Director of Sponsored Programs

Georgia Southern University; Statesboro (GA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Georgia Southern University is seeking a Director of Sponsored Programs to lead Research Services, supervise staff, and coordinate workloads for compliant, timely sponsored programs administration.

With five or more years in sponsored programs and CRA certification, you will establish priorities, improve processes, and partner with faculty and administrators to support proposals and awards while aligning with Carnegie R1 goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• CRA certification required.
• Five (5) or more years of relevant sponsored programs experience.
• Progressively increasing leadership responsibility demonstrated.
• Excellent communication, time management, and workflow optimization skills.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and sponsor policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and develop Sponsored Programs staff; set expectations and coach.
• Oversee proposal review processes for quality and compliance.
• Coordinate staff training and professional development with campus partners.
• Improve guidance, templates, and training materials based on recurring issues.
• Drive continuous improvement of systems and services with measurable performance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

Kuali Research (KR)

Grants.gov

Research.gov

Job description

Director of Sponsored Programs

Job ID: 305129

Location: Statesboro, Georgia;Georgia Southern -Savannah

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

About Us

Georgia Southern University is the state's largest and mostcomprehensive center of higher learning south of Atlanta, and oneof the most dynamic public universities in the Southeast.

Founded in 1906, Georgia Southern has grown from asingle-purpose college into a Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution with149 degree programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctorallevels, serving 31,600 students from all 50 states, WashingtonD.C., Puerto Rico and more than 100 nations.

Four distinct campuses extend Georgia Southern's reach acrossthe region: a 900-acre quintessential college campus in Statesboro,anchored by Georgian-style red-brick buildings set among oaks andpines; the Armstrong Campus in Savannah, minutes from historicdowntown and a short drive from the beaches of Tybee Island; amodern, purpose-built facility in Hinesville serving local andmilitary-affiliated students; and the East Georgia Campus inSwainsboro, an outdoor oasis nestled on a 385-acre pine forest,offering expanded pathways to higher education for students acrosssoutheast Georgia.

Through ten colleges, the Allen E. Paulson College ofEngineering and Computing, the College of Arts and Humanities, theCollege of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the College ofEducation, the College of Science and Mathematics, the Jack N.Averitt College of Graduate Studies, the Jiann-Ping Hsu College ofPublic Health, the Parker College of Business, the Waters Collegeof Health Professions and University College, Georgia Southerndelivers academic programs backed by real-world experience,research with regional and national impact, and a faculty committedto helping every student go further than they thought possible.

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and SchoolsCommission on Colleges and holding specialized accreditation acrossits professional programs, Georgia Southern prepares graduates whoare ready to lead, contribute and soar beyond, in Georgia, acrossthe nation and around the world.

For more information, visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Location

Statesboro Campus - Statesboro, GA

OR

Armstrong Campus - Savannah, GA

Department Information

Office of Research

Job Summary

The Director of Sponsored Programs leads Research Services bysupervising and developing staff, coordinating workloads, andensuring effective, compliant sponsored programs administration.The Director combines research administration experience withdemonstrated leadership, strong organizational skills, and theability to communicate and collaborate across faculty, academicunits, and administrative offices. Working with technicalspecialists and campus partners, the Director establishes clearpriorities, implements process improvements, and strengthensservices supporting proposals and award administration. As GeorgiaSouthern advances toward Carnegie R1 classification, the Directorhelps develop the staff, systems, and practices needed to support agrowing research portfolio. The position reports to the VicePresident of Research.

Employment is contingent upon funding.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and develop Sponsored Programs staff bysetting expectations, balancing workloads, providing coaching, andsupporting professional growth
• Oversee proposal review processes, quality assurance standards,and escalation procedures to ensure accurate, compliant, and timelysubmissions
• Coordinate staff training and professional development inpartnership with research administrators, campus specialists, andexternal resources
• Improve guidance, templates, training materials, andeducational resources based on recurring issues, feedback, andservice needs
• Lead continuous improvement of sponsored programs systems,processes, and services, establishing priorities, implementationplans, and performance measures
• Collaborate with faculty, sponsors, and campus partners toresolve proposal and award issues, communicate requirements, andprovide guidance on policies and regulatory changes
• Serve as the University's liaison to sponsors and coordinatewith research compliance, legal, and administrative offices toaddress proposal, award, and compliance matters
• Support research growth by coordinating staff and technicalresources for complex proposals, faculty outreach, proposaldevelopment, budget review, and submission activities
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, sponsor, UniversitySystem of Georgia, and institutional requirements governingsponsored programs and research administration

