Associate Director Of Sponsored Programs

FIT; Melbourne (FL); On-site; AUD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, VIC invites an Associate Director of Sponsored Research to lead the administration of externally funded programs across the grant lifecycle, partnering with faculty, administrators and sponsors to ensure timely proposals, awards, compliance and reporting.

The role provides guidance on pre- and post-award activities, develops dashboards and reports, and drives strategic initiatives, budget oversight, and process improvements to strengthen the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Three (3) or more years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, grants management, sponsored programs, or a related field.
• Knowledge of federal regulations, Uniform Guidance, sponsor requirements, and research administration best practices.
• Strong project management, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, sponsors, and senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Sponsored Programs Administration: Oversee the full award lifecycle, including proposal development, submission, award acceptance, modifications, compliance monitoring, and closeout.
• Ensure compliance with sponsor requirements, Uniform Guidance, federal and state regulations, and university policies.
• Review grant and contract proposals and budgets for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to sponsor and institutional requirements.
• Provide guidance and training to faculty, principal investigators, and departmental staff on sponsored program administration, proposal development, and compliance requirements.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for pre-award and post-award activities.
• Research Reporting and Systems Support: Compile, analyze, and report data related to proposal submissions, awards, expenditures, and other research performance metrics.
• Support the administration, optimization, and continuous improvement of research administration systems and business processes.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and other tools to support sponsored project management, compliance, and institutional decision-making.
• Project Management and Strategic Initiatives: Serve as project manager for major sponsored research, compliance, and institutional initiatives.
• Coordinate activities across multiple departments and stakeholders, monitor project progress, manage risks, and communicate updates to leadership.
• Support strategic initiatives that enhance research administration services, strengthen institutional research capacity, and improve operational effectiveness.

Skills

Project management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday Grants

Cayuse

Job description

Associate Director of Sponsored Programs floridatech•Melbourne, VIC, AU

Job Description

The Associate Director of Sponsored Research supports the development, submission, administration, and oversight of the university's sponsored research and other externally funded programs. Working closely with the Director, faculty, administrators, and external sponsors, this position provides leadership across the full grant and contract lifecycle, including proposal development, award management, compliance, financial monitoring, reporting, and closeout. The Associate Director serves as a resource to faculty and staff on sponsored program processes and requirements, ensures compliance with applicable regulations and policies, and supports strategic initiatives, budget oversight, and continuous improvement efforts to advance the university’s research mission.

Responsibilities Include:

• Sponsored Programs Administration
  • Assist in the oversight and administration of sponsored research and other externally funded programs throughout the full award lifecycle, including proposal development, submission, award acceptance, modifications, compliance monitoring, and closeout.
  • Ensure compliance with sponsor requirements, Uniform Guidance, federal and state regulations, and university policies and procedures.
  • Review grant and contract proposals and budgets for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to sponsor and institutional requirements.
  • Provide guidance and training to faculty, principal investigators, and departmental staff on sponsored program administration, proposal development, and compliance requirements.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for pre-award and post-award activities.
• Research Reporting and Systems Support
  • Compile, analyze, and report data related to proposal submissions, awards, expenditures, and other research performance metrics.
  • Support the administration, optimization, and continuous improvement of research administration systems and business processes.
  • Develop reports, dashboards, and other tools to support sponsored project management, compliance, and institutional decision-making.
• Project Management and Strategic Initiatives
  • Serve as project manager for major sponsored research, compliance, and institutional initiatives.
  • Coordinate activities across multiple departments and stakeholders, monitor project progress, manage risks, and communicate updates to leadership.
  • Support strategic initiatives that enhance research administration services, strengthen institutional research capacity, and improve operational effectiveness.

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Three (3) or more years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, grants management, sponsored programs, or a related field.
• Knowledge of federal regulations, Uniform Guidance, sponsor requirements, and research administration best practices.
• Strong project management, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, sponsors, and senior leadership.

Preferred

• Experience in both pre-award and post-award research administration within a higher education environment.
• Experience with research administration and enterprise systems, including Workday Grants, Cayuse, or similar grants management platforms.
• Experience developing reports, dashboards, and business process improvements.
• Professional certification such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA), or related credential.

Florida Institute of Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics in its activities and programs. In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Florida Tech does not discriminate on the basis of sex. Inquiries concerning the application of the Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment policy may be directed to the Equal Opportunity Director and Investigator at 150 West University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901, or email [e-mail] , or [phone]; or to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Please notify us at least five days in advance if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed by calling the Office of Human Resources at 321-674-8100.

Annual Security & Fire Safety Report

The federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) requires colleges and universities, both public and private, participating in federal student aid programs to disclose campus safety information, and imposes certain basic requirements for handling incidents of sexual violence and emergency situations. Florida Tech's 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report includes statis