Position Summary
The Division of Extension and Engagement (E&E division) is seeking a Sponsored Programs Director. This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position. The position reports to the Associate Director for OSU Extension Service and directly promotes and develops programs, policies, rules, and novel approaches to support the applied research mission for Extension and Engagement (E&E).

The goal of this position is to improve the success of the E&E through oversight and management of external funding and sponsored programs in collaboration with evaluation and research operations of the E&E division, with the outcome of building a strong and diverse grant portfolio, increased external funding resources, and increased communication on available external funding sources for all of E&E division’s 600 plus employees.

The position develops, implements, and enforces plans, policies, rules, procedures, systems, programs and performance standards relating to the external funding enterprise. The position participates in strategic planning efforts as part of the research and evaluation team and serves as a resource to other colleges to develop multi-disciplinary research and external funding efforts, training, and compliance. The position determines resource needs and priorities and makes recommendations to executive leadership. The incumbent will determine training needs and make appropriate arrangements for provision of training.

The position works with groups of faculty, research and evaluation leaders, unit leaders, and members of the management team of the E&E division and others to identify, organize, and coordinate large, complex multi-investigator, multidisciplinary proposals supported by external funding opportunities. Knowledge of sponsor agency policy, procedures, and grants as well as knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, and guidance relative to provision and oversight of multimillion-dollar projects is expected.

About the division:
The Division of Extension and Engagement (E&E division) is core to Oregon State University’s mission. The Division helps create real solutions and positive impact across Oregon and beyond. The Division is aligned under the leadership of the Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement. To learn more about our Division and its core units and initiatives, please visit our website: https://engagement.oregonstate.edu/.

OSU Extension programs, partnerships and volunteer opportunities are focused on:
Healthy communities and economies
Resilient and productive forestry and natural ecosystems
Sustainable agriculture, food systems, and gardening
Thriving youth, individuals and families

Commitment to inclusive excellence:
Oregon State University is committed to creating and maintaining compassionate and inclusive learning and working environments for all learners, visitors and employees. We envision collaborative community environments that enhance civility and embrace diversity. All employees are responsible for achieving this commitment. This commitment includes, but is not limited to, complying with Civil Rights and Language Access regulations.

OSU Division of Extension and Engagement’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/about/diversity-equity-inclusion

OSU Moving Forward Together
https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/president/moving-forward-together

Summary of Benefits: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/prospective-employee
To calculate our Total Rewards Package use this link: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/new-employees/benefits-calculator

Position Duties
This Sponsored Program Director embeds the commitment of the university to a collaborative and inclusive community in all interactions and duties performed and practices a welcoming and respectful workplace culture.

40% Direct Major Grant Initiatives, Strategy, and Infrastructure Development
Participate in strategic planning efforts as part of the OSU research management team and serve as a resource and liaison to other colleges/units to develop multi-disciplinary research efforts, training, and compliance, with a focus on E&E.
Establish effective mechanisms for faculty/staff to enhance the success of the externally funded programming, evaluation, and research enterprises. Identify and anticipate funding opportunities relevant to all extension program areas, particularly those from USDA, Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), and others.
Maintain awareness of E&E applied research programs, to contribute to E&E’s capacity to be competitive in obtaining external grants.
Plan, initiate, and facilitate interactions among faculty and staff that nucleate and buildteams and supports the planning for increased scholarship of research, teaching, and E&E within E&E division.
Serve as a grants’ person/grant strategy subject matter expert for faculty, stakeholders, sub-contractors, and agency personnel. Confer with grant and contract administrators and external funding agencies to clarify rules and guidelines and explain, as necessary.
Maintain an in-depth knowledge of university and granting agency requirements, and proposal and award processes and issues
Connect faculty with complementary interests and abilities to form highly functioning teams that attract extramural funding.
Consult with individual faculty to refine and develop scholarship interests/projects to fundable opportunities.
Research and identify potential sources of external funding, match opportunities to appropriate programs, and forward information about current or upcoming funding opportunities to Directors, Program Leaders and Regional Directors.
Manage and execute an annual competitive grant program including distribution of calls for proposals, receipt and acknowledgement of proposals, peer review logistics, and document handling; coordinate proposal approval and assure prompt and accurate handling by the financial strategic services office and post award administration as appropriate.
Establish and maintain cordial relationships with external funding entities to facilitate resolution of questions.
Coordinate and manage existing and future E&E division grants in collaboration with program or unit.
Recruit, maintain, and coordinate an inventory of established and reputable grant writers and editors (on contract) to work with principal investigator (PI), and supervise when and where applicable.
Provide direction and lead for financial staff assigned to E&E division in support of sponsored programs and must work with these individuals to prioritize work to meet deadlines, manage multiple projects and activities, and interpret agency requirements and policies, as well as university policy and general accounting principles and procedures. Participate in recruitments related to these positions where applicable.
Provide direction to unit managers and office managers addressing pre- and post-award issues that may arise.
Convene, chair and/or lead meetings with investigators to coordinate and enhance grant writing activities.

