Executive Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs

The Executive Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs, working closely with the Office of Advancement, will be responsible for creating the overall vision and processes for securing external grant funding at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy). These include but are not limited to: identifying new opportunities for grant seeking, programming, faculty and staff development, communication of opportunities and successes, and fundraising. The person who fills this position will be responsible for regular, generalized communication of opportunities to the faculty and staff, and will also build familiarity with individual research agendas and needs across campus to provide tailored funding guidance for individual faculty and staff members, spanning the academic life cycle. The Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs, under the direction of the Executive Director, will create initiatives, incentives, seminars, and collaborative working groups, in an effort to increase both the quantity and quality of applications for external funding. The Executive Director will interface closely with UIndy’s IRB, Office of Advancement, Provost’s Council, University General Council, Student Affairs, and other relevant committees in order to support compliance efforts.

Become a Greyhound! The University of Indianapolis is a private, liberal arts university and home to a close-knit community of more than 700 faculty and staff supporting 5,600 undergraduate and graduate students on our main campus.  We offer an inclusive work environment where your individual contributions will be recognized and rewarded and the University’s motto, “Education for Service,” provides the foundation for all our work.  

Situated on 65 acres in the University Heights neighborhood and just minutes from downtown Indianapolis, UIndy’s campus is close to all of the cultural, shopping, sports, and recreational amenities you’d expect in the 13th-largest city in the United States.  Want to cheer on your Hounds when they play their rivals in the Great Lakes Valley Conference?  UIndy employees and their families enjoy free admission to home sporting events, and many arts and cultural events on campus are free for employees as well.  The University is proud to offer a competitive total rewards package, including a generous time off policy, ensuring you can enjoy your time outside of work as you wish.

If you’re interested in joining our dynamic environment and experiencing hard work, creativity, and teamwork, we welcome your application.

The University of Indianapolis is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, citizenship status, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The University of Indianapolis does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission as required by Title IX.
 

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Tuition Discount
• Retirement Savings Plan - 403B
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time Accruals
• Paid Holiday time and additional University days off
• Employee Discounts & Services
• Free Parking
• Onsite Health & Wellness Center

For more information about the benefits of being a staff member at UIndy, visit our Benefits site.

• Bachelor's degree required
• A minimum of seven years’ prior experience exhibiting a demonstrated understanding of major gifts fundraising, grants development and management, donor database, stewardship, and advancement services.
• A proven track record of securing grants at multiple levels – corporate, local, state and federal.
• Extensive experience with developing grants, including writing compelling narratives that result in awards of grants.
• Experience writing and managing federal grants preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
• Ability to work independently under time pressure with minimal guidance.
• Strong collaborative and communication skills in a team environment.
• Knowledge of and professional commitment to the educational mission of the university.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications is required and familiarity with Raiser’s Edge donor database is preferred. 

• Manage the Office of Grants & Sponsored Programs
• Lead the crafting effective narratives, and ensure the timely submission of public and private grant proposals in order to generate revenue and enhance research at the university;
• Develop an annual strategic plan for prospective federal and foundation donors to meet the goals of capital and annual campaigns;
• Align potential funding sources with suitable researchers or departments;
• Proactively communicate with the Provost, faculty and staff researchers and departments to inform them of funding opportunities, e.g. research and department enhancement grants from industry and private foundations as well as from public sources;
• Create workshops and training opportunities that encourage faculty research development;
• Communicate policy updates, provide periodic training for committees, contacts with local experts for ad hoc needs, provide funding for online / live training certificates for researchers for IRB and other relevant committees;
• Highlight research successes to the UIndy community to make research more visible and works with the Offices of Marketing and Communications to ensure that research is publicized;
• Facilitate collaboration across the university; and,
• Work to secure funds for university priorities including student activities, mission and ministry, and other non-academic entities.

• Lead the preparation of complex and varied grants that support University goals. In collaboration with the Provost, Deans, faculty and staff, identify funding priorities; clarify grant objectives; and determine the scope of grant projects;
• Develop/maintain systems and procedures to ensure the accuracy, validity and timeliness of private and public grants submitted through the university. Craft and edit grant proposals for clarity, accuracy, and strategic approach. Responsible for compliance requirements to government agencies and foundations, including adherence to relevant federal, state and local regulations;
• Develop/maintain systems and procedures to ensure Deans, faculty, staff and administrators are familiar with and approve grant development activity. Ensure all aspects of the University’s grant approval process are followed, including review of routing forms by Deans, faculty, staff, Finance/Budget, and the Provost; obtaining appropriate signatures; and incorporating maximum possible indirect cost recovery;
• Collaborate with programs and departments to identify fundable projects that align with the university’s priorities;
• Manage the submission of proposals for grants in accordance with the funder's policies and legal requirements;
• Maintain an accurate federal and state grant proposal calendar including a forecast of upcoming funding opportunities posted on the website and develop a newsletter;
• Oversee all grant activities to avoid duplication of efforts and to ensure proper communication across academic disciplines and university departments/centers; and 
• Serve as lead internal consultant to faculty, staff, and administrators on grant development