Director of Research, Contracts and Grants at United States International University - USIU Africa

Job Summary

Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Transformative Teaching, Learning and Research (DVC-TTLR), the Director of Research, Contract, and Grants is a crucial role responsible for overseeing the university’s research administration. This includes managing the pre-award processes, ensuring compliance with grant regulations and supporting the University’s research strategy. The Director will work closely with faculty, staff, students and external stakeholders to grow the research culture.

Key Responsibilities/Tasks

Research Administration and Leadership

• Develop and implement strategies to enhance the University’s research profile.
• Oversee the entire research cycle – proposal development, implementation, contract negotiation, financial management and reporting.
• Lead the research administration team
• Create research teams of faculty and students and support them to achieve the desired results.
• Enhance the visibility of the University through its research and development activities

Grants and Contracts Management

• Oversee the review, negotiation, and execution of contracts and grants to ensure compliance with university policies and funder requirements.
• Maintain an effective monitoring and evaluation system for tracking and reporting on grant and contract activity, deadlines and deliverables.
• Collaborate with Principal Investigators and Chiefs of Party to ensure that projects are executed effectively and within the scope of regulatory and funder standards.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure adherence to all government regulations related to research including Institutional Research Ethics Committees protocols (IREC) and reporting requirements.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures that promote research compliance and mitigate risk
• Conduct regular audits and reviews to assess compliance, identify areas of risk and implement corrective actions as needed.

Strategic Planning and CollaborationContribute to the University’s strategic planning relating to research and development

• Develop and maintain relationships with industry partners, government agencies, funders, communities and other stakeholders.
• Plan forums for research communication and engagement including policy dialogues, conferences and colloquia.
• Enhance dissemination of research output through formal and informal channels.

Financial Oversight and Resource Mobilization

• Develop and manage the budget for the office of contracts, research and grants
• Provide financial oversight for research projects to ensure sound fiscal management and accountability.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for additional funding sources to support the University’s research initiatives.

Qualifications

• A doctorate degree in a discipline that is currently being offered at USIU-Africa.
• Certification in Research Administration.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in research administration (including electronic research administration systems and tools), with a proven record of managing research contracts and grants in a higher education setting or research institution.
• Proven record of raising high-value research contracts and grants implementing the activities to completion and contributing to publications in high-impact journals and policy briefs.
• Proven record of planning for research events – conferences, colloquia, policy dialogues, stakeholder forums and community engagement activities for research.
• Knowledge of regulations about research, including IREC and acquisition of the relevant research permits.