Associate Director of Research Administration

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff "for fit" makes significant contributions to Howard University's overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer: 

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match 
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

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BASIC FUNCTION:

The Associate Director of Research Administration will oversee the College Research Administrators (CRAs) and departmental research administrators, ensuring effective pre- and post-award support for faculty. This role will be responsible for the training, oversight, and performance evaluation of research administrators across all colleges. The Associate Director will serve as the primary liaison between the Office of Research (OOR) and the Associate Deans, working to improve administrative efficiency and ensure compliance with federal and institutional policies.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:

The Associate Director of Research Administration will serve as the primary point of contact (POC) for the College Research Administrators (CRAs) and departmental research administrators, ensuring the effective operation of the CRA program and centralized research administration model.

This position will provide strategic oversight, training, guidance, recruitment, and onboarding support for CRAs while ensuring consistency in research administration processes across colleges. The Office of Research (OOR) will be responsible for the educational, compliance, and professional development aspects of the role, while day-to-day performance management will remain under the purview of the individual colleges.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Reporting directly to the [Director of Research Administration/AVP of Research Operations], the Associate Director will implement a centralized research administration model. This role will establish standardized workflows, ensure research administrators receive ongoing training, and work closely with Associate Deans and faculty to troubleshoot issues. The Associate Director will also lead monthly research administration meetings to facilitate training, updates, and process improvements.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Oversight & Management

• Directly supervises CRAs and departmental research administrators, ensuring consistent and effective research administration support.

• Works closely with Deans, Associate Deans, and PIs to monitor and enhance grant support services.

• Develop standardized departmental processes for pre- and post-award administration to be implemented university-wide.

• Oversees the integration of existing departmental research administrators into the new centralized structure.

Training & Professional Development

• Develops and implements an onboarding program for newly hired and transitioning research administrators.

• Ensures that all research administrators complete 12 hours of required training annually, covering:

  • Proposal development & sponsor guidelines

  • Budgeting & financial management

  • Workday grants system workflows

  • Federal compliance & university policies

• Leads monthly 3-hour research administration meetings, providing updates, training, and addressing concerns raised by administrators and faculty.

Performance Management & Feedback

• Works with Associate Deans to evaluate CRA and departmental research administrator performance.

• Develops and implements performance metrics for tracking research administration effectiveness across colleges.

• Addresses faculty concerns regarding research administration support and identifies opportunities for process improvement.

Collaboration & Troubleshooting

• Serves as the primary liaison between CRAs, departmental administrators, Associate Deans, Sponsored Programs Office (SPO), and Research Operations.

• Identifies and resolves issues related to grant setup, payments, budgeting, and compliance.

• Works with HR and Procurement to streamline grant-related hiring and financial workflows.

Compliance & Policy Implementation

• Ensures research administrators stay current with federal, state, and institutional policies affecting sponsored programs.

• Provides updates and guidance on changes in grant regulations (e.g., NIH, NSF, DoE, 2 CFR 200).

• Monitors research administration practices to ensure adherence to university and federal compliance requirements.

CORE COMPETENCIES:   

• Strong leadership skills in managing teams across multiple colleges.

• Expertise in pre- and post-award research administration within a university setting.

• Advanced knowledge of federal grant regulations and institutional compliance policies.

• Effective problem-solving and the ability to streamline complex administrative workflows.

• Excellent communication and training skills to support administrators and faculty.

• Strong collaborative mindset with experience working across multiple stakeholders (faculty, deans, HR, finance, research operations).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, research administration, public administration, finance, or a related field.

• Minimum of 7 years of research administration experience, with pre- and post-award management expertise.

• Familiarity with federal funding agency policies (e.g., NIH, NSF, DoE, DOD grants & contracts).

• Experience in supervising and training research administrators.

• Strong knowledge of Workday Grants(or similar ERP), federal grant compliance, and university-sponsored programs administration.

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage process improvements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA) certification.

• Experience working in an R1 university or large research-intensive institution.

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

Expected Pay Range: $127,272 - $140,000