Job Summary:

 The Assistant Vice President for Research Administration and Security (AVP RAS), reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer, with dotted lines to both the Office of the General Counsel and Vice President of Research, is responsible for leading Research Administration by overseeing, managing and evaluating the Pre- and Non-Financial Post Award aspects of contracts, grants, and awards for the Institute. The AVP is responsible for the development, implementation and coordination of policies, procedures, processes and practices related to research administration and finance services necessary to support and promote faculty research efforts.

Who we are:

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Explore the RPI Forward plan. ↗︎

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world. 

With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in research administration and research security
• Extensive knowledge of research administration functions with demonstrated leadership and team management experience
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with research stakeholders
• Experience implementing and redesigning processes to improve operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and regulatory compliance
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, supervisory, and change management skills

Applicants must meet all minimum education and experience requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Finance or related field
• Experience with Banner and Cayuse systems

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Management experience in a research setting serving strong, independent, innovative, and entrepreneurial scientists.
• Experience with grants management, and a good understanding of research funding agencies including government and industry.
• Strong financial analytic skills.
• Ability to grasp and translate into operations complex financial matters, as they relate to the administration of research awards.
• Knowledge of compliance regulations and a track record of success in the interpretation of those regulations.
• Demonstrated experience pulling together a team, developing staff, and building morale within an organization.
• Excellent negotiation skills, as well as the ability to advocate effectively on behalf of the research enterprise.

Representative Job Duties:

• Directs on-going management activities of Research Administration and the entire award process. Function as the senior Authorized Institutional Officer responsible for sponsor contracts and grant negotiations and acceptance. Directs verification of the accuracy of awards and adherence to internal and external regulatory requirements and assurances and cost sharing. Oversees non-financial post-award award management (e.g., requests for prior approval, such as no-cost-extension or re-budgets) and closely coordinates with research finance on matters related to expenditure review, invoicing, reporting, award closeout and accounts receivable management. Establish appropriate metrics to measure staff productivity and customer service levels.

   

• Oversees proposal review and submission processes to ensure sponsored research proposals are in compliance with and adhere to internal and external policies. Develop internal practices to streamline the process for submitting sponsored research proposals and applications, as well as evaluative metrics to gauge customer service and staff productivity.

   

• Lead, in coordination with the Office of General Counsel, implementation of campus-wide policies and procedures related to all relevant export control and research security regulations, including training, education, and guidance to the campus community on such matters. Coordinate closely with the institute’s compliance officer, HR, and other senior leaders on the administration of such programs. Conduct regular quality assurance of export control and research security documents, processes, and procedures or investigations and assist with the implementation of RPI’s controlled research (CUI) program and other relevant information security and data management policies for research.

   

• Ensures that the research compliance program keeps pace with the regulatory changes relative to federal, state, sponsored research agencies as well as industry partnerships in collaboration with the Office of Research.

   

• Enhance Research Administration, Export Controls and Research Security functions in support of service to faculty through the strategic use of technology, including hardware, software, databases and web-based services. Determine what technological enhancements will make the greatest positive impact on the research enterprise and then work with other appropriate individuals and departments to acquire and implement such technology.

   

• Support and coordinate, in collaboration with the AVP for Finance & Controller, audit activities of external agencies that arise subject to the financial statement audit, Uniform Guidance audit, internal audits, sponsor audits and others. Coordinate activity related to the audits, including resolutions of any findings. Work with Human Resources on investigations concerning Research and Security oversight activities.

   

• Represent the Institute in the context of national organizations by attending relevant meetings of the Federal Demonstration Partnership, Council on Government Relations, Association of University Export Control Officers, Academic Security and Counter Exploitation (ASCE), Safeguarding the Entire Community in the U.S. Research Ecosystem (SECURES), and others as necessary, and distill key trends and updates from those groups into practice at RPI and provide management and cabinet as requested with updates on key regulatory, enforcement, and best practices.

   

• Oversees the recruitment and selection of staff to assist in attainment of goals and objectives; carries out human resource functions for direct reports including hiring, evaluating, training, developing, supporting, coaching, and when necessary, counseling and initiating disciplinary actions.

   

• Manage RPI’s relationship with key technology and consulting vendors which support research operations and security goals (e.g., Cayuse, Huron, Maximus, etc.) and develop annual budget and plans for strategic engagement and use of such resources to optimize their efficient deployment in the furtherance of RPI’s research mission (and annual financial objectives).

Shift:

Business Hours with weekends or evenings occasionally required

Travel:

Driving:

Incidental driving possible, but not required

Starting Salary/Rate:

Expected hiring range: $203,600-$260,000

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.

Application instructions:

Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile. Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.

If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Total Compensation and Benefits Information:

Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu).