The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) is a vibrant community of scholars and teachers committed to having a diverse faculty and student body. The School’s curriculum, research, and community partnerships emphasize social and economic justice, along with an understanding of and respect for social, political, and cultural diversity both nationally and internationally. GSSW provides an intellectual, collegial, and supportive environment that fosters interdisciplinary and international educational opportunities. GSSW engages in collaborative projects locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. GSSW and the University of Denver are committed to enhancing the diversity of faculty and staff.

Position Summary

The Director of Research Administration at the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) directs the new Department of Research Administration (2 Grants Administrators, 2 Business Coordinators, and 1 TNB Assistant in 2025), by providing strategic planning, leadership, training and supervision to grant administrators and grant business coordinators. The Director additionally provides direct financial leadership and pre and post award administrative research support to the Butler Institute for Families, as well as oversight of these activities for the directly, as well as other research institutes, centers, and faculty principal investigator portfolios managed within the Department. This includes high level strategic financial and portfolio planning in partnership with the leadership teams of the Butler Institute for Families (BIF), the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC), and Center for Housing and Homelessness Research (CHHR). The Director works in close partnership with the GSSW Director of Budget and Operations and GSSW Business Office, as well as the DU Office of Sponsored Programs and reports to the GSSW Associate Dean for Operations.

The Director must have the proven skills and ability to financially manage multi-phase projects from inception to completion, including the ability to build consensus among team members and to balance multiple concurrent priorities, as well as to effectively train and supervise team members in the management of projects they are assigned, maintaining a balanced and responsive workflow within the department. The Director of Research Administration applies deep knowledge of federal, state, and local grant and contracting requirements and related protocols to ensure effective fiscal and risk management of research grants and contracts in conjunction with the DU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).

Essential Functions

Butler Leadership and Grant Administration

• Provide pre and post award management on a portfolio of complex research activity, primarily in association with the Butler Institute for Families (BIF)
• Maintain a strategic advisory role within the executive leadership team of the BIF, providing consultation on future directions, staffing, project updates, forecast and modelling to maintain a robust research portfolio and provide continuity of projects.
• Oversees the Research Administration tasks outlined below for Butler, specifically, including supporting grant writing and business development, providing finance and grants administration oversight, and administrative management.

Direct Department of Research Administration

• Provide vision and direction for research administration through evaluation and monitoring of the division portfolio of research grants and contracts, and directly lead their administrative management or effectively distribute their management across team members, ensuring the establishment and maintenance of efficient processes, workloads and policy compliance.
• Provide supervision and development of team members across the scope of their activities related to payroll, purchasing cards, deposits, purchasing paperwork, account reconciliation, proposal submissions, budget management, projections and overruns, cost allowability, accuracy and transfers, progress and final reporting, subcontract set-up and management, consultant set-up and management
• Work closely with the Executive Directors of research institutes and centers within the division in their research related annual budget processes , including modeling, developing, forecasting, deploying, and monitoring budget activity with the support and collaboration of assigned Grant Administrators.
• Creatively translate complex data into useful forms for discussion and presentation on the overall research portfolio of the division and/or institutes and centers to promote future uptake of grant and contracted funds.
• Oversee and approve the research related business activity of the division, including PI or research savings accounts, activity reporting, expense reporting, time reporting, salary reviews and promotions , and fiscal guidance on technology and supply expenditures on research projects
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with other finance and grant administrators across University of Denver and work closely with the Graduate School of Social Work’s Associate Dean of Operations and Director of Budget and Operations to ensure that research institute and center budgets are in alignment with the GSSW’s strategic plan and mission.
• Integrate anti-racist actions, multicultural organizational decision-making, and inclusive values in grant organizational practices and protocols
• Coordinate, conduct, and manage fiscal communication to ensure understanding and compliance with regulations, requirements, and procedures
• Negotiate contract and sub-contract statements of work in collaboration with PI’s and Research Directors as needed
• Coordinate with the Director of Budget and Operations on year-end closing or budget cycle activities that cross over with research and to provide training, approvals and other cross team collaboration as needed with the Business Office.

Other Duties as Assigned, this may include participation in committees and special projects.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal language skills required for professional report generation, presentations, and grant applications.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively and diplomatically with a variety of stakeholders using various modes of communication including in person, by phone, over email, by virtual technology, and through written project materials
• Deep understanding of and current expertise in finance and grants administration and management
• Ability to develop and monitor detailed budgets from a variety of federal, state and foundation funding sources
• In depth knowledge of accounting principles from journal entries to preparation and reconciliation of complex financial statements
• Ability to work with members of diverse cultures and communities with respect and cultural humility
• Ability to oversee, compile, interpret, project, and analyze accounting and financial operations at a professional/management level
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and implement solutions. Ability to creatively problem solve
• Ability to apply complex mathematical reasoning for construction of financial reports
• Ability to conceptualize, analyze and strategize numerous budgets, financial planning and outcomes as they apply to the financial health of the department and supported institutes and centers.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as budget spreadsheets, grants and contracts, with a complete understanding of the language contained therein.
• Ability to foster and maintain effective relationships with university colleagues, Sponsor entities, State and Federal oversight bodies.
• Abilty to use independent discretion and judgement beyond daily routine decisions including comparing and evaluating possible courses of conduct or decision making on matters of significance
• Ability to draft narrative financial reports and correspondence
• Ability to tactfully hold project members and leadership colleagues accountable to deadlines
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Word and Excel
• Strong analytical and solution-building skills
• Ability to set and achieve high fiscal performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Adaptable to changing priorities while demonstrating the highest level of customer service
• Independently motivated to identify, research, and propose process and policy approaches and solutions as needed for grant and contract management project success

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or another related field
• 5+ years of experience as a budget officer or accounting professional in a busy office or educational setting
• Experience with state, federal and private grants and gifts
• Supervisory experience including high level understanding of general operations and organizational principles

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5 or more years of director-level experience as a financial professional or accounting manager with responsibilities of developing budgets and budget oversight for large budgets
• Management of state, federal and private grants and gifts
• 5 or more years of experience successfully managing federal and state accounting protocols and requirements for grant and contract management and reporting

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. This position is eligible for hybrid or remote work within the United States and flexible scheduling with the necessary approvals of the University.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) December 23, 2024.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 14.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $105,000-$120,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.