Manager, Research Portfolio Services (Lead Liaison)

Current University of Arkansas System employees, including student employees and graduate assistants, need to log in to Workday via MyApps.Microsoft.com, then access Find Jobs from the Workday search bar to view and apply for open positions.

Students at all University of Arkansas institutions will view open positions and apply within Workday by searching for “Find Jobs for Students.”

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville students will view open positions and apply within Workday by searching for “Find Student Jobs at UAF.”

All Job Postings will close at 12:01 a.m. CT on the specified Closing Date (if designated).

If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application process will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through “My Draft Applications” located on your Candidate Home page.

Closing Date:

10/23/2026

Type of Position:

• Sponsored Program Administration
• Workstudy Position:

No

Job Type:

Regular

Work Shift:

Sponsorship Available:

No

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu) : Request an Accommodation. Appli­cants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

Department:

• Campus Research Services
• Department's Website:

Summary of Job Duties:

The Manager, Research Portfolio Services (Lead Liaison) provides leadership and operational oversight to a team of Award Liaisons that manage the financial administration of faculty research portfolios. Reporting to the Director of Campus Research Services, this role supervises a team of Award Liaisons and ensures consistent, compliant, and high-quality post-award financial management services under a service level agreement (SLA) with client unit(s).

The Manager serves as a senior subject matter expert, overseeing complex and high-risk research portfolios, establishing financial management standards, and advising faculty and leadership on financial projections, risk mitigation, and resource allocation. The position develops operational work plans, coordinates logistics, and secures resources necessary to support designated research programs and unit objectives in alignment with institutional priorities.

As the primary escalation point for financial, compliance, and operational issues, this role works closely with academic departments, leadership, and administrative partners to ensure adherence to institutional and sponsor requirements. The Manager is responsible for training and developing staff in research administration logistics and compliance requirements to strengthen team competencies and promote best practices. The position manages staff in the execution of unit operations, oversees workload distribution and performance, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and service excellence.

Key responsibilities include team leadership and development; oversight and approval of unit expenditures; auditing budgets, accounting systems, and reporting activities to ensure compliance with established guidelines; oversight of financial transactions and reporting; management of complex post-award actions; compliance monitoring; support for audits and reviews; and communication and change management related to research administration policies and practices within the college. Success is demonstrated through strong financial stewardship, effective team leadership, operational excellence, consistent adherence to the SLA, regulatory compliance, and high stakeholder satisfaction.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution of higher education

Applicable equivalencies may be considered on the above qualifications.

At least five years of experience in research administration

At least three years of experience in supervising or leading staff, including performance management and workload coordination

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education

At least seven years of experience in research administration

Current Certified Research Administrator (CRA) and/or Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA)

Experience with sponsors such as DoE, DoD (AFSoR, Army, DTRA, DARPA), NIH, NSF, USDA, USGS, as well state and non-federal organizations

Experience with enterprise accounting and internal grant management systems, such as Workday and Streamlyne, or comparable platforms

Experience leading departmental and/or College level units that provide support in the following areas: sponsored awards management, including fund accounting, research administration, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and analysis across federal, non‑federal, and internal funding sources

Experience in strategic planning, process improvement, and project management, including leading adoption of best practices and continuous improvement initiatives

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• •Advanced knowledge of financial and award management, including complex budget management, variance analysis, risk identification, and long‑ and short-term financial projections
• •Knowledge of federal, state, and institutional research compliance requirements, with experience using Research.gov, Grants.gov, and similar sponsor systems
• •Extensive knowledge of federal regulations and sponsor requirements (e.g., Uniform Guidance, NIH GPS, NSF PAPPG). Ability to interpret complex financial and regulatory information
• •Strong leadership and team management skills, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, staff development, workload balancing, and conflict resolution

• •Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, and central offices
• •Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple projects, and meet established deadlines with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail

Excellen