Assistant Director, RI NSF EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

University of Rhode Island; Kingston (RI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Rhode Island invites applications for the Assistant Director, RI NSF EPSCoR, based in Kingston, RI. This professional staff position drives strategic planning, program management, and financial oversight for the Rhode Island EPSCoR cooperative agreement, supporting statewide research capacity and workforce development.

Lead across cores, ensure NSF-aligned goals, manage budgets, reporting, and compliance, and represent EPSCoR in regional and national forums.

Responsibilities

• Provide program leadership, decision-making authority, and external representation for EPSCoR initiatives.
• Oversee program management, financial operations, reporting and compliance for the Rhode Island EPSCoR cooperative agreement.
• Supervise and mentor program staff, including graduate students and administrative personnel.
• Coordinate subrecipient management, invoicing, and financial reporting processes.
• Oversee preparation and submission of annual reports, proposals, and renewal applications.
• Foster partnerships with institutions, researchers, and NSF program officers to advance statewide research capacity.

Job description

Assistant Director, RI NSF EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

Posting Number: SF02205

Position Type: Professional Staff

Union: Non-Union Non-Classified Staff

Pay Grade Level: Grade Level: 12

Pay Grade Range: Salary Hiring Range: $90,000 - $95,000

Department: Research Office

Campus Location: Kingston

Job Description Summary

Search will be open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by October 2, 2026. Applications received after October 2, 2026 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.

About URI

The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State's flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.

Position Summary

Provide strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for Rhode Island's NSF EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement "Rhode Island Network for Excellence in Science and Technology", which oversees the jurisdictional EPSCoR office. The Assistant Director is responsible for overseeing program management, financial operations, reporting, compliance, and multi-institutional coordination. This role ensures alignment with NSF priorities and project goals while supporting the Project Director in advancing statewide research capacity and workforce development.

Program leadership, decision-making authority, and external representation of EPSCoR initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Strategy

• Partner with the Project Director/PI to plan, implement, and assess progress towards project goals and long-term strategy.
• Provide leadership across all research infrastructure cores, ensuring alignment with NSF EPSCoR objectives and statewide research priorities.
• Represent EPSCoR in institutional, regional, and national meetings and collaborations.

Financial & Operational Oversight

• Provide oversight of all financial operations, including budget development, projections, and monitoring across all program implementation components and subawards.
• Ensure fiscal integrity and compliance with NSF, federal Uniform Guidance, and institutional policies.
• Oversee subrecipient management, invoicing, and financial reporting processes.
• Approve and monitor expenditures, budget reallocations, and financial planning activities.
• Supervise logistics and execution of major EPSCoR activities, including site visits, annual meetings, and research conferences.

Research Administration & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with NSF policies, reporting requirements, and cooperative agreement terms.
• Support the PI in establishing and maintaining relationships with NSF Program Officers and grants management staff.
• Oversee preparation and submission of annual reports, proposals, site visit materials, and renewal applications.
• Maintain awareness of evolving federal regulations and ensure communication and implementation across EPSCoR stakeholders.

Data Management & Evaluation

• Direct program-wide data collection, management, analysis, and reporting processes.
• Oversee evaluation activities, including coordinating with the external evaluation team and conducting internal tracking of performance metrics
• Ensure data systems and reporting tools meet NSF requirements and support decision-making.

Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as senior liaison for partner institutions, including research administrators, faculty, and external collaborators.
• Strengthen statewide and regional partnerships to expand research capacity and funding competitiveness.
• Identify and pursue new collaborations and funding opportunities.

Supervision & Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor program staff, including graduate students and administrative personnel.
• Establish performance expectations, provide professional development, and ensure effective team operations.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Act on behalf of the Project Director as needed in programmatic and administrative matters.
• Lead special projects and strategic initiatives.
• Perform additional duties as required to support the EPSCoR mission.

Licenses, Tools, and Equipment

• Personal computers; enterprise systems; data management platforms; Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, etc.); grant management systems.

Posting Date: 09/10/2026