Executive Director: Grants & Sponsored Programs

State of Minnesota; Moorhead (MN); On-site; USD 78,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension plan

Paid vacation and sick leave

12 paid holidays

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

Minnesota State Moorhead seeks an Executive Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs to lead external funding, develop institutional strategy, and oversee the Grants and Sponsored Programs Office. The role reports to university leadership and partners with faculty, staff, and external partners to secure significant grants.

The position requires strategic leadership, expert grant development, and strong collaboration across divisions to advance academic excellence and community engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or three years of experience in Business, Education, Communications, Public Administration, Legal Studies, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success developing competitive grant proposals and securing external funding.
• Experience administering grants and sponsored programs, including financial, compliance, and reporting responsibilities.
• Considerable knowledge of state and federal grant accounting, auditing, and reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated expertise identifying and evaluating funding opportunities aligned with the university’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Experience leading complex grant development, sponsored programs, research administration, or externally funded initiatives.
• Strong organizational, project management, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive institutional strategy for securing external funding that advances university priorities and increases sponsored program activity.
• Identify and evaluate funding opportunities that align with MSUM's Strategic Pillars, strategic initiatives, and institutional goals.
• Advise the President, Provost, Cabinet, deans, and university leadership regarding funding opportunities, emerging grant trends, and sponsored program strategies.
• Develop and maintain a university-wide external funding pipeline.
• Lead strategic planning efforts related to grants, sponsored programs, and external resource development.
• Analyze institutional funding data and recommend strategies to increase grant competitiveness and award success.
• Prepare annual and periodic reports regarding externally funded activities, grant outcomes, and funding trends.
• Represent the university in grant-related partnerships, professional organizations, and external funding initiatives.
• Lead the development of institution-wide, federal, state, and foundation grant proposals.
• Serve as the primary writer of institution-wide grant proposals.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners to develop competitive proposals.
• Provide authoritative guidance regarding sponsor requirements, proposal development, budget preparation, and institutional approvals.
• Review and approve grant submissions on behalf of the university.
• Coordinate external evaluators, consultants, and collaborative partners associated with proposal development.
• Serve as the university's authorized representative for proposal review and submission processes, as designated.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary and cross-divisional grant initiatives that advance institutional priorities.
• Develop proposal development resources, templates, and tools to support applicants.
• Provide strategic oversight for pre-award and post-award grant administration activities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and sponsor requirements.
• Interpret complex federal, state, system, and university regulations affecting sponsored programs.
• Oversee institutional implementation of grant-related compliance requirements, including conflict of interest, responsible conduct of research, effort reporting, and other sponsor mandates.
• Monitor institutional compliance risks and implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Support audit readiness and coordinate responses to sponsor inquiries and compliance reviews.
• Establish and maintain university standards and procedures for sponsored programs administration.
• Cultivate relationships with federal agencies, state agencies, foundations, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and community partners.
• Serve as the primary institutional liaison with sponsoring agencies and program officers.
• Develop strategic partnerships that expand opportunities for externally funded projects and initiatives.
• Represent the university in collaborative grant activities and consortium initiatives.
• Strengthen relationships with funding agencies through effective stewardship and communication.
• Provide effective leadership, direction, and supervision of the Grants and Sponsored Programs Office.
• Develop and implement short- and long-range operational plans for the GSPO.
• Direct the work of GSPO personnel and ensure effective coordination across grant functions.
• Determine work priorities, assign responsibilities, and monitor progress toward departmental goals.
• Recruit, hire, train, mentor, evaluate, and support GSPO employees.
• Address employee performance issues and grievances in accordance with applicable labor agreements and university policies.
• Administer applicable collective bargaining agreements and personnel policies.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, service, innovation, continuous improvement, and accountability.
• Oversee GSPO operational and indirect cost recovery budgets.
• Increase institutional capacity and faculty/staff engagement in externally funded activities.
• Promote a culture of sponsored research, scholarship, creative activity, workforce development, and innovation.
• Collaborate with professional development centers and academic units to strengthen grant-writing capacity.
• Develop and deliver workshops, training programs, and educational resources related to grants and sponsored programs.
• Support faculty and staff in identifying funding opportunities and developing competitive projects.
• Coordinate grant-related communication, recognition, and dissemination activities.
• Identify institutional barriers to external funding success and recommend improvements.
• Develop tools and resources that support faculty and staff engagement throughout the grant lifecycle, from proposal development to closeout.
• Provide strategic oversight of sponsored project finances and ensure responsible stewardship of external resources.
• Oversee institutional processes related to grant budgeting and financial administration.
• Collaborate with the Grant Manager, Grant Accountant, Business Services, and Principal Investigators to ensure sound fiscal management.
• Monitor institutional trends related to external funding expenditures, indirect cost recovery, and grant sustainability.
• Provide authoritative guidance regarding grant budgeting principles, cost-sharing requirements, indirect cost recovery, and allowable expenditures.
• Ensure appropriate monitoring and stewardship of grant-funded resources.
• Be sensitive in dealings with other personnel, visitors, and students, so that all are treated in a respectful, professional, and humane manner.
• Be respectful of and sensitive to the rights, responsibilities and duties of others, and respectful of the human rights of all racial, ethnic, and religious grounds, including but not limited to protected groups as defined by state statute.
• Maintain professional level of conduct and interaction with other staff so that staff dissent is minimized.
• Maintain control and composure during difficult and stressful situations to instill a calming effect on others.
• Maintain a professional distance in relationships with students and their families.

Skills

Grant writing

Strategic planning

Leadership

Budgeting

Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Minnesota State Moorhead seeks an Executive Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs to lead external funding, develop institutional strategy, and oversee the Grants and Sponsored Programs Office. The role reports to university leadership and partners with faculty, staff, and external partners to secure significant grants.

The position requires strategic leadership, expert grant development, and strong collaboration across divisions to advance academic excellence and community engagement.