Assistant Director of eRA IT Services

Join Our Team and Make a Difference in Higher Education!

At the System Administration office at the University of Colorado, we are dedicated to building a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our office is committed to fostering a culture where employees find community, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our mission and purpose.  

By joining our team, you’ll have a direct impact on shaping the future of higher education. In addition to the Office of the Board of Regents, the University of Colorado’s system administration includes 19 units that provide essential services to CU’s campuses in Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver, as well as the Office of the President. While not a part of any one campus, we are proud to serve in the centralized office for the University system. Together, we ensure CU continues to deliver outstanding education, groundbreaking research, and valuable service to our communities.

We believe in creating an environment where the unique experiences and perspectives of everyone are embraced, enriching the work we do and the strategic outcomes we pursue. If you’re passionate about making a difference, contributing to a dynamic team, and supporting a mission that matters, we encourage you to apply and be part of our journey.  Learn more about CU System Administration.

University Information Services (UIS) provides technical services and enterprise applications to the University of Colorado’s (CU) four campuses and the Office of the President. UIS is committed to excellence in customer service, technical expertise. Through the development of enterprise applications, UIS supports the University as a whole with systems used by students, faculty, human resources employees, finance employees, and others.

Research & Grants (R&G) IT Services supports CU’s Research mission with application products and services to support Research Administration, Research Compliance, and Financial Management of Sponsored Projects. These products are used by faculty, students, Campus Grants and Contracts Administration offices staff, Sponsored Project office staff and departmental research administration staff at all four campuses to manage cradle to grave Sponsored Projects administration. Products include InfoEd Electronic Research Administration (eRA) software application and the Grants suite of modules from PeopleSoft Financials and Supply Chain system.

The Assistant Director of Electronic Research Administration (eRA) is responsible for implementation and support of functionality within the InfoEd eRA software to enable Pre-award management, non-Financial Sponsored project management and Research compliance activities at all CU campuses. It serves as the primary liaison regarding the eRA product suite. This position provides direct supervision of eRA Solutions managers and Business systems analysts to ensure operational support, works closely with campus stakeholders and IT partners to understand campus business requirements, and with internal UIS teams to achieve eRA service goals

This position reports to the Sr Director of Research & Grants IT Services and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified System.

Applicants must be Colorado residents or able to relocate to Colorado within a month of starting employment with University of Colorado System Administration.

Remote – this role is eligible to work remotely within Colorado.

Please note, leadership may adjust in-office work requirements with a minimum of three months' notice before any change can be implemented.

Duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Supervise the eRA Functional team comprised of Solution Managers and Business Systems Analyst (BSA), which includes:
• Recruit and hire employees
• Assignment and prioritization of work/schedules
• Train and serve as a mentor to employees regarding daily activities
• Evaluate employee work performance and provide feedback
• Respond to employee questions or concerns and escalate as needed
• Ensure support of the core eRA service, including the Proposal/Pre-award management, System to System submission, non-financial award management, human subjects management and conflict of interest management modules along with integrations, and reports
• Serve as the primary UIS point of contact and facilitator of the eRA Portfolio Steering Committee, including working closely with campus facilitators to achieve Steering Committee objectives
• Build and maintain relationships with eRA stakeholders, campus end users and IT support partners
• Collaborate with campus eRA IT teams, Research Administration and Compliance offices on all campuses and their leadership to identify pain points and opportunities to improve processes
• Work closely with other Research & Grants IT Services team members, campus IT partners. vendor and UIS technical teams to ensure production support tickets are prioritized, estimates developed, resolved, and tested in a timely manner
• Manage the InfoEd vendor issue resolution process, including prioritizing vendor tickets and coordinating the vendor activities needed for new functionality, system maintenance, defect resolution and release management
• Coordinate system upgrades and new feature management and evaluation, including risk assessment, by assigning resources and providing subject matter expertise related to the applications supported
• Manage system analysis studies, which include incorporating customer feedback, system problems, policy changes, and emerging technologies to enhance the end user experience and improve services
• Serve as the UIS Product Manager for InfoEd by maintaining product in accordance with UIS application management and product management standards
• Coordinate and communicate with Business Relationship Managers (BRMs), UIS technical teams and eRA stakeholders on things such as:
• eRA system roadmap plans
• eRA system updates/changes
• Project and initiative decisions and status
• Environment refreshes and maintenance activities
• Recruit and hire employees
• Assignment and prioritization of work/schedules
• Train and serve as a mentor to employees regarding daily activities
• Evaluate employee work performance and provide feedback
• Respond to employee questions or concerns and escalate as needed
• eRA system roadmap plans
• eRA system updates/changes
• Project and initiative decisions and status
• Environment refreshes and maintenance activities

