Departmental Research Administration (DRA) Manager

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled


Portland State University


Position Details
Position Details Proposed Start Date06/01/2026Classification TitleFiscal ServicesRankN - No RankWorking TitleDepartmental Research Administration (DRA) ManagerDepartment400401 - SPA Sponsored Projects OfficePosition NumberD92383RepresentationUU - Unclassified UnrepresentedRenewableRenewableEnd date, if applicable Position FTE1Tenure StatusN - not applicable

Position Summary Brief Description of PSU/School/DeptPortland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.

More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

The Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) unit within Research and Strategic Partnerships (RSP) serves as the central administrative unit at PSU responsible for assisting faculty and staff with activities related to the lifecycle of sponsored project administration. The mission of Departmental Research Administration Support is to facilitate research and provide research administration expertise to principal investigators for the entire lifecycle of sponsored projects, by reducing administrative burdens and navigating institutional, state, sponsor and federal policies and regulations.Position SummaryThe Departmental Research Administration (DRA) Manager leads and oversees departmental research administration services, ensuring consistent, high-quality support for the financial and administrative management of sponsored projects across assigned units.

This role is responsible for supervising, training, and mentoring Departmental Research Administrators (DRAs); managing team workload and priorities; and resolving complex or escalated issues. The DRA Manager provides guidance on the effective and compliant management of sponsored awards and works to ensure accurate financial administration, proper application of sponsor and institutional requirements, and strong departmental support throughout the award lifecycle.

The position provides day-to-day operational leadership for departmental research administration services, including oversight of workflows, workload distribution, and process consistency. The DRA Manager establishes and reinforces standardized DRA practices, ensures accurate and consistent data capture at the departmental level, and uses metrics to monitor performance and
improve service delivery. This role promotes consistent, high-quality support through structured coordination of staff, standardized processes, and clear communication with faculty, departments, and central administrative units.Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and three or more years of related experience*
*A Master’s Degree may substitute for a portion of experience requirements

Related experience includes:
● Experience interpreting and applying federal and state laws and regulations related to sponsored projects, including post-award financial management, cost allowability, and compliance requirements
● Experience managing or supporting the financial administration of sponsored awards, including budgeting, monitoring expenditures, reconciling accounts, and supporting financial closeout activities
● Experience using financial accounting systems or fund accounting systems to manage project funds and ensure accuracy and compliance
● Working knowledge of federal regulations governing research (e.g., OMB Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations) and sponsor policies and procedures, with the ability to apply
requirements to post-award financial management and compliance, and to make informed judgments in complex or ambiguous situations
● Experience collaborating with principal investigators and project teams to support post-award management across the award lifecycle
● Experience communicating complex regulatory and financial requirements to faculty, staff, or project teams to support

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required to Perform the Duties of the position:
● Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex regulatory and financial information into clear, actionable guidance
● Ability to quickly learn, interpret, and consistently apply complex processes and procedures; apply creativity in problem-solving; prioritize workload; set and meet deadlines; and perform
effectively with minimal direct supervision
● Demonstrated commitment to high-quality customer service and effective support of faculty and research teams
● Ability to monitor project and financial activity, track multiple awards simultaneously, and communicate status, risks, and issues clearly and proactively
● Strong interpersonal skills to support effective collaboration with faculty, departments, and central administrative units in a complex institutional environment
● Computer and technical proficiency, including Google and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), and financial or research administration systems; ability to troubleshoot and learn new systems quickly
● Ability to clearly and diplomatically communicate ideas, positions and decisions to a wide range of audiences, including faculty and staff, sponsors, and audit entities.
● Ability to exercise independent judgment and apply problem solving and decision-making skills in complex or ambiguous situations, anticipate implications of decisions, and proactively
identify and implement solutions
● Skill in managing diverse personnel situations with tact, diplomacy, and appropriate assertiveness; ability to foster positive working relationships, maintain morale, and support team productivity
● Demonstrated coaching skills, including developing team dynamics, facilitating collaboration, promoting empowerment, and fostering creativityPreferred Qualifications

• Experience in sponsored projects administration at an institution of higher education strongly preferred
• Supervisory experience strongly preferred
• Certificate in Research Administration (CRA) desirable

Key Cultural Competencies

• Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental StewardshipContributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.Work Days/HoursMonday - Friday, 40hrs per weekTotal Compensation Range & Benefits StatementSalary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.

The starting annual salary for this position will be between $65,100 and $83,556 but may be negotiated above this range dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.

An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.

Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.

Search Details Posting Close DateProjected Close Date for PostingOpen Until FilledApplication screening begins02/16/2026Quick Linkhttps://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/49210

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * What is your highest degree earned?

   (Open Ended Question)

2. * Please name the specific field/discipline in which you received your degree.

   (Open Ended Question)

3. * How did you first find out about this position?
   • PSU Website
   • Indeed.com
   • HERCJobs
   • Urban League of Portland
   • Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber
   • Oregon Employment Department
   • Social Media
   • Person Referral
   • Career Builder
   • Glass Door
   • Other - Please describe in the next Question
4. If you selected Other, please describe.

   (Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents
Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Professional References

Optional Documents

PI284553844