Director of Research Budget, Finance, and Operations- SWORPS at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee

Job Description:

Description

Director of Research Budget, Finance, and Operations

Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS)

University of Tennessee College of Social Work

The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) seeks Director of Research Budget, Finance, and Operations who will enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to provide fiscal and operational support for the SWORPS. We need a hardworking and flexible professional who will be responsible for managing the annual contracts that fund the office, as well as overseeing the human resources and business operation. 

Who We Are:

The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is an applied research center of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (CSW).  We are a dynamic and close-knit interdisciplinary team of individuals with a shared vision of thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all. We do that by building partnerships that leverage research, technology, and human connection to improve lives in Tennessee and beyond.

Over the past fifty years, SWORPS has worked with local nonprofits such as the United Way of Greater Knoxville, University of Tennessee departments and faculty researchers, state agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Human Services, and federal agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Our annual portfolio consists of 25-40 sponsored projects spanning a wealth of different content areas, but one common thread -each project contributes one more building block for thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all.

Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/

Who We Are Looking For:

 The Finance and Operations Director will play a key role in leading the financial strategy and operations for SWORPS, overseeing a team of 170 and managing a grant portfolio of $32 million. This position will be responsible for structuring the SWORPS business office, ensuring compliance, and fostering the growth of sophisticated financial management systems.  This position is necessary to enhance the college's research enterprise through implementation of pre-award  and post-award strategies, policies and procedures relative to the submission of successful proposals.  The SWORPS Finance and Operations Director will ensure expert oversight of proposal budgets, compliance with UT and funding agency requirements, coordinate with the Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development (ORIED), Division of Research Administration (DRA) and other college research offices, oversee data reporting and analysis, facilitate strategies for proposal success, and provide training and support to SWORPS staff, division/department level staff, and investigators. This position provides strategic leadership and direct and indirect oversight of fiscal, information technology and operations.

Reporting to the College of Social Work Assistant Dean of Finance, Administration and Operations, this position provides leadership for all of SWORPS administration functions including budgeting and financial planning, facilities and operations, information technology, data management, and strategic planning. The position supervises SWORPS fiscal/operations unit staff and has the following primary duties and responsibilities:

Qualifications

SWORPS Leadership and Oversight:

• Supervise and develop the SWORPS Business Office staff.  Hires staff, assign tasks, set goals, monitor and/or approve assignment of work functions, continuity planning, and complete annual performance reviews. This includes analyzing the work structure (including hybrid/in-person/remote work agreements) and assigning tasks to appropriate individuals to ensure effective administration of daily activities and processes.

• Supervise procurement, contract management, and vendor relations to meet organizational standards.

• Subject matter expert for the college ensuring that critical information, assistance and advice to SWORPS administration, researchers and staff with proposal submission and award administration are being provided based on the current UT policy and policies set by funding sources, including federal Uniform Guidance.

• Establish SWORPS policies, procedures and best practices for review, submission and processing of research proposals and proposal budgets. Ensure that best practices are supportive of CSW/SWORPS goals, and are consistent with policies and guidelines for UT and funding sources.

• Uphold stringent adherence to all relevant financial policies, procedures, and regulations.

• Partner with the SWORPS administration, researchers, and staff to conduct training on research proposal policies and procedures including deadlines, budgets and practices for developing winning proposals. Facilitate workshops & training to further professional development of SWORPS staff and other research administration professionals.

• Serve as a point of contact for SWORPS research related matters with ORIED, DRA, UT colleges and other constituencies, as well as with research pre-award specialists at other institutions.

•Collaborate with post-award staff to transition awards, problem solve issues, and maintain a seamless workflow to support sponsored projects in the college.

•Design and lead distribution for all annual reports, newsletters and other marketing and data visualizations for the unit.

• Participate in SWORPS leadership level meetings of SWORPS administration, CSW Deans, Associate Deans and Directors, as well as participate in annual or periodic retreats and workshops related to research.

• Lead financial aspects of external and internal audits

• Evaluates and implements operational efficiencies across areas and leverages solutions around system management and technology and provides campus recommendations of system-wide implementations that would provide value and, improve efficiency and transparency.

 

Strategic Research Planning and Financial Management

• Develop comprehensive financial models and dashboards for monitoring and reporting on grant-related expenditures.

• Uphold stringent adherence to all relevant financial policies, procedures, and regulations.

• Work closely with senior leadership to ensure financial strategies are aligned with organizational objectives.

• Produce precise financial statements and manage the financial reporting process.

• Provide input, including data sets, analyses, surveys, reports and opinions, for college, division and campus level administrators involved in discussions of strategic research plans.

• Analysis and projections of RIF income from externally funded contracts and grants. Advice to SWORPS administration on RIF management, voluntary cost-share policies, and other financial decisions that depend on external funding or RIF.

• Provide other assistance with research-related strategic planning and financial management, on an as-needed basis.

• Manages annual research funds provided by the college, directing financial staff on the distribution of funds to the departments.

• Implement robust internal controls to protect financial assets and mitigate risks.

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and investment activities.

• Leverage technology to improve financial data analysis, reporting, and operational efficiency.

• Produce Ad Hoc financial reports related to research.

• Primary department approver in University’s ERP system

Research Support for Large and/or Complex Proposals

 

• Work with SWORPS investigator and administration, ORIED and DRA on budgets and cost share requests for large and/or complex proposals.

• Resolve complex problems related to negotiations with funding sources and proposal submissions, including sub-awards, partnerships with 2-year colleges, non-profits, industry and foreign funding agencies, as well as voluntary cost share requests.

• Provide higher levels of SWORPS support for investigators working on large center or institute-scale proposals.

• Proactively identify funding opportunities that support the SWORPS strategic plan, identifying senior participants and research partners, both internal and external to UT, to engage in proposal development in the short term and facilitate external funding capacity building in the long term.

• Help resolve problems related to transition from pre-award budgets to post-award accounts and expenditure plans.

 

Required Qualifications:

Applicant must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, plus 7 years of experience directly related to sponsored research, with extensive experience with state and federal funding agencies, including experience interpreting and applying federal regulations relative to sponsored research, including at least one year of supervisory experience.

Strong managerial skills, supervisory skills, and demonstrated leadership skills

This position must have: expertise in financial forecasting, budgeting, and developing financial reporting systems; Proven ability to manage competing priorities, manage several complex projects simultaneously, and meet time sensitive deadlines; detailed knowledge of Uniform Guidance, Federal Regulations and FAR Clauses that regulate the administration of sponsored programs and the ability to apply these to organizational policies and procedures within context; proficiency with sponsor-specific submission platforms such as Research.gov, Grants.gov, EERE Exchange, ARPA-Exchange, NSPIRES; ability to lead a team, foster a supportive work environment, and develop talents of personnel to maximize potential and productivity; comprehensive knowledge of financial regulations and grant compliance; Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deal effectively and tactfully with personnel at all levels; Outstanding customer service skills and strong organizational and project management skills; Proficiency with spreadsheets, Microsoft Office software, and ability to learn IRIS, Taleo, and Cayuse, and other related University systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

A Master's degree and 10 years of experience directly related to sponsored research, preferably within a university environment or in a corporate setting with extensive experience with state and federal funding agencies, including experience interpreting and applying federal regulations relative to sponsored research, including three or more years of supervisory experience and experience developing team approaches to providing service to stakeholders.

Application Process

Interested individuals should provide (1) a cover letter addressing professional experience relevant to each required and preferred qualification, (2) a resume, and (3) complete contact information for 3 professional references.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the position has been filled. 

Job: Executive/Administrative

Primary Location: US-Tennessee-knoxville

Organization: Social Work Research & Pub Svc

Schedule: Full-time

Job Posting: Aug 27, 2024, 2:42:12 PM Apply Now