Director of Sponsored Faculty Projects (OSFP)

Kenyon College is seeking qualified applicants to fill the position of Director of Sponsored Faculty Projects (OSFP). Reporting to the Provost, the Director of OSFP will provide strategic direction for the continued evolution of a grant‑seeking culture at Kenyon College, including hands‑on support to faculty members seeking funding opportunities for their research, creative endeavors, scholarly work, and pedagogical innovations. Primary focus will be on managing a highly‑effective, service‑oriented office aimed at streamlining proposal development and submission, ensuring compliance with college and sponsor regulations/policies, celebrating faculty achievements, and supervising a small team, which the new Director will envision and staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and continually improve all grant‑seeking activities across the grant life cycle, including assisting faculty with idea development, identifying funding opportunities, interpreting agency guidelines, advising concept and proposal development, editing as requested, assisting in drafting budgets, ensuring compliance, facilitating submission, and collaborating with the Business Office on post‑award management.
• Meet with individual faculty members to gain insight into their research, creative, and scholarly agendas.
• Collaborate with the Provost’s Office to coordinate areas of faculty growth and training as well as OSFP development needs.
• Hire, supervise, and mentor an Assistant Director of OSFP.
• Work closely with the Assistant Controller (or other assigned staff in the Business Office) on all grant‑related budgetary matters in accordance with Uniform Guidance and sponsor regulations, compliance with college policies, submission, award and sub‑award negotiations, and post‑award oversight.
• Serve as one of the college’s three designated Authorized Organizational Representatives (AOR), along with the Assistant Controller and Provost, responsible for institutional sign‑off and submission of completed applications.
• Provide training and resources to grant seekers and project leads.
• Remain current on grant opportunities and compliance requirements, including applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and policies.
• Manage grant records, including submission data, pending status, awards, declines, and reporting requirements.
• Manage OSFP social media platforms, including posts of faculty achievements on the OSFP blog.
• Inform the work of the grants coordinator related to timely/appropriate expending of budget lines for grant projects and reporting.
• Act as Academic Division liaison to the Advancement Division, ensuring that academic priorities are conveyed, providing information as requested, and participating in strategy sessions for solicitations to major foundations, corporate partners, and government agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s/PhD preferred).
• At least 3–5 years supervisory and institutional leadership over a pre‑award or combined pre/post‑award office.
• Minimum of 5–8 years as a grants administrator, preferably directly assisting faculty at an institution of higher education.
• Proven facility navigating online funding portals, esp Research.gov, Grants.gov, commons.era.nih.gov, and Fastlane.NSF.gov.
• Experience serving as an authorized organizational representative (AOR) for an institution of higher education.
• Record of successful support of competitive grant applications across a variety of disciplines (personally successful individual grant awardee preferred).
• Demonstrable experience editing and managing federal and other sponsor grants.
• Participation in the development of institutional grants administration policies/procedures.
• Collegial with highly‑developed communication, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills.

Compensation and Benefits

Salaries at Kenyon are competitive and commensurate with experience. In addition to an attractive salary, Kenyon offers benefits for employees and their family members. Children of employees are eligible for 100% tuition waivers at Kenyon, and through Great Lakes Colleges Association, children of employees are eligible for 90% tuition waivers at twenty‑two other of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges.

We also offer health, dental, and vision insurance, TIAA retirement, and many other benefits, including provisions for a spouse, families, and domestic partners. Details about benefits as well as conditions of employment are described more fully in the Staff Handbook.

Kenyon College is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from all qualified individuals. It is the College's policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy or state, local, or federal law. Kenyon College has a strong commitment to an inclusive environment that welcomes all voices and perspectives.