Associate Director Research Administration (Research Finance)

Associate Director Research Administration (Research Finance) – Johns Hopkins University
This role provides leadership and management of financial, operational, and administrative activities related to sponsored grants and contracts in the School of Nursing (SON). Reporting to the Vice Dean of Research and the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration, the Associate Director is responsible for guiding a busy cross‑functional team, managing pre‑award staff, supervising the post‑award team, and supporting portfolio assignments and workflow.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervise staff who perform the primary transactional actions related to grants, subawards, and/or contracts.
• Provide expert advice to faculty and staff regarding sponsored projects and related activities.
• Provide regulatory and compliance oversight and guidance to research administration staff related to university policies and procedures and all applicable rules, regulations, and sponsor guidelines. Monitor risk and compliance concerns.
• Implement systems to track research administration reporting and metrics as well as sponsored projects deadlines and activity.
• Project and analyze long‑term trends in total research funding and sponsored effort across the division.
• Monitor and manage staff onboarding and ongoing training and ensure processes are effective.
• Participate in institutional committees for research compliance and sponsored programs administration across the University.
• Create and implement policies and procedures to address new regulatory changes in alignment with university, federal, and other sponsor guidelines.
• Serve as a research administration ombudsperson for faculty and staff by providing leadership and guidance in support of sponsored projects.
• Participate in long‑range and strategic planning related to policy, organizational structure, process, outreach, and professional growth and development of staff.
• Oversee strategic direction and provide operational leadership of the Nursing Office of Research Administration (NORA) team. Develop annual goals for the NORA team that align with the SON strategic plan.
• Ensure timely responses to requests for research administration support from SON leadership, faculty, University administration, and sponsors.
• Ensure sound fiscal management of the sponsored research portfolio including pre‑ and post‑award management of grants, contracts, and subcontracts – both domestic and foreign.
• Monitor the JHU Sponsored Research dashboards and Effort Reporting System (ERP) reporting functions on a regular basis for timeliness of cost transfers, effort reporting, invoices, reports, and other deliverables. Escalate potential issues to the Associate Dean of Finance and Administration along with a plan for prevention or resolution.
• Represent the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration / Vice Dean for Research in their absence.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in a related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible directly related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD or JD in a related field and relevant specialized training.
• Experience in sponsored projects, contracts and/or research compliance administration experience.

Technical Skills & Expected Level Of Proficiency

• Contract Negotiation – Advanced
• Grant Regulations – Advanced
• Interpersonal Skills – Advanced
• Policy Development and Implementation – Advanced
• Process Improvement – Advanced
• Research Administration Knowledge – Advanced
• Research Administration Training – Advanced
• Stakeholder Engagement – Advanced
• Strategic Planning – Advanced

Job Details

• Classified Title: Associate Director Research Administration
• Job Posting Title (Working Title): Associate Director Research Administration (Research Finance)
• Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PG
• Starting Salary Range: $99,800 – $175,000 Annually (Targeted: $137,400; Commensurate with experience)
• Employee Group: Full‑Time
• Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30 – 5:00
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Location: Hybrid / School of Nursing
• Department Name: Research Finance
• Personnel Area: School of Nursing