35% Pre-Award Grant Proposal Development and Submission
Foster and facilitate sponsored program development and submission of complex, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional grant proposals for E&E.
Develop and provide resources and direction for submitting grants through the research office for E&E faculty across the state.
May serve as the lead to assist faculty, individually and in groups, with proposal concept development and submission.
Develop and help aggregate research groups specific to unique funding opportunities that require stakeholder involvement as well as engagement. Assist a PI in the development of project teams from within or outside OSU.
Work with groups of faculty, research leaders, Directors, Regional Directors and Extension Program Leaders, members of E&E management team, and others to identify, organize, and coordinate large, complex multi-investigator, multidisciplinary proposals supported by external funding opportunities.
Facilitate the editing, completing, and submitting of administrative, financial, and cost share components of proposals, and support components for submitted grants, thereby improving faculty effectiveness to secure extramurally and internally sponsored applied research.
Coordinate the review of requests for proposals (RFPs) of interest to a principal investigator (PI); consults with a PI on a planned research program to meet the RFP; interprets sponsor guidelines, regulations, and policies/rules related to proposal development, including letters of assurance and compliance.
Facilitate stepwise progression of research, teaching, and E&E themes and proposals from internal competitive grant programs to submissions for major external grants.
Function as a liaison between PIs and a pool of grant writers and editors; facilitates editing and reviewing of proposals for scientific legibility, appropriate formats, and compliance with agency guidelines.
Partner with unit/college-level grants and contracts coordinators and other finance/office specialist staff to successfully complete all aspects of grant proposal submissions including, but not limited to subawards, contracts, memorandum of agreement, material transfer agreements, letters of support, cover sheets, transmittal forms, budgets, budget narratives, accurate indirect cost rates and their applications, or institutionally required materials.
Monitor timely submission of all grants/delivery of proposal packages.
Assist E&E faculty connect with an appropriate grant accountant and/or OSRAA team member and the Controller’s Financial Strategic Services Unit to assist with management of post-award funding requirements.
Work in partnership with E&E division evaluation specialist to develop newsletters, annual reports, and other communications including those required for USDA reporting.
Assist E&E division IT with implementation of Digital Measures to ensure accurate and timely reporting related to grant activities.
Conduct annual orientation for new faculty and staff to increase awareness and participation in external funding opportunities and opportunities for collaboration.
Provide grant and external funding related trainings to E&E division faculty and staff.
Serve as liaison to sponsored programs directors to increate university wide engagement activities.

20% Internal Grant Capacity Building
Develop and lead programs, prepare complex reports and budgets, and utilize OSU data warehouses and federal databases to generate analyses of faculty success, training needs, and comparisons of peer institutions.
Determine resource needs and priorities and makes recommendations to E&E leadership team that would determine training needs and make appropriate arrangements for provision of training for E&E faculty.
Partner with OSU research office and other colleges to organize and publicize faculty workshops and other activities that build capacity for securing extramural funding and leveraging existing funding from other sources, including annual grant writing orientation for new faculty members.
To the extent possible, assist investigators to become more competitive through coaching and specific trainings.
Provide administrative oversight of E&E grant preparation and submission processes; assess and catalogue E&E’s research capacity; monitors and communicates status of awarded projects and research program trends; and provide recommendations to the E&E leadership team if changes or additional resources are needed
Connect faculty with complementary interests and abilities to form highly functioning teams that attract extramural funding.
Consult with individual faculty to refine and develop scholarship interests/projects to fundable opportunities.
Communicate changes in agency, E&E, and OSU policy and process to staff and faculty; identify regular grant submission process problems; and work collaboratively with involved entities (internal and external) to negotiate systems solutions.

5% Professional Development
Participate in training and development opportunities provided by Oregon State University, regional, state, and national organizations.
Maintain membership in relevant professional organizations.
Minimum/Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a field relevant to the position duties and a minimum of six (6) years of relevant work experience in grant strategy and project life-cycle management.
Minimum of four (4) years of direct work experience dealing with sponsored programs activities or proposal development and preparation.
Knowledge of sponsor agency policy, procedures, and grants as well as knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, and guidance relative to provision and oversight of multi-million-dollar projects is expected.
Able to clearly communicate complex regulatory stipulations / guidelines in grant announcements to the diverse teams comprising Extension & Engagement programs.
Highly self-motivated, with strong organizational skills, and able to work in an environment with limited supervision and under tight deadlines.
Exceptional verbal and written communications.
Ability to collaborate effectively and excel in a team environment including the ability to develop and edit large, complex proposals and budgets.
Must demonstrate a commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.
Preferred (Special) Qualifications
Master’s degree in any applicable field including, but not limited to, administration, communications, or research.
Track record facilitating teams with diverse expertise.
Research development or administrative experience in a public university system.
Familiarity with federal submission portals such as grants.gov, NSF research.gov, or NIH ASSIST.
Demonstrated experience identifying needs/concerns of others, determining potential solutions, resolving discord, or redirecting appropriately.
Working Conditions / Work Schedule
The primary work location for this position is the OSU Division of Extension and Engagement administrative office on OSU’s campus in Corvallis, Oregon. However, a flexible work arrangement for a remote option within Oregon can be negotiated and will require an ongoing annual review and assessment for continuation.