Yale University seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Senior Associate Provost for Sponsored Program Administration (SrAP-SPA). Reporting to the Vice Provost for Research, the SrAP-SPA will lead key areas within the University’s Office of Research Administration with a strong focus on faculty service, developing an expert team, and continuously improving systems to encourage and facilitate proposal submission and securing external funding in an increasingly competitive grant environment. The SrAP-SPA will manage Yale’s rapidly expanding sponsored research portfolio, including fundamental, translational and clinical research, and compliance with sponsor and University grant regulations and policies. In collaboration with leadership across the University, the SrAP-SPA will also develop strategies to strengthen the transparency and efficiency of a broad array of systems and processes in support of sponsored research.
With responsibility for supporting faculty and staff in sponsored program administration across the entire award lifecycle, the SrAP-SPA will lead the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) and Faculty Research Management Services (FRMS) within the Office of Research Administration and support the unit leaders in their professional growth and expertise. Additionally, the SrAP-SPA will have dotted line oversight of Sponsored Projects Financial Administration (SPFA), which reports to the Office of the Controller. The SrAP-SRA will also work in very close collaboration with the Senior Associate Provost for Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (SrAP-RCRA) to ensure the overall operational and compliance effectiveness of the research administration infrastructure. The SrAP-SPA and the SrAP-RCRA will jointly oversee two offices that support all of research administration: the Office of Research Administration Data Analytics & Operations (RADIO), which provides software, data analytics and operational support; and the Office of Research Compliance, which is responsible for Yale’s research compliance program and oversees the development of training modules, ensuring alignment with the University’s audit, risk, and compliance framework.
The SrAP-SPA will be responsible for convening the “Major Deals” Operating Group, which leads the University’s effort to be a nimble partner in the negotiation of large-scale corporate sponsored research agreements and resolution of potentially problematic terms and conditions of large complex research agreements. This group comprises key leaders from across the University, including Corporate and Foundation Giving, Yale Ventures, the Office of Sponsored Projects, the Office of the Controller, the Office of the General Counsel, the School of Medicine, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Provost and other schools and units as needed, and works to advance the support of large sponsored research agreements and alliances as they arise.
The SrAP-SPA will work in collaboration with University leadership, central offices, schools, and Departments to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of sponsored program administration. In particular, the SrAP-SPA will partner closely with SPFA in supporting the award lifecycle. This role will provide expert guidance to researchers and administrators with a customer-oriented, continuous improvement, data driven mindset that will foster a culture of compliance and service to the community.
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and 10 or more years of experience in a senior role in a major research program. A JD, MD, PhD or equivalent advanced degree is strongly preferred. Laboratory experience is a plus, including overall understanding of the role of research enterprise in a major research university.
The full position description can be viewed here.
Yale University has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Katie Dean, Senior Partner, Ann K. Adams, JD, Associate Partner, and Marisea Rivera, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Confidential inquiries, applications, and nominations should be submitted by email to Marisea at marisea.rivera@opuspartners.net. The search process will unfold with the greatest possible attention to candidate confidentiality. Required application materials include a resume and cover letter.
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