Executive Director, Sponsored Programs

The Office for Research and Innovation (ORI) at Virginia Tech is seeking a transformational and inspirational leader with a breadth of experience in research administration to serve as Executive Director of Sponsored Programs. Providing strategic oversight and administrative support for all research and scholarly activity for Virginia Tech’s $592 million research enterprise, the office supports nine academic colleges, nine university research institutes, and three affiliated corporations. As the university pursues strategic growth across its Blacksburg, Roanoke, and Northern Virginia locations, the executive director will be joining at a pivotal time. As such, the executive director is key to the ambitious plans Virginia Tech is taking to be a top ten land grant university that delivers innovative solutions to the most pressing global challenges.

Reporting to the Office for Research and Innovation, the executive director will work collaboratively across the research enterprise to develop, implement, and oversee a full-service, customer-focused, and fully integrated sponsored programs office in support of a broad research portfolio. The Office of Sponsored Programs is a comprehensive, full-service organization that includes pre-award, contract negotiation for funded and non-funded agreements, post-award, and financial compliance for all sponsored work at the university. In 2023, the office enabled nearly $2 billion in sponsored proposals, more than $450 million in sponsored awards, and $375 million in sponsored expenditures. This is an outstanding opportunity for an established research administration leader with a successful track record of supporting cutting-edge research. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in both high-level strategic planning and day-to-day execution within a large, complex research-intensive university, institute, or center. Working in concert with senior leaders, the executive director will ensure compliance through the implementation of effective processes and transparent, open communication and delivery of proactive, user-friendly customer service aimed at furthering research initiatives across the university, while ensuring that all compliance standards are fully maintained. In doing so, the executive director will provide strategic leadership in support of collaborative research initiatives while creating a working environment that rewards new ideas and innovation, builds collaborations, encourages and nurtures teamwork, and promotes diversity. The executive director will have a thorough understanding of and commitment to best practices within research administration and compliance.

The successful executive director will be someone who can create and sustain a balance between a high level of faculty and staff service, operational efficiency, and a culture of informed, self-directed compliance with institutional and sponsor regulations. Given the overall scale and complexity of Virginia Tech’s research activities in Blacksburg, Roanoke, the greater Washington DC metro area, and across the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is essential that the executive director be a strategic, engaging leader who can develop relationships with senior administrators, faculty, and staff.

The successful candidate will be expected to lead along several key opportunities:
• developing and implementing a strategic vision;
• strengthening and supporting research excellence;
• developing and implementing practices and metrics for success;
• ensuring a culture of continuous improvement and customer service;
• facilitating collaboration with key constituents; and
• recruiting, retaining, leading, mentoring, and inspiring staff.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement within a commutable distance to Blacksburg, VA each week.