Dir, Research Proposal Services

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 106,100 - 137,900; Full time

Job summary

University of Houston is seeking a Director of Office of Contracts & Grants to provide strategic vision and operational oversight for research proposal preparation, pre-review activities, and contracting negotiations. This role advances service excellence, process improvement, regulatory compliance, and cost-effective research operations.

It acts as a senior advisor to align sponsor requirements with institutional priorities.

Qualifications

• Requires application of advanced principles, techniques and theory in a professional discipline or a thorough general business management knowledge.
• Master's degree or equivalent formal training in a recognized field related to the work.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of directly job-related experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pre-award operations and develop policies to ensure timely proposal submission, pre-review activities, contract negotiations, and regulatory adherence.
• Develop short- and long-term goals and management strategies to enhance pre-award activities and communicate them across the University.
• Provide leadership to the research administration team and monitor performance for accuracy, timeliness, and customer service.
• Interpret and apply policies/regulations, communicate changes, and assess impact on sponsored activities, ensuring compliance.
• Advise faculty, departments, and staff on proposal strategy, sponsor guidelines, and institutional requirements for compliant submissions.
• Oversee research contract review and negotiation, serving as Authorized Organizational Representative to review, negotiate, and sign agreements for the University.
• Collaborate with offices on grant congruency, financial conflict of interest, responsible conduct of research, export controls, and other compliance areas.
• Serve as liaison between research leadership, colleges, departments, faculty, and central offices to align pre-award operations.
• Develop and deliver research administration certification and training programs for university personnel.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Regulatory compliance

Pre-award operations

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Job description

Department: Office of Contracts & Grants

Salary: $106,100 - $137,900 Annual Salary

Description

Under the direction of the Assistant Vice President for Sponsored Programs this position will provide strategic vision, leadership, and operational oversight for all matters related to research proposal preparation and submission, pre-review activities, and research contracting negotiations. The Director will be responsible for advancing service excellence, process improvement, regulatory compliance, and cost-effective research operations. Serving as a senior advisor to the research enterprise, this position supports the most complex, high-profile, and institutionally significant proposal submissions and negotiations, ensuring alignment with sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and strategic research priorities.

1. Oversee pre-award operations and develop and/or maintain policies and procedures to ensure timely proposal submission, pre-review activities, contract negotiations, and adherence to regulations.
2. Develop effective short and long-term goals, objectives, and management strategies to enhance pre-award activities and communicate those University-wide.
3. Provides leadership and guidance to the research administration team. Oversee the work activities and monitor team performance with regards to accuracy, timeliness, and customer service.
4. Serve as an expert resource for interpreting and applying policies and regulations, communicating significant changes and assessing impact on existing sponsored activities, and implementing changes to ensure compliance.
5. Advises faculty members, department administrators, and research staff on proposal strategy, sponsor guidelines, institutional requirements, and best practices for competitive and compliant submissions.
6. Oversee research contract review and negotiation activities and serves as an Authorized Organizational Representative with delegated authority to review, negotiate, and sign agreements on behalf of the University.
7. Works closely with the various offices on matters related to grant congruency, financial conflict of interest, responsible conduct of research, export controls, and other compliance areas impacting sponsored programs.
8. Serve as a key liaison between research leadership, colleges, departments, faculty, administrators, the Office of contracts and grants, and other central offices to ensure alignment of pre-award operations and actions.
9. Collaborates with the Assistant Vice President and other Office of Contracts and Grants directors to develop, revise, and deliver research administration certification and training programs for university personnel.
10. Performs other job-related duties as required.

Qualifications

MQ: Requires application of advanced principles, techniques and theory in a professional discipline or a thorough general business management knowledge. Knowledge of this level is typically obtained through a directly job-related Master's degree or equivalent formal training in a recognized field of specialization that is directly related to the type of work being performed. Requires a minimum of seven (7) years of directly job-related experience.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.