The Executive Director of the Sponsored Programs Accounting Office (SPA) at Utah State University (USU) reports to the Vice President for Research (VPR) and leads the operations and management of the SPA office, including all processes to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations for sponsored awards accounting. Working arrangement options include full time in-office or flexible telework.

Utah State University is a Carnegie R1 research institution with a growing research portfolio. SPA is a central office serving the campus while ensuring a culture of compliance.

• Coordinate the preparation of the annual Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards, Schedule VII – Restricted funds for the university financial statements, National Science Foundation HERD Survey, and other reports related to restricted funds as needed.
• Lead for the annual Single Audit for the university.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with Department of Education requirements associated with cash management associated with federal student aid programs.
• Responsible for enhancing and/or developing procedures and practices to implement university policy, management decisions, and applicable guidance related to post-award research administration.
• Responsible for assisting PIs and their respective business services staff with sponsoring agency audits, desk reviews, site visits and other compliance engagements
• Responsible for ensuring the university is adhering to sponsor regulations including, but not limited to:
• Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200 of Federal Register)
• Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
• State Policies and Procedures
• Private Institutions
• International companies and universities
• Provide direction for the interpretation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance, as well as the Code of Federal Regulations for sponsored awards.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of system enhancements to continue to provide efficient and effective reporting and to enhance ongoing compliance efforts.
• Develop and administer University policies and procedures related to sponsored programs and ensure all phases of research administration are clear and carried out effectively and that strong internal controls are in place.
• Develop and maintain training and education programs on relevant sponsored programs compliance issues and systems. Promote activities that foster awareness of compliance and ethics issues within USU.
• Work with all levels of USU administration to develop and maintain durable internal controls that advance compliance.
• Monitor sponsored programs regulations and compliance requirements via membership in relevant professional societies (e.g., NCURA, COGR, SRAI, etc.) and attendance and presentation at meetings and conferences. Responsible to stay current in relation to changing grant standards and proposal guidelines and communicate relevant information to stakeholders.
• Responsible for collaborating with the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO), Internal Audit, sponsoring agencies, state and federal auditors and colleagues at other universities to assist PIs and their respective fiscal staff to accomplish the goals and objectives of each restricted project and the overall research enterprise for the university.
• Provide periodic reports on sponsored program activity. Respond in a timely manner to requests for information and data regarding sponsored program activity.
• Coordinate with other appropriate USU offices, including SPO and other units of the Office of Research and the Controller’s Office.
• Responsible for overall management of the SPA office. Areas of responsibility include day to day operational duties, business process improvement efforts, compliance efforts, and outreach.
• Hire, train, assign duties, supervise, and evaluate SPA staff. Communicate appropriate metrics that enable the monitoring and adjustment of office workload and workflow.
• Manage the SPA budget, including salaries and operational costs. Identify budgetary opportunities and efficiencies to align SPA operations with the strategic goals of the Office of Research and the University more broadly.
• Direct reports include the Manager for Sponsored Programs Accounting and Sr. Accountants.
• Serve on committees and advise senior leadership on issues important to sponsored program administration.
• Other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Research.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related area
• Five years relevant experience in grant and contract accounting
• Knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
• Knowledge of Federal regulations and agency guidelines for the conduct and management of sponsored research, including NSF, DHHS, NIH, USDA, US Dept. of Education, DOD, NEA, and NEH
• Experience leading a team

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA) and/or professional certification (e.g., CRA, CFRA, CPA)
• More than 5 years sponsored project research administration at a Carnegie R1 or R2 college/university
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA), NCURA, or SRAI certifications
• Experience working in Banner software application

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop relationships with a diverse range of internal and external partners. Strong customer service skills and ability to effectively collaborate with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, management, and team building skills.
• Ability to effectively manage fully remote and hybrid staff, in addition to in-person staff.
• Excellent written communication, editing, and proofreading skills, and the ability to communicate complex guidelines and regulations to a variety of constituents.
• Strong computer skills and experience with electronic research administration systems.
• Independent self-starter with strong work ethic.
• Willingness to embrace new technology and adapt to new rules and regulations in ever evolving area of sponsored programs.
• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgements.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and meet multiple daily deadlines.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
2. Cover Letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023