This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/666549000. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
The Director, Office of Sponsored Projects sets the vision for sponsored projects administration at the Smithsonian. Provides administrative, financial, and technical support services to educational, museum, research, and scholarly units that seek and receive sponsored project funding. Maintains central financial and data management systems, policies, and procedures that support sponsored project administration and for planning, directing, and leading sponsored project activities and services.
Learn more about this agency07/20/2022 to 08/17/2022
$145,350 - $196,650 per year
SY 00
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
No
Permanent - This is not a Federal position but has similar requirement and benefits
Full-time
Competitive
00
Yes
No
EX-22-31
666549000
This position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.
Office Management and Leadership. Directs and leads office operations and systems consistent with principles of integrity, good business practices, and external requirements. Informs senior management of significant management, resource, or precedent-setting issues and of significant program initiatives. Monitors, evaluates, and revises work processes to ensure organizational requirements and objectives are continually met through a quality and customer service focus. Maintains effective internal controls and responds on a timely basis to audit recommendations.
Institutional and Office Planning. Sets vision for sponsored projects administration. Develops goals and objectives for the office and for individual staff members. Contributes to institutional planning as a member of Under Secretary’s staff planning team and financial leadership team. Develops and evaluates work processes and guidelines to meet requirements of customer and organizational objectives.
Policy Analysis and Development. Sets direction of sponsored project policy and practice for the Smithsonian. Researches, develops, and recommends changes in policies and practices to senior management, including strategies and plans for implementation. Ensures that policy directives are current. Keeps serviced organizations and customers informed of policies, providing guidance as required.
Financial Management. Establishes office budgets and resource allocations consistent with office plans. Manages all office funds by adhering to sound financial management and Smithsonian requirements. Operates within budgets and ensures that control and record keeping systems are used to monitor and document expenses.
Human Resource Management. Provides leadership, direction, and feedback to staff. Delegates work and monitors work progress. Oversees recruitment, hiring, training and development of staff. Manages performance through appropriate rewards and corrective action. Ensures staff is adequately trained to perform assigned tasks and provides training opportunities for growth. Creates a working environment where teamwork succeeds. Fosters mutual respect and concern among staff and customers by creating an environment of continuous learning, involvement and belonging. Promotes the achievement of goals and objectives of the Smithsonian’s cultural diversity and equal opportunity programs. Advances the Smithsonian’s goals of achieving workforce diversity through recruiting, training, and developing career opportunities as well as increasing business relationships with firms owned by women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director has dual technical responsibilities as an office director providing: 1) services that support programs of museums, research institutes, and offices; and 2) financial management responsibilities and accountabilities to Smithsonian central management, including cash management and indirect cost calculation.
Provides leadership in setting the direction of sponsored project administration, policy, and practice for the Smithsonian as a whole. This includes researching, developing, and recommending changes in policies and practices to improve Smithsonian sponsored project activities, advising senior and unit management on issues, and initiating new concepts and theories of research management and sponsored project administration.
Stays current with relevant laws, regulations, and standards, analyzing them to determine their applicability and impact on the Smithsonian, and takes action to assure the Smithsonian stays in compliance.
Responsible for maintaining efficient and cost-effective internal controls for sponsored project activities to reduce unallowable costs.
Oversees sponsored project pre-award functions which include identification of funding sources, proposal preparation and submission, contract negotiation, and assurance that proposal content meets all internal and external requirements.
Has Institution-wide authority as Contracting Officer for grants and contracts. As such, the incumbent signs proposals and accepts awards on behalf of the Smithsonian and develops, approves, and signs subcontract documents to perform scopes of work under grant and contract agreements.
Oversees sponsored project post-award activities including amendments to agreements, required expenditure approvals, assistance to principal investigators and unit administrators, closeout of terminated agreements.
Oversees cash management of sponsored project agreements, including the preparation of billing, financial reports, letters-of-credit, and deposit of payments.
Oversees an effective indirect cost system, assures accurate rate calculations that are supported by the accounting systems and oversees negotiation of rate agreements with cognizant audit agencies.
Assures effective liaison and issue resolution with external funding sources, contracting officers, auditors, cognizant audit agencies and others.
Conditions of Employment
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS: For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and its impact on your application, click on Smithsonian Institution’s Frequently Asked Questions.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must clearly demonstrate the necessary level of managerial and leadership skills and competence to perform successfully in this position. This includes a Bachelors’ degree in Business, Finance or an applicable subject matter field, or a combination of education and appropriate experience that provides knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through successful completion of a four-year course of study in an applicable subject matter field.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
In addition, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-15 level. Specialized experience is defined as the demonstrated knowledge and leadership skills as it relates to managing a sponsored office or program of a large museum, cultural or educational institution, nonprofit, or a significant department/division within a larger entity.
The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:
1. Knowledge of sponsored projects accounting practices in a nonprofit setting, including cash management and indirect cost calculation.
2. Skill in the management and execution of a sponsored projects system for an organization with several subordinate organizations with diverse program needs and or multiple funding streams.
3. Knowledge and skill in managing a sponsored projects function including goal setting, establishing metrics and introducing policies and procedures to improve efficiency.
4. Skill in leading, supervising, and managing a multi-disciplined and culturally diverse workforce, including fostering teamwork and high morale, attracting, retaining, and mentoring staff, fellows, interns, and volunteers, and implementing EEO/Affirmative Action policies and programs. This includes a demonstrated ability to establish a strong team environment.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
The incumbent reports to the Chief Financial Officer, who provides general guidance in terms of overall policy, program goals and objectives. Within this framework, the incumbent exercises independent judgment and initiative to plan and carry out responsibilities effectively. Major policy questions or controversial issues are discussed with the Chief Financial Officer and his/her executive staff for guidance. The incumbent informs the Chief Financial Officer of issues and decisions about critical matters affecting the financial status of the Smithsonian. Work performance is appraised primarily in terms of overall effectiveness in achieving program goals and objectives.
SECURITY LEVEL
This position has been reviewed to determine the level of POSITION SENSITIVITY. Based on the nature of the work, the position has been determined to be Public Trust / HIGH RISK. This designation will require (1) a pre-employment Security Agency Check (SAC) for the prospective incumbent; and (2) a subsequent comprehensive background investigation and favorable adjudication to continue in the position.
EEO
The Smithsonian Institution does not discriminate against any employee or any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization or other non-merit factors.
REASONABLE ACCOMODATION
The Smithsonian provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed in this announcement. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
RELOCATION
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The qualifications listed in this document will be used along with your resume and your responses to the questions posed in the electronic application process to determine the candidates who will move forward in our evaluation process. When crafting your responses to the questions, please provide concise, detailed information on your background and experience to support your comments.
Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system will not be considered for this position.
Important Note: Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to the major duties and qualifications criteria listed for this position.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment.
Your Resume
Responses to the criteria-based vacancy questions
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:
After you apply and the position has closed, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. We usually have a large response to senior level positions and it may take some time to effectively review application packages. We will contact you by email as decisions are made.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/666549000. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about