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Director of Research Financial Services

University of Wisconsin Madison
$146,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
life insurance, paid time off
United States, Wisconsin, Madison
21 North Park Street (Show on map)
Mar 07, 2025
Job Summary:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a pre-eminent center for discovery, learning, and engagement, fostering an inclusive and empowered community while preparing current and future generations to lead meaningful and ethical lives. In partnership with the state and colleagues worldwide, UW-Madison faculty, staff, and students address some of the most urgent and complex global challenges.

As one of the nation's leading research institutions, UW-Madison boasts a research enterprise exceeding $1.7 billion in annual expenditures. Ranked 6th among 920 public and private universities in the National Science Foundation's annual ranking, the university submits over 4,000 proposals each year, seeking more than $2.5 billion in funding, and receives over $1.5 billion in sponsored project awards. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) manages approximately 15,000 active projects valued at more than $4 billion.

About the Role
Under the leadership of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Administration and Director of RSP, the Director of Research Financial Services is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the post-award financial administration for grants and contracts. This position leads a team of 45 professionals within RSP, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and outstanding service to the university's research community.

Beyond leading the post-award team, this role is also an Associate Director of RSP and a key member of the executive leadership team. The Director will actively contribute to shaping the vision and direction of the entire office - ensuring alignment between pre-award, post-award, and compliance functions. Success in this role requires a collaborative and enterprise-wide mindset, breaking down traditional silos to foster a seamless, service-oriented approach to research administration. The ideal candidate will not only champion excellence within their team but also drive cross-functional collaboration to support the broader mission of RSP and the university's research enterprise.


Responsibilities:
Leads and manages the core functions of the Research Financial Services unit including revenue management, financial cash transactions reporting, collections, facilities and administration rate, audit and compliance, billing and accounts receivable, and financial reporting. Provides leadership to the university on Research Financial Services and establishes policies and procedures related to the administration of research.

  • 20% Directs and coordinates strategic planning, staff, systems, and procedures related to post-award research administration activities
  • 10% Contributes to the development of policy related to sponsored programs activities on campus
  • 10% Oversees audit activities related to institutional grants and contracts as needed
  • 30% Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
  • 20% Ensures institutional compliance with federal regulations, sponsor terms and conditions, state law, UW system, and campus requirements for post-award financial items
  • 10% Establishes, implements, and maintains procedures and guidelines for sponsored grants and agreements administration


Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion


Education:

Required
Bachelor's Degree
Degree in Business, Accounting, or closely related field is preferred.

Preferred
Master's Degree
Advanced Degree in Business, Accounting, or closely related field is strongly preferred.


Qualifications:

Well-qualified candidates will have the following preferred work experience:
1) Eight or more years of experience administering research activities at a major educational institution.
2) Demonstrated management experience in Research Administration, including such areas as award portfolio management, billing and receivables, financial reporting, cost studies, responding to audits, and overall award administration.
3) Demonstrated ability to supervise and motivate professional and administrative staff.
4) Superior oral, written and interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment across institutional units at all organizational levels, including faculty, deans, divisional, central administration, and senior institutional officials.
5) Demonstrated experience with the development and use of complex electronic systems.
6) Candidate must provide leadership with directing and overseeing operations and services related to post-award activities administered by Research and Sponsored Programs.
7) Knowledge of the broad spectrum of training requirements needed for departmental and central research administrators.
8) Demonstrated strong working knowledge of federal and non-federal grant and contract administration, including policies and best practices at research-intensive universities.
9) Experience with federal, state, and university regulations governing grant activities.
10) Demonstrated leadership abilities and experience with planning, directing, and managing policies and best practices in grants management.


Work Type:

Full Time: 100%

This position requires some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.


Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable


Salary:

Minimum $146,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The minimum salary for this position is $150,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. This position will receive a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts, and participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.


Additional Information:

A successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.


How to Apply:

To be considered, applications must be submitted online. Please click on the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. You will be required to upload a cover letter and resume.

Your resume and cover letter should include all relevant education and/or work experience as it
relates to this position. Your cover letter should specifically address your experience in Sponsored Programs Administration; experience in management, supervision, and leadership experience in research administration; and your experience with maintaining effective working relationships at all levels of the organization. Cover letters will be used as a writing sample and to determine the best qualified applicants.


Contact:

Kelly Marks
kelly.marks@wisc.edu
608-262-5802
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.


Official Title:

Post-Award ChiefResFinOff Inst(SC034)


Department(s):

A34-OVCR/ADMIN/RSP


Employment Class:

Limited


Job Number:

311587-LI


The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
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