Director of Award Management

University of North Texas - Denton; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Texas Health at Fort Worth seeks a Director of Award Management to lead the post-award research administration, ensuring compliant and efficient management of sponsored awards from acceptance through closeout.

You will oversee the Post-Award team, collaborate with the AVP, and drive strategic initiatives, process improvements, and risk management while supporting investigators and institutional leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of related experience, or equivalent.
• Experience in post-award administration for sponsored programs.
• Knowledge of federal/state/sponsor regulations (e.g., 2 CFR 200, FAR).
• Strong leadership, coaching, and performance management skills.
• Ability to develop strategic priorities and service standards.

Responsibilities

• Directs and oversees post-award administration activities, including award setup, financial monitoring, prior approvals, award modifications, reporting coordination, closeout, and sponsor communications.
• Provides leadership, coaching, and performance management for post award staff while fostering a collaborative, customer-focused culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Partners with the AVP to develop strategic priorities, operational goals, performance metrics, and service standards for sponsored programs administration.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and institutional regulations including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), FAR, DFARS, UGMS, and sponsor-specific requirements.
• Champions operational excellence by leading process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, strengthen internal controls, improve customer service, and reduce institutional risk.
• Develops, implements, and maintains policies, procedures, guidance documents, and standard operating procedures supporting post-award administration.
• Oversees institutional post-award compliance activities including award monitoring, financial risk mitigation, audit support, and corrective action implementation.
• Collaborates with Division of Research Teams and other institutional partners to ensure seamless administration throughout the sponsored project lifecycle.
• Utilizes data and reporting to identify trends, monitor workload, evaluate operational performance, and recommend process improvements.
• Serves as a resource for complex sponsored programs issues requiring interpretation of sponsor regulations and institutional policy.
• Assists with planning for departmental staffing, organizational development, succession planning, and future operational needs.
• Represents the Office of Sponsored Programs on institutional committees, cross-functional initiatives, and sponsor engagements related to post-award administration and research administration operations.

Skills

Team Leadership

Cross-functional Collaboration

Regulatory Compliance

Financial Oversight

Process Improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

CRA certification preferred

Job description

Employee Classification: Director, Sponsored Programs

Campus: University of North Texas Health at Fort Worth

Division: HSC-Div of Rsrch & Innovation

SubDivision-Department: HSC-Div of Rsrch & Innovation

Department: HSC-Office of Sponsored Programs-390030

Job Location: Fort Worth

Salary: Commensurate with Experience

FTE: 1.000000

About Us - Values Overview

Welcome to the University of North Texas System. The UNT System includes the University of North Texas in Denton and Frisco, the University of North Texas at Dallas and UNT Dallas College of Law, and University of North Texas Health Fort Worth. We are the only university system based exclusively in the robust Dallas-Fort Worth region. We are growing with the North Texas region, employing more than 14,000 employees, educating a record 49,000+ students across our system, and awarding nearly 12,000 degrees each year.

We are one team comprised of individuals who are committed to excellence, curiosity and innovation. We are transforming lives and creating economic opportunity through education. We champion a people-first values-based culture where We Care about each other and those we serve. We believe that we are Better Together because we foster an environment of respect, belonging, and access for all. We demonstrate Courageous Integrity through setting exceptional standards and acting in the best interest of our communities. We are encouraged to Be Curious about opportunities for learning, creating, discovering, and innovating, and are encouraged to learn from failure. Show Your Fire by joining our team and exhibiting your passion and pride in your work as part of our UNT System team.

Learn more about the UNT System and how we live our values at www.UNTSystem.edu.

Department Summary

The Office of Sponsored Programs, a department under the Division of Research and Innovation at UNT Health, provides pre-award, post-award, and contract services to support faculty and other investigators while promoting compliance with federal and state agencies, private sponsor agreements, and UNT Health research policies.

Position Overview

The Director of Award Management provides operational leadership for the University's post-award research administration function, ensuring compliant and efficient administration of sponsored awards from award acceptance through closeout. This position oversees the daily operations of the Post-Award team while partnering closely with the Assistant Vice President of Sponsored Programs to implement strategic initiatives, improve business processes, and promote operational excellence across the Office of Sponsored Programs.
The Director serves as a subject matter expert in federal, state, institutional, and sponsor regulations governing sponsored programs and provides leadership in financial stewardship, compliance, risk management, and customer service. The position collaborates extensively with principal investigators, departmental administrators, Research Financial Services, Research Compliance, and institutional leadership to support the University's research mission.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of related experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and oversee complex post-award operations.
• Strong cross-functional communication and collaboration skills with stakeholders.
• Expertise in regulatory compliance, financial oversight, risk mitigation, and process improvement.
• Skilled in strategic planning, performance management, data analysis, and policy development.
• Proven ability to solve complex problems, implement operational improvements, and support organizational goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored programs or research administration.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience leading post-award operations for a complex research organization, including oversight of high-dollar, high-risk sponsored award portfolios.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification preferred.

Required License/Registration/Certifications

• None required.
• CRA certification preferred.

Job Duties

• Directs and oversees all post-award administration activities, including award setup, financial monitoring, prior approvals, award modifications, reporting coordination, closeout, and sponsor communications.
• Provides leadership, coaching, and performance management for post award staff while fostering a collaborative, customer-focused culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Partners with the AVP to develop strategic priorities, operational goals, performance metrics, and service standards for sponsored programs administration.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and institutional regulations including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), FAR, DFARS, UGMS, and sponsor-specific requirements.
• Champions operational excellence by leading process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, strengthen internal controls, improve customer service, and reduce institutional risk.
• Develops, implements, and maintains policies, procedures, guidance documents, and standard operating procedures supporting post-award administration.
• Oversees institutional post-award compliance activities including award monitoring, financial risk mitigation, audit support, and corrective action implementation.
• Collaborates with Division of Research Teams and other institutional partners to ensure seamless administration throughout the sponsored project lifecycle.
• Utilizes data and reporting to identify trends, monitor workload, evaluate operational performance, and recommend process improvements.
• Serves as a resource for complex sponsored programs issues requiring interpretation of sponsor regulations and institutional policy.
• Assists with planning for departmental staffing, organizational development, succession planning, and future operational needs.
• Represents the Office of Sponsored Programs on institutional committees, cross-functional initiatives, and sponsor engagements related to post-award administration and research administration operations.

Physical Requirements

• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00a.m - 5:00p.m.

Driving University Vehicle

No

Security Sensitive

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

EEO Statement

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit -and takes actions to prevent - discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking), and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices, and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities. UNT System Administration promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. System Administration also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist, or participate in a related investigation or proceeding.