Assistant Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

Assistant Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

Salary

$54,796.00 - $85,574.00 Annually

Location

Main Campus, Moraga, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

202600066

Division

Academic Affairs Division

Department

Academic Affairs & Provost Department

Opening Date

08/10/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

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About Saint Mary's College

Founded in 1863, Saint Mary's College of California is a residential institution in the Moraga Valley, 20 miles east of San Francisco, rooted in the Catholic, Lasallian, and Liberal Arts traditions. Enrolling more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the College integrates liberal and professional education within a mission shaped by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Known for academic excellence, innovation, and responsiveness, Saint Mary's fosters shared inquiry, meaningful student engagement, and a strong commitment to diversity, leadership, and service.

Why Join Saint Mary's College?

At Saint Mary's, your work has visible impact. As a close-knit residential college, employees work collaboratively across departments-your ideas, leadership, and contributions directly shape the student experience and the future direction of the institution. Colleagues partner across divisions, decisions are grounded in mission, and innovation is encouraged. If you are seeking a workplace where purpose, community, and professional growth intersect-and where your work truly matters-Saint Mary's offers that opportunity.

Job Title

Assistant Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP), the Assistant Director is responsible to carry out activities that contribute to the growth of research funding and the research enterprise as a whole at Saint Mary's College. Responsibilities fall into three areas: research development; research administration; and research compliance.

Essential Responsibilities

Research Development

• Contribute to strategies and activities designed to increase the capacity of Saint Mary's College and its faculty to compete effectively for research funding.

• Support Saint Mary's investigators in developing and articulating their scholarly projects and identifying funding opportunities for those projects.

• Participate in the development and implementation of workshops and other training activities designed to support faculty in seeking extramural research funding.

• Collaborate with the director to support pre-tenured faculty in particular in seeking external research funding through activities that may include targeted email outreach; recurring meetings; and regular follow-up.

• Contribute to ORSP communications through channels such as:

• Writing copy and developing graphics for websites;

• Writing updated boilerplate to be used in sponsored grant proposals;

• Creating and sharing out videos, slide decks, one-pagers, and other tutorials

• Collaborate with the director and other campus partners to prepare annual reports and institutional eligibility applications.

Research Administration and Compliance

• Provide one-on-one services for single-investigator proposals, including:
• Guide faculty in pre-proposal activities and the Intent to Apply process;
• Support proposal planning to align with sponsor priorities;
• Develop submission checklists and timelines;
• Assist with the development of budgets and supplemental materials;
• Guide investigators in working within electronic grant submission portals;
• Ensure all proposal documents conform to agency specifications;
• Coordinate institutional approvals and support the timely submission of the application by Saint Mary's Authorized Organizational Representative; and
• Provide support through the award negotiation phase and transition to post-award.
• Engage in general research administration activities, including:
• Serve on the proposal development team for large institutional grant applications;
• Maintain records in ORSP systems and databases;
• Maintain profiles in agency portals and electronic research administration systems; and
• Contribute to the development of ORSP policies and procedures.
• Serve as a post-award research administrator, including:
• At the award transition stage, prepare a post-award budget for use by the grant project director in tracking their own post-award expenses;
• Meet regularly with the investigator / project director regarding award management, including: 1) provide training in allowable and unallowable costs and budget management; 2) support planning for sabbaticals, no-cost extensions, or other transitions of funded personnel; 3) ensure submission of timely and accurate project reports to the sponsor; and 4) other activities to related to award administration.
• Coordinate with Saint Mary's Authorized Organizational Representative to ensure submission of no-cost extension requests or other required sponsor notifications; and
• Coordinate with Academic Affairs and Business Office staff to support time and effort tracking and reporting;
• Monitor and implement Saint Mary's investigators' ongoing compliance with sponsor research regulations, including:
• Monitor investigators' submissions of forms and disclosures related to sponsor regulations;
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures in response to sponsor requirements;
• Provide proactive training and support for Saint Mary's investigators related to compliance with research regulations.
• Provide logistical and administrative support for Saint Mary's Institutional Review Board, which reviews methods proposed for research involving human participants to ensure that research is conducted in an ethical manner.

Other Duties as Assigned

Experience and Qualifications

Education: Bachelors degree from an accredited institution in Research Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Communications, English, Science, or a closely related field required.

Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored research administration, grant proposal development, research development, research compliance, or a closely related field required. Experience in research development, research compliance, and/or higher education administration preferred.

