Careers at Virginia Tech

The Director, CALS Financial Management and Compliance – Post Award is primarily responsible for overseeing matters pertaining to Research personnel, compliance, and accounts receivables, including invoicing, collections and cash application (“financial operations”) related to post-award financial management within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. This is a leadership role responsible for ensuring timely cost reimbursement by award sponsors while monitoring financial transactions, facilitate no cost extensions as well as closeout processes through the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) to ensure expenditures are allowable, allocable and reasonable in compliance with federal/state regulations, sponsor requirements and university policies.

This position will ensure the College is following cost accounting principles, administrative requirements and audit requirements outlined in the Uniform Guidance and Federal Acquisition Regulations. This position is responsible for managing a portfolio of complex sponsored grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements that include time sensitive, nonstandard reporting and billing requirements, complex cost sharing requirements, subrecipient reimbursements, and administrative oversight of financial and nonfinancial regulatory compliance. This position would also be responsible for exercising sound decision-making and problem-solving skills in the administration and ongoing monitoring of restricted awards, and for participating in the development of administrative procedures to ensure compliance with university and sponsor policies and procedures.

The Director, Financial Management and Compliance –Post Award will be responsible for creating and fostering an environment of research administration support within the College through leadership, teamwork, and collaboration by applying extensive knowledge, skills and experience to the review and negotiation of research proposals prior to deadlines while providing guidance, direction and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and university regulations and guidelines. This position will be required to work alongside OSP personnel to provide College-wide trainings for Departmental faculty and imbedded departmental fiscal/grants support roles that will standardize post-award practices to increase overall post-award management efficiency.

Position is located in Blacksburg, VA and is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with a weekly on-site presence and will report to the Associate Dean of Research and Director of Agricultural Experiment Station Research with a dotted line to the Assistant Dean for Finance.

• Master's degree or a bachelor's degree with significant relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a master's degree.
• Grants management experience.
• Demonstrated experience and extensive knowledge of federal and nonfederal regulations and guidelines, cost principles, financial reporting, sponsored billing/invoicing requirements, and the Uniform Guidance.
• Significant experience and in-depth knowledge of federal and nonfederal regulations and guidelines, cost principles, uniform administrative requirements for grants and audits of states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrated leadership and independent initiative.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge with compliance and internal controls reviews.
• Demonstrated accounting and budgeting experience using enterprise-level financial systems.

• Relevant research administration certification, such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA); Certified Internal Auditor (CIA); Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM); Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a Graduation from the NCURA Leadership Development Institute or obtain the certification within 12 months of hire.
• Demonstrated practical experience in the interpretation and application of sponsored research policies and procedures.
• Significant training delivery experience in a professional environment.
• Grants management experience related to USDA, NIH, NSF, and commodity groups
• Previous experience in an administrative or supervisory role.

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Regular

$90,000 - $105,000; commensurate with experience

40 hours per week

December 9, 2025; open until filled.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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