Director of Grants Administration

The Director of Grants Administration will establish and lead a new, stand-alone grants administration department within the university. This high-visibility role is responsible for setting the strategic vision, developing administrative policies, and ensuring operational excellence in both pre- and post-award grant functions. The Director will collaborate closely with senior leadership, faculty, finance teams, and external funding agencies to support and advance the university's mission. This role requires a seasoned grant professional with a deep understanding of grant compliance, funding strategies, and relationship management.

Job Description

The Director of Grants Administration will establish and lead a new, stand-alone grants administration department within the university. This high-visibility role is responsible for setting the strategic vision, developing administrative policies, and ensuring operational excellence in both pre- and post-award grant functions. The Director will collaborate closely with senior leadership, faculty, finance teams, and external funding agencies to support and advance the university's mission. This role requires a seasoned grant professional with a deep understanding of grant compliance, funding strategies, and relationship management.

Location:

• Salt Lake City Office (Required)

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a strategic vision for the grants administration department, setting goals and performance metrics.
• Create and execute a framework for grant submissions, ensuring sponsor’s grant guidelines are met, documents internal approvals, reviews budgets and other required submission documents to ensure they are in alignment
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all grant-related activities, ensuring seamless coordination between university departments and external funding sources.
• Oversee budget planning and resource allocation for the grants office.
• Lead a growing team, providing mentorship, training, and performance management to ensure professional development and efficiency.
• Establish policies, procedures, and workflows to ensure mission alignment, compliance, and quality in grants administration.

Pre-Award Grant Administration:

• Develop a structured framework for grant submissions, ensuring alignment with funding agency guidelines.
• Guide faculty and staff in the preparation, review, and submission of grant proposals.
• Ensure internal approvals, budget development, and compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements.
• Identify funding opportunities and provide strategic guidance on proposal development.

Post-Award Grant Administration:

• Oversee the successful execution of awarded grants, ensuring compliance with all regulations and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with finance partners to monitor budgets, spending, and grant-related financial activities.
• Develop timelines and prepare necessary reports to ensure timely submission of grant deliverables.
• Establish mechanisms for tracking grant impact and outcomes.
• Communicates effectively with WGU senior leadership regarding all aspects of grants administration. Responsible for an internal communication and change management plan to expand knowledge and expectations surrounding grants administration.
• Establish a centralized service and resource office for grants identification, development, submission, and stewardship/reporting.
• Collaborates with members of the Advancement team including fundraisers, project management, and advancement services to achieve team-wide goals and deliverables.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and sponsor regulations governing grant management.
• Stay informed about changes in grant compliance requirements and communicate updates effectively to stakeholders.
• Advocate for best practices and continuous improvement in grants administration.
• Expertise in leading a grants administration department. This role sets the standard for a successful grants office.
• Deep experience with navigating different funding agencies, both private and public.
• Communicates effectively as the leader of the grants administration team. Ability to direct diverse constituencies, including faculty members, staff, colleagues, and internal and external constituents.
• Implements key office technology and software for tracking grants. Develop appropriate workflows and maintain records.
• Establish a centralized service model for grant identification, submission, and stewardship.
• Leverage technology, including Salesforce CRM, to track, manage, and report on grant activity.
• Develop and execute a change management and communication strategy to educate stakeholders on grants administration processes.
• Ability to use computers and computer software with ease (including Microsoft Word, Excel, web-based tools, and similar software), and the ability and flexibility to learn new skills as different duties may arise
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member. At times, the work is fast-paced with long hours and tight deadlines.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree with 7 or more years of related experience; Master’s or Doctorate degree and 3 or more years of related experience.

Department Specific Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (preferred) from an accredited institution
• 7 years of relevant experience.   
• 3 years of relevant leadership experience  
• Proven experience in both pre- and post-award grant functions.
• Deep understanding of federal, state, and private funding agency regulations.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of the research regulatory environment and requirements for compliance
• Ability to analyze proposals and contracts and identify areas needing resolution
• Strong ability in policy review, data collection, statistical evaluation of data, and strategies for conveying results to users

Preferred Qualifications

·  Grant administration experience at an accredited, scaled higher ed institution