Skills/Abilities:

• An interest in fostering the development of a research environment and culture at a teaching-intensive university
• Training and presentation skills to provide outreach and workshops for faculty
• Excellent communication skills, including writing and editing
• Knowledge of grant budgeting principles and the ability to develop, review, and manage proposal budgets.
• Ability to learn, navigate, and effectively utilize a wide variety of sponsor electronic research administration and proposal submission systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft and/or Google suite: Excel/Sheets; Word/Docs; PowerPoint/Slides; other productivity software.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to manage multiple complex projects while meeting competing deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated initiative, innovation, and creativity in developing programs, resources, and services that advance the Colleges research enterprise.
• Demonstrated ability to establish productive working relationships with faculty, administrators, staff, funding agencies, and external partners while providing responsive, customer-focused service.
• Ability to interpret and apply sponsor guidelines, federal regulations, institutional policies, and research compliance requirements while exercising sound professional judgment.

Licenses & Certifications:

N/A

Saint Mary's College of California Employee Benefits Guide

Saint Marys College of California provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits program designed to support the health, financial security, and overall well-being of eligible faculty and staff.

This Benefits Guide provides a general overview of available programs. It is not a contract and does not modify plan documents, insurance policies, or official College policies. In the event of any discrepancy, official plan documents and College policies govern.

Health Insurance

The College offers a range of medical plan options to allow employees to select coverage that best meets their individual and family needs. Plan offerings may include:

• PPO medical plans

• HMO medical plans

• High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP), where applicable

Specific carriers and plan designs are outlined in the annual open enrollment materials.

Eligible Dependents

Eligible dependents may include:

• A legally married spouse

• A state-registered domestic partner

• Qualifying children up to age 26

Dependent eligibility is subject to plan terms and required documentation.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Saint Mary's College offers employees the opportunity to participate in pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts, which may include:

• Health Care FSA - for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses

• Dependent Care FSA - for eligible childcare or dependent care expenses

Annual contribution limits are established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Life Insurance

The College provides employer-paid basic life insurance coverage for eligible employees. Additional voluntary life insurance options may be available, including:

• Basic Term Life

• Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)

• Optional Employee Life Insurance

• Optional Dependent Life Insurance

• Optional AD&D coverage

Coverage levels, eligibility, and enrollment details are outlined in plan materials.

Dental & Vision Insurance

Eligible employees may enroll in dental and vision coverage. In some cases, dental and vision plans may be elected independently of medical coverage, providing flexibility based on individual needs.

Plan details, network information, and coverage summaries are provided during enrollment.

Disability Benefits

Saint Mary's College provides disability coverage designed to protect income in the event of a qualifying illness or injury. Benefits may include:

• Short-Term Disability (STD)

• Long-Term Disability (LTD)

Eligibility and benefit amounts are determined according to plan documents.

Retirement Benefits

Saint Mary's College offers retirement benefits to support long-term financial planning. Eligible employees may participate in:

• A defined contribution retirement plan

• Employer contributions in accordance with College policy

• Voluntary employee pre-tax and/or Roth contributions, subject to IRS limits

Plan details, vesting schedules, and eligibility requirements are outlined in official retirement plan documents.

Employees are encouraged to review plan materials carefully and consult with financial advisors as needed to fully understand retirement options.

Additional Benefits & Campus Resources

As part of the Saint Mary's College community, faculty and staff may also enjoy:

• Tuition Assistance Programs

• Access to campus fitness and wellness programs

• Access to the College library and the Hearst Art Gallery

• Discounts at the campus bookstore and dining services

• Access to cultural events and campus activities

• Community partnerships and local discounts in the Lamorinda area

Equal Employment Opportunity

Saint Mary's College of California is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment consistent with its Lasallian values.

Important Notice

All benefits, policies, and programs described in this guide are subject to change without notice. Participation and eligibility are governed by official plan documents, College policies, and applicable federal and state laws.

Contact Information

For additional information regarding employee benefits:

Human Resources

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA 94575

Email: hr@stmarys-ca.edu

01

Do you possess a Bachelors degree from an accredited institution?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have at least three (3) years of experience in research administration, sponsored programs, grants management, higher education administration, or a closely related field?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have experience developing or assisting with grant proposals, sponsored project budgets, or post-award grant administration?

• Yes
• No

04

The anticipated hiring salary for this position is $80,000 annually. Does this meet your salary expectations?

• Yes
• No

05

Are you available to work full-time on-site, Monday through Friday, including occasional evenings or weekends as needed to meet deadlines (approximately every 2-3 months)?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have legal authorization to work in the United States?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Saint Marys College of California

Address 1928 Saint Marys Road

Moraga, California, 94575

Website http://jobs.stmarys-ca.edu