Stanford Engineering has been at the forefront of innovation for nearly a century, creating pivotal technologies that have transformed the worlds of information technology, communications, health care, energy, business and beyond. Our faculty and students are creative risk-takers who pursue excellence across a breadth of disciplines. Our alumni include some of the world's most successful leaders in technology and business. Our staff are critical to enabling Stanford Engineering to accomplish its mission: seeking solutions to some of the world's most urgent challenges and educating leaders who will make the world a better place through the power of engineering principles, techniques and systems.
Stanford's School of Engineering seeks a director of Engineering Research Administration (ERA) to support faculty, staff, and students engaged in cutting edge research aimed at solving the world's most challenging problems. On behalf of eight SoE academic departments, ERA administers approximately 1,000 annual awards and $140 million in annual sponsored research, and oversees all research compliance activities for all SoE academic units. ERA is a high-volume and productive administrative unit, and the ERA staff collectively manage the pre- and post-award activities for a large and diverse portfolio of sponsoring agencies (over 290 different sponsors). Reporting to the senior associate dean for administration, the director will lead a team of 36 people and have 8 direct reports, and they will be the primary business relationship manager for university level research offices including the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR), Research Financial Compliance and Services (RFCS), and the Dean of Research.
Website: https://era.stanford.edu/
Your responsibilities include:
- Direct staff and provide leadership to achieve goals and vision of the organization. Responsible for hiring and retaining staff, career coaching, personal development for direct reports and accountable for the performance of employees.
- Independently initiate and create strategic plans for organization or program(s) managed. Make recommendations that may impact the unit's academic and research capabilities. Identify and resolve strategic issues of substantial significance that affect the overall functioning beyond the immediate unit, consult and advise senior leadership. Oversee allocation of all resources.
- Manage the direction of internal academic and administrative policy development for programs and administrative operations.
- Oversee and/or manage the finances across all sources for the annual budget cycle, including developing, monitoring, analyzing, forecasting, and reporting to ensure the financial success of the organization.
- Manage and coordinate service model to support all grant, contract, and research compliance activity for the organization. Ensure compliance with institutional and external requirements.
- Advise senior management on programmatic and policy development and implementation. May provide input to university leadership on institutional academic and administrative policies and guidelines.
- Represent SoE on campus-level research and finance policy committees and initiatives.
- May independently or in collaboration with human resources managers, direct faculty supervisors and managers in the interpretation and implementation of human resources policies, procedures and programs.
* Other duties may also be assigned
Desired Qualifications:
- Excellent communication skills. Able to influence people, solve problems, troubleshoot, think creatively, and resolve conflicts.
- Advanced financial expertise in accounting, budget planning, and financial forecasting.
- Advanced expertise in pre-award and post-award research administration, including financial management, in-depth knowledge of government regulations, and familiarity with complex sponsor systems and requirements.
- Advanced analytical and problem solving skills. Strong knowledge of industry standards and/or regulatory requirements.
- Ability to independently interpret complex policies; direct experience implementing policies throughout a large operation. Experience working successfully with faculty and their administrative staff; mission-driven and able to understand, communicate, and help faculty navigate research requirements, priorities, and infrastructure.
- Experience hiring, supervising, managing, and motivating staff; ability to effectively delegate and prioritize work and balance workload assignments; ability to manage the completion of a high volume of work.
- Engagement in national research administration community (NCURA, SRAI, FDP, COGR, etc.).
- Committed to consistently providing excellent customer service.
Education & Experience Required:
Bachelor's degree and seven years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, or combination of education and relevant experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
- Demonstrated leadership and supervisory, planning, organizational, and change management skills.
- Strong negotiation and effective interpersonal skills.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong expertise in business and management computer applications and databases.
- Subject matter expertise for area(s) of responsibility.
- Ability to multitask and manage deadlines.
Physical Requirements*:
- Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
- Frequently sitting.
- Occasionally stand/walk, writing by hand, use a telephone, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 11-20 pounds.
- Rarely sort/file paperwork or parts, rarely twist/bend/stoop/squat.
* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
Working Conditions:
- Occasional evening and weekend hours.
- This is not a remote position; hybrid options will be considered.
Work Standards:
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
- Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
How to Apply:
To be considered, please submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application at http://m.rfer.us/STANFORDrvaM0J. The cover letter should briefly describe why you believe you are a good fit for this position.
*Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and is committed to recruiting and hiring without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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Csilla Csaplar
Director, Engineering Research Administration, School of Engineering
Stanford University
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