Associate Director Business Affairs

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors 

Next Lives at the University of Cincinnati

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,600 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 360,000 living alumni, UC, a Carnegie 1 institution, combines research prowess with a physical setting The New York Times has called “the most ambitious campus design program in the country." UC's momentum has never been stronger as the anchor of the Cincinnati Innovation District, the oldest cooperative education (co-op) program in the country with students earning $94 million annually through paid experiences, an academic health system, and as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The university contributes $10.6 billion in economic impact to the city and $22.7 billion to the state of Ohio. At UC, next is all of us. Learn more at uc.edu. 

UC is a mission-driven organization where we are committed to student success and positively transforming the community through scholarship and service.  We thrive on innovation, making an impact, and fostering an environment where staff and faculty are key contributors to UC’s success. 

The Cooperative Grants Office (CGO) in the Office of Research supports the development of sponsored research proposals for most colleges across the University of Cincinnati. The CGO staff are responsible for proposal development, review and submission, as well as supporting post-proposal clarifications and updates.

The CGO office is seeking an Associate Director Business Affairs to lead the CGO team in supporting research administration and proposal submission activities. This position provides leadership, training, and strategic guidance to staff while serving as a key partner to the Executive Director. The Associate Director is responsible for ensuring staff receive ongoing training and updates on federal and state regulations, and University policies regarding sponsored research projects.

• Develop, recommend, implement, and communicate financial and administrative policies and procedures. 
• Oversee the development and submission of a large volume of proposal submissions for faculty and staff across the University.
• Develop, implement and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) and policies to ensure compliance with established deadlines and operational standards.
• Serve as an Authorized Organizational Representative for the University.
• Establish long-range objectives and specify the strategies and actions to achieve these objectives.
• Assess, evaluate and implement major Initiatives.
• Assist in the development and submission of sponsored research projects.
• Provide training to staff, including ongoing training to support changes in rules, regulations and guidance related to sponsored projects.
• Liaise with college leadership and business officers to build and maintain relationships and capture college-specific policies for sponsored projects.
• Coordinate with internal University offices, including finance, compliance, contracting and other offices as necessary to develop processes and ensure requirements are captured for sponsored research compliance.
• May develop and control of substantial departmental budgets and resources. May approve major capital expenditures.
• May forecast financial and facilities requirements.
• May provide direct and/or indirect supervision to exempt and non-exempt staff (i.e., hiring/firing, performance evaluations, disciplinary action, approve time off, etc.). 
• Perform related duties based on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time.

• Bachelor’s Degree must be in Business Administration or related field.
• Nine (9) years of relevant work experience and/or other specialized training can be used in lieu of education requirement.

Five (5) years of financial and administrative experience.

• Minimum five (5) years in sponsored research position in higher education.
• Certifications in research administration
• Demonstrated understanding of Uniform Guidance, federal sponsors (NIH, NSF, DOE, etc.) and other regulations related to grant funding.
• Previous management experience is highly preferred.

• Office environment/no specific unusual physical or environmental demands.

• A resume and cover letter are required as part of the application process.
• Attach these documents before submitting your application.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. (UC Benefits) Eligibility may vary by position and FTE status. Highlights include:

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won’t contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you’ll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14–18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

Vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)

6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our Careers Page.

UC is an E-Verify employer.  If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. Click here for a list of acceptable documents.  

Important: To apply you must create a profile and submit a complete job application through the UC applicant portal. We are unable to consider “easy apply” applications submitted via other websites. For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact UC HR at jobs@uc.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer.  Building a workplace where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans.

REQ: 103302