• Oversee research administration systems, reporting, and dataintegrity to support effective operations, audit readiness, and theUniversity's strategic goal of expanding its research portfolio

  and achieving Carnegie R1 status

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree

Other Required Qualifications

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)

Required Experience

• Five (5) or more years of relevant sponsored programs orresearch administration experience, including proposaladministration, budget development or review, and application ofsponsor requirements
• Evidence of progressively increasing leadership responsibility,with a demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and retaintalented teams; cultivate a culture of trust, accountability, andshared purpose; and mentor emerging leaders
• Exceptional communication, time management, and workflowoptimization skills
• Working knowledge of federal sponsored programs requirements,including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), and experience applyingsponsor and institutional policies
• Experience reviewing or administering sponsored agreements andcoordinating the resolution of proposal or award issues
• Experience with electronic proposal submission portals (e.g.,Grants.gov, Research.gov, NSPIRES)

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Educational Qualifications

• Master's Degree
• Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA)preferred

Preferred Experience

• Three (3) or more years experience working as a universityresearch administrator
• Proficiency with Kuali Research (KR) software systemmanagement, or comparable electronic research administrationplatforms such as Cayuse or InfoEd
• Broad knowledge and experience working with diverse fundingagencies and sponsors
• Experience supporting an institution pursuing or maintainingCarnegie R1 ("very high research activity") classification

Proposed Salary

$95,000 - $115,000

This is an exempt position paid on a monthlybasis.

Required Documents to Attach

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Two (2) Professional References

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES

• Consistently exhibit engaging customer service
• Ability to support various constituencies served by theUniversity
• Proven proficiency with computers including Microsoft Office,Google, and/or applications as required for specific position

KNOWLEDGE

• Adhere to University policies and procedures to meetInstitutional goals and support University's mission for studentsuccess

SKILLS

• Proven proficiency with computers including Microsoft Office,Google, and/or applications as required for specific position
• Clear and effective communications skills to address dynamicaudiences and stakeholders
• Consistent commitment to providing a high-level of customerservice
• Engage in a digital workspace with or without reasonableaccommodation
• Willingness to develop proficiency in new technologies
• Advanced organizational skills and an aptitude for managingmultiple administrative tasks

Apply Before Date

Open Until Filled
Application review may begin on October 28,2026.

Contact Information

For more information or questions about a job posting, pleasecontact the Department of Human Resources by phone at [phone] or by email at [e-mail].

For technical support, please call the USG Service Desk at [phone], or email [e-mail].

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25institutions of higher education and learning as well as the SystemOffice. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence,Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundationfor all that we do as an organization, and each USG communitymember is responsible for demonstrating and upholding thesestandards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values andCode of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 andcan be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated inBoard Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom foundon-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion ofbackground investigation including a criminal background checkdemonstrating your eligibility for employment with Georgia SouthernUniversity, as determined by Georgia Southern University in itssole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employmenthistory reflected in your application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal andstate laws, to the statutes, rules and regulations of thisinstitution and to the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents(BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which areavailable for your inspection upon request. Legally authorized to work in the United States for the duration of employment without assistance from the University.

Must be able to perform duties and responsibilities with or withoutreasonable accommodation.

Georgia Southern University is a Tobacco and Smoke-FreeCommunity.

Employment is contingent upon funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Georgia Southern University provides equal opportunities to allemployees and applicants for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,national origin, religion, age, veteran status, politicalaffiliation, or disability. Individuals in need of reasonableaccommodations under the America with Disabilities Act toparticipate in the search process should notify Human Resources:[phone].

Other Information

• Must be able to perform duties and responsibilities with orwithout reasonable accommodation
• Work generally performed in an office environment
• Workweek may occasionally extend beyond 40 hours
• Travel may be required
• Working with high-stress situations

Background Check

• Standard + Education