University Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs

University of St. Thomas

University Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs

The University of St. Thomas (UST), a private Catholic University committed to the liberal arts and the religious and intellectual tradition of Catholic higher education, located in Houston, Texas, near the vibrant central business district, Texas Medical Center, and museum district, is seeking applicants for a full-time University Director of Grants and Sponsored programs.

Overview:

The University Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs plays a pivotal role in securing external funding to support the institution's research, scholarly activities, and other initiatives. This position requires a blend of strategic planning, grant writing expertise, financial acumen, and leadership skills to effectively manage the grant-seeking process and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.

Responsibilities:

1. Grant Development: Lead the identification, cultivation, and development of grant opportunities and collaborate with University Advancement on select philanthropic opportunities to support the university's strategic priorities. .

2. Proposal Writing: Oversee the preparation, writing, and submission of grant proposals, ensuring alignment with funder requirements, university policies, and strategic objectives.

3. Budgeting and Financial Management: Develop comprehensive budgets for grant proposals, including direct and indirect costs, and collaborate with finance and administrative staff to ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance.

4. Strategic Planning: Work closely with university leadership to develop and implement strategies for increasing grant funding, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and enhancing the university's research and scholarly reputation.

5. Compliance and Reporting: Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures governing grants and sponsored programs, including federal and state guidelines, and oversee the timely submission of required reports and documentation.

6. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with faculty, staff, and external partners to support grant-seeking efforts, provide guidance on grant-related matters, and promote a culture of grant-seeking excellence across the university community.

7. Professional Development: Stay abreast of emerging trends, best practices, and funding opportunities in grants and sponsored programs, and provide training and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.

8. Performance Evaluation: Establish metrics and benchmarks to evaluate the effectiveness of grant-seeking activities, track outcomes and impacts of funded projects, and report regularly to university leadership.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Education: A master's degree or higher in a relevant field such as public administration, business administration, higher education administration, or a related discipline is preferred.

2. Experience: 5 or more years of progressively responsible experience in grants and sponsored programs administration, including grant writing, budget development, and project management is preferred. Experience in a university setting is highly desirable.

3. Knowledge: Strong understanding of grant funding mechanisms, policies, and procedures at the federal, state, and local levels. Familiarity with research compliance regulations and guidelines is essential.

4. Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with attention to detail and accuracy. Proficiency in grant management software and Microsoft Office suite.

5. Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a diverse team, foster collaboration and teamwork, and build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

6. Ethics and Integrity: Commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards in grant-seeking activities, including integrity, transparency, and accountability.

7. Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, prioritize competing demands, and adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.

8. Mission: Support the Catholic mission of the University of St. Thomas

Interested candidates must provide a comprehensive resume and cover letter, and three professional references. With their cover letter, candidates should also submit a statement demonstrating a firm commitment to advance the mission of Catholic higher education as it is articulated in Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

Applicants should read Ex Corde closely and consider the following questions:

How does the vision outlined in Ex Corde Ecclesiae reflect your understanding of (1) the nature of the human person, (2) the integration of faith, reason, and the integration of the branches of knowledge, (3) confidence in the knowability of truth about nature, the human person, and God, (4) the essential characteristics of a Catholic university, and (5) the relation between the university and the Church.

The University of St. Thomas is committed to hiring staff who can help it not only fulfill its integrated mission - the formation of the whole person for flourishing in this life and the next - but also advance it in new ways. The University's Catholic identity is the center of this mission, a Catholicism expressed for our own age by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Pope St. John Paul II's Ex Corde Ecclesiae. The University asks all candidates applying for this position to consider these documents to ensure their professional goals and practices can align with them. While applicants need not be Catholic, they must be able to support the University as it seeks to be faithful to and embody the riches of the Catholic intellectual tradition.

The University of St. Thomas is an Equal Opportunity Employer