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Inform/advise project managers and stakeholders about project plans and implementations
• Communicate project status and service line updates to campus stakeholders and UIS teams
• Produce operational metrics, reports, and recommendations about the eRA service
• Maintain knowledge of “grants.gov”, other electronic proposal submission systems, and policy changes at major sponsor agencies that impact the eRA production systems
• Develop budget requests, works with UIS staff to provide cost and time estimates for projects and initiatives, and ensures projects are delivered on time within budget
• Train and mentor Solution Managers and Business Systems Analysts to improve team knowledge of the InfoEd product capabilities
• Represent UIS in the InfoEd user group community to share expertise, and to implement best practices at CU
• Provide oversight of the user permissions process to access eRA systems and data
• Serve as backfill to the Solution Managers/Business Systems Analyst,as needed
• Manage small to medium sized projects/initiatives with cross functional and technical teams
• Other duties as assigned

Salary: The anticipated hiring range has been established at $143,000 - $147,000.

CU System Administration takes into consideration a combination of the selected candidate’s education, training and experience as it relates to the position, as well as the position’s scope and complexity, internal pay equity and external market value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Benefits: With our unparalleled range of benefits, including top-notch healthcare, comprehensive wellness programs, enriching professional development, and a dynamic work-life balance, we ensure your holistic growth and happiness.

• No-cost or low-cost medical & dental plan options, some inclusive of IVF assistance.
• Disability, Life, Vision Insurance options.
• Multiple retirement planning options including a mandatory 401(a) plan where CU contributes 10% of your gross pay, a 401k or 403b plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan.
• Pre-tax savings plans, such as Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Embrace a healthy work-life balance with ample sick and vacation leave, along with at least 12 paid holidays. This includes a dedicated week off for winter break.
• 6 weeks of parental leave to adjust to the joys of parenthood.
• A tuition benefit program for you and/or your dependents.
• Free RTD EcoPass and Free Onsite Parking at our 1800 Grant Street Office.
• Many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Additional taxable fringe benefits may be available. 

For more information on benefits programs, please review our Comprehensive Benefits Guide. 

Access our Total Compensation Calculator to see what your total rewards could be at CU.  (This position is a University Staff position)

Minimum Qualifications:

Please ensure your resume includes any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against these qualifications.  You must meet all minimum requirements listed at the time of application to be considered for this role.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent professional experience (professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis)
• Six (6) years’ professional experience managing IT applications, projects, services related to the support of an eRA or similar system
• Two (2) years’ experience including the following:
• Managing personnel, including developing/mentoring direct reports through performance reviews to ensure continuous improvement, high performance, and employee retention
• Managing projects, services, or processes within a department with a proven ability to execute decisions using strategic and tactical skillsets
• Working closely and effectively with a diverse group of senior administrators leading projects and operations to successful completion
• Managing personnel, including developing/mentoring direct reports through performance reviews to ensure continuous improvement, high performance, and employee retention
• Managing projects, services, or processes within a department with a proven ability to execute decisions using strategic and tactical skillsets
• Working closely and effectively with a diverse group of senior administrators leading projects and operations to successful completion

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or post-baccalaurate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the field of computer science, computer engineering, information systems, information technology, or related field
• Eight (8) years’ professional experience, as indicated above
• Three (3) years’ experience in a managerial or supervisory role, as indicated above.
• Experience working in a large, complex research university with multiple campuses
• Functional application experience in a Grants and Contracts or Compliance oriented role
• Experience with Peoplesoft Finance/HCM
• For full consideration, please attach the following as separate documents to your application:
• Experience working in a large, complex research university with multiple campuses
• Functional application experience in a Grants and Contracts or Compliance oriented role
• Experience with Peoplesoft Finance/HCM
• For full consideration, please attach the following as separate documents to your application:

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Knowledge of information technology service management (ITSM) principles and best practicesKnowledge and understanding of CU’s catalogue of eRA products and servicesKnowledge of management best practicesSkilled in working in project teams and leading through collaborationTechnical aptitude, requirements management, and the skill and ability to assess and articulate risk variablesAbility to effectively operate with flexibility in a fast-paced, constantly evolving team environmentAbility to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignmentsAbility to exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with CU campus stakeholdersStrong written and oral communication skillsStrong interpersonal and leadership skills; proven ability to effect and influence change through a collaborative and inclusive style

1. A cover letter identifying the job specific minimum qualifications you possess
2. A resume including any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against the qualifications listed in the posting.

Please ensure you check the “Job Specific Attachments” box next to each document on the “Required Documents” page of the application for the appropriate documents to be attached.

Per the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, you are not required to provide your date of birth, dates of school attendance, or dates of graduation on your resume or cover letter. If an application requires additional materials, such as a transcript or certification, you may redact identifying information relating to your date or birth, dates of school attendance, or dates of graduation.