leadership experience is required. Must possess the ability to lead and motivate others across multiple campuses and a diverse organization toward the accomplishment of shared goals in support of the Laboratory’s mission.
• Ability to work effectively with a variety of SRA’s constituencies, including administrators, faculty, staff, governmental agencies, and other prospective funding sources.
• Excellent professional written and verbal skills, as well as critical problem solving skills.
• A demonstrated history of fostering a culture of excellent customer service.
• Ability to travel 20% of time.

The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) is making a new future of human health and personalized medicine possible —using an individual’s unique genomic makeup to predict, treat and even prevent disease. Founded in 1929, JAX is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit biomedical research institution that seeks to decipher the biological and genomic causes of human disease. Their research breakthroughs have helped form the foundation of modern medicine. Organ and bone marrow transplants, stem cell therapies, and in vitro fertilization all have a foundation in JAX research.

Today, JAX is integrating mouse genetics and human genomics to decipher the genetic and molecular causes of human health and disease. JAX uniquely empowers the efforts of the global biomedical research community. They develop and share research, innovative tools and solutions, ever‑expanding data resources, more than 11,000 specialized mouse models and services, and a suite of comprehensive educational programs to accelerate basic scientific research and drug discovery across the globe.

JAX employs more than 2,400 employees and operates locations in three states, and in China. The main 43-acre campus in Bar Harbor, Maine is nestled between the Gulf of Maine and the mountains of Acadia National Park. Scientists here research the genetic causes of cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma and many other diseases and conditions, using the mouse as a model. JAX Genomic Medicine sits on a 17-acre site adjacent to UConn Health, in Farmington. Scientists here investigate how each piece of the genome contributes to health and disease and how our genomes can guide personalized medical care.

JAX employees work in a collaborative, value-driven, and team-based environment where the focus is on advancing science and improving patients’ lives. Researchers apply genetics to increase the understanding of human disease and advance treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging, and heart disease. JAX was voted among the top 15 “Best Places to Work in Academia” in the United States in a poll conducted by The Scientist magazine in 2011.  Most importantly, every position contributes to JAX’s mission of discovering precise genomic solutions for human disease and empowering the global biomedical community in our shared quest to improve human health.

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The Jackson Laboratory has engaged Opus Partners to support the recruitment of this position. Katie Dean, Associate Partner, and Marisea Rivera, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Inquiries, applications and nominations should be sent by email to Katie (katie.dean@opuspartners.net ).