Sponsored Programs Lead, Research Office (College of Medicine, Phoenix)

This Sponsored Programs Lead, Research Office (College of Medicine, Phoenix) position is with University of Arizona in Phoenix, AZ. Portfolio Management Oversight Manage a portfolio of sponsored awards to ensure accurate, compliant, and efficient post-award administration with PIs and departmental administrators. Oversee the full post-award lifecycle (setup, monitoring, modification, and closeout) to support successful execution of sponsored projects with central offices. Serve as the primary financial and compliance advisor to guide decision-making and problem resolution with faculty and leadership. Coordinate complex award actions (e.g., no-cost extensions, carryforward, modifications) to maintain alignment with sponsor requirements with research administration. Collaborate cross-functionally (finance, HR, procurement, research administration) to resolve complex operational issues with internal partners. Serve as a key liaison between departments and central administration to facilitate effective communication and coordination with stakeholders. Provide training and consultation on post-award practices to build departmental knowledge and compliance with faculty and staff. Coordinate cross-functional activities impacting sponsored projects to ensure seamless operations with internal teams. Evaluate existing processes and workflows to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements with leadership. Develop tools, templates, and standard practices to enhance consistency and effectiveness of post-award management with teams. Contribute to policy interpretation and procedural updates to ensure alignment with evolving regulations with stakeholders. Advanced Financial Review, Planning, and Budget Management Analyze budget-to-actual performance and spending trends to identify risks, optimize resources, and support strategic decision-making with PIs. Develop financial projections and burn-rate analyses to ensure funds are utilized appropriately within project timelines with departments. Recommend budget strategies and adjustments to align expenditures with project scope and sponsor restrictions with stakeholders. Evaluate salary allocations and effort commitments to ensure compliance with effort certification and funding requirements with HR/payroll teams. Conduct detailed reviews of complex transactions (cost transfers, subawards, payroll distributions) to ensure allowability and allocability with departments. Oversee account reconciliations to ensure accuracy between financial systems and departmental records with finance partners. Identify and resolve complex financial discrepancies to maintain integrity of financial data with cross-functional teams. Monitor encumbrances, commitments, and expenditures to ensure financial sustainability of awards with stakeholders. Compliance Regulatory Interpretation Risk Mitigation Interpret and apply complex sponsor regulations, federal guidelines, and institutional policies to ensure compliant financial and operational practices with departments. Provide guidance on complex compliance matters (e.g., allowability, timing of costs, cost sharing) to mitigate institutional risk with PIs and administrators. Monitor portfolio activity for compliance risks to proactively prevent audit findings and violations with stakeholders. Escalate high-risk or ambiguous issues to ensure appropriate resolution and institutional protection with leadership. Lead preparation for audits by reviewing financial activity and documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance with oversight units. Validate transactions and supporting documentation to confirm adherence to sponsor and institutional requirements with auditors. Coordinate responses to audit inquiries and data requests to ensure timely and accurate communication with departments and compliance teams. Analyze audit findings and trends to identify root causes and recommend corrective actions with leadership. Support implementation and monitoring of corrective action plans to strengthen internal controls and reduce future risk with stakeholders. Financial and Project Reporting Prepare and deliver comprehensive financial reports and analyses to inform PIs and leadership of project performance and status with departments. Develop variance analyses and narrative summaries to support informed decision-making and forecasting with stakeholders. Ensure accuracy and completeness of sponsor financial reports to meet external reporting requirements with central offices. Design or enhance reporting tools and dashboards to improve visibility into grant performance with teams. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Skill in preparing detailed reports on a timely basis. Strong project management skills. Ability to maintain sensitivity with confidential information. Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, and in a professional manner. In depth knowledge of and the ability to develop standard operating procedures, compliance forms, and tracking documents. Proficient knowledge in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook).