Assistant Director, RI NSF EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

Assistant Director, RI NSF EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

Position Information

Job Title - Assistant Director, RI NSF EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

Position Number - PS#00008188

FTE - 1.00

FLSA - Exempt

Position Type - Professional Staff

Union - Non-Union Non-Classified Staff

Pay Grade Level - Grade Level: 12

Pay Grade Range - Salary Hiring Range: $90,000 - $95,000

Status - Calendar Year, Full-time, Limited

Department - Research Office

Campus Location - Kingston

Grant Funded - Yes

Extension Contingency Notes - Position is full-time calendar year, limited to 06/26/2027 with possible extension.

Job Description Summary - Search will be open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by October 2, 2026. Applications received after October 2, 2026 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.

About URI: The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State's flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.

Position Summary: Provide strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for Rhode Island's NSF EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement "Rhode Island Network for Excellence in Science and Technology", which oversees the jurisdictional EPSCoR office. The Assistant Director is responsible for overseeing program management, financial operations, reporting, compliance, and multi-institutional coordination. This role ensures alignment with NSF priorities and project goals while supporting the Project Director in advancing statewide research capacity and workforce development. This position elevates beyond project coordination to include program leadership, decision-making authority, and external representation of EPSCoR initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities - KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Leadership & Strategy

Partner with the Project Director/PI to plan, implement, and assess progress towards project goals and long-term strategy.

Provide leadership across all research infrastructure cores, ensuring alignment with NSF EPSCoR objectives and statewide research priorities.

Represent EPSCoR in institutional, regional, and national meetings and collaborations.

Financial & Operational Oversight

Provide oversight of all financial operations, including budget development, projections, and monitoring across all program implementation components and subawards.

Ensure fiscal integrity and compliance with NSF, federal Uniform Guidance, and institutional policies.

Oversee subrecipient management, invoicing, and financial reporting processes.

Approve and monitor expenditures, budget reallocations, and financial planning activities.

Supervise logistics and execution of major EPSCoR activities, including site visits, annual meetings, and research conferences.

Research Administration & Compliance

Ensure compliance with NSF policies, reporting requirements, and cooperative agreement terms.

Support the PI in establishing and maintaining relationships with NSF Program Officers and grants management staff.

Oversee preparation and submission of annual reports, proposals, site visit materials, and renewal applications.

Maintain awareness of evolving federal regulations and ensure communication and implementation across EPSCoR stakeholders.

Data Management & Evaluation

Direct program-wide data collection, management, analysis, and reporting processes.

Oversee evaluation activities, including coordinating with the external evaluation team and conducting internal tracking of performance metrics.

Ensure data systems and reporting tools meet NSF requirements and support decision-making.

Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as senior liaison for partner institutions, including research administrators, faculty, and external collaborators.

Strengthen statewide and regional partnerships to expand research capacity and funding competitiveness.

Identify and pursue new collaborations and funding opportunities.

Supervision & Team Leadership

Supervise and mentor program staff, including graduate students and administrative personnel.

Establish performance expectations, provide professional development, and ensure effective team operations.

Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

Act on behalf of the Project Director as needed in programmatic and administrative matters.

Lead special projects and strategic initiatives.

Perform additional duties as required to support the EPSCoR mission.

Licenses, Tools, and Equipment: Personal computers; enterprise systems; data management platforms; Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, etc.); grant management systems.

Required Qualifications - QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Master's degree in business administration, public administration, science administration, or other relevant field (or Bachelor's with significant equivalent experience).

Minimum of 57 years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, program management, or federally funded programs.

Demonstrated leadership experience managing complex, multi-institutional programs.

Strong financial management experience, including budgeting, forecasting, and compliance oversight.

Demonstrated knowledge of federal grant regulations (e.g., NSF or NIH).

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and lead strategic initiatives.

Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

Demonstrated ability to work with diverse stakeholders across institutions.

Preferred Qualifications - PREFERRED:

Experience managing NSF EPSCoR or similar large cooperative agreements.

Experience with program evaluation, data systems, and performance metrics.

Familiarity with research capacity-building programs and STEM workforce development initiatives.

EEO Statement: URI is unwavering in its commitment to equal opportunity, community, equity, and diversity. In furtherance of its mission to serve and support all learners as the state's public flagship university, URI continues to expand efforts to recruit and retain a broadly representative workforce as well as to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of those efforts. All employment decisions, including hiring, are made without regard to protected status. Qualified individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation by contacting the URI benefits office at 401-874-2416. For TTY assistance, contact R.I. Relay Services at 711.

Environmental Conditions - ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Travel within and outside Rhode Island is required.

Posting Date - 09/10/2026

Closing Date

Special Instructions to Applicants - Please attach the following 2 (PDF) documents to your online Employment Application: (#1) Cover letter. (#2) Resume. Note: References will be upon request by the search committee.

Quicklink for Posting - https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/17040