Research Administration Hub Manager

The College of Engineering (COE) Office of Research Administration (ORA) operates under a college-managed, departmentally embedded operating model designed to deliver standardized, high-quality administrative infrastructure and regulatory safeguarding for the College’s extensive, multi-million dollar sponsored research portfolio. Under this unified organizational structure, research administration professionals are centrally employed, trained, and evaluated by the College’s ORA, but are strategically deployed and embedded directly within individual academic departments and units.

This matrixed model merges the benefits of centralized institutional oversight-such as equitable workload balancing, continuous professional development, and uniform compliance tracking-with the agile, relationship-driven advantages of local integration. Embedded staff act as direct, day-to-day strategic partners to principal investigators (PIs), faculty, and departmental leadership, providing seamless cradle-to-grave support tailored to the unique research nuances of their assigned units.

Collectively, this distributed network manages an exceptional volume of activity across all departments and units in the College, processing over 1,100 research proposals and administering more than 800 new awards, continuations, and supplements annually. Because the research administration landscape is shaped by shifting federal mandates (including Uniform Guidance and Cost Accounting Standards), state policies, and evolving Electronic Research Administration (eRA) platforms, the ORA ensures absolute institutional compliance. Operating as a high-volume, strictly deadline-driven organization, the unit mitigates severe financial, legal, and reputational risks while optimizing NC State’s competitive edge in securing external funding.

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.
Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

The Research Administration Hub Manager provides overall operational leadership, personnel management, and regulatory governance for an assigned hub of departmentally embedded Sponsored Research Administrators (SRAs). The primary purpose of this position is to ensure the uniform, high-quality delivery of both pre-award and post-award services across their assigned cluster of academic departments.

The Hub Manager acts as the critical operational bridge between the Engineering’s ORA leadership, the embedded SRAs, and departmental leadership (Department Heads and Departmental Finance Leads). This role focuses heavily on personnel management (including hiring, training, and workload balancing), process optimization, Service-Level Agreement (SLA) compliance, and high-level regulatory exception management. The incumbent independently resolves complex compliance, financial, and administrative challenges, ensuring that institutional risk is minimized while faculty service remains optimized.

Detailed Description of Core Responsibilities

This posting is for current permanent NC State University employees and NCSU temps only.

In addition to your Application please submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for at least three professional references.
This posting is for current permanent NC State University employees and NCSU temps only.

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
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