Item 3.J-August 8, 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
To expedite and facilitate the PDQ review process, please send the PDQ and Org Chart electronically to
marshag@unr.edu for discussion and for initial review before routing PDQ for approval signatures.
Questions - call UNR Faculty HR at 682-6114
INSTRUCTIONS: See http://www.unr.edu/vpaf/hr/compensation/placement.html for complete instructions.
Incumbent(s) Name (if applicable): Veronica Dahir
Position #(s): 10983
Current Title: Manager, Research Services
Current Range: 4
(JCC:67018)
Department: Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies
College/Division: Dean, College of
(GSCJS) (Primary) and School of Community Health
Liberal Arts (Primary) and VP, Health
Sciences (CHS)
Sciences
Acct #(s): 1210-112-00IC 25%; 1101-112-2101 25%; 1204-121-0816 25%; 1101-122-0801 25%
Action Proposed: (check all that apply)
( ) New position: Proposed Range:
Proposed Title
(X ) Title Change, Proposed Title: Director, Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies
and Research Support
( ) Proposed Reassignment from Range to Range
( ) Revised PDQ only (no change in range or title)
JCC (Current
( ) Line of Progression (show titles below)
or new HR
Range:
assigned):
I certify that the statements in this description are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
____________________________________________________________
Employee’s Signature
__________________
Date
I/we have reviewed the statements in this form and they accurately reflect the job assignments.
____________________________/________________________________
Mary Stewart, Dir, SSR&JS (CLA) / Trudy Larson, Dir, SCHS (DHS)
__________________
Date
___________________________/_________________________________
__________________
Heather Hardy, Dean, CLA / Thomas Schwenk, VP, Health Science/Dean, SOM
Date
Director/Chair/Dean
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review.
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature Stacy Burton, Vice Provost, Faculty Affairs
Date
Action Approved by the Provost/President (Completed by Faculty HR):
67589 Range:
4
Pos #(s): 10983
JCC:
EEO: 3B
Eff: 8/1/2014
Approved Title: Director, Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies and Research Support
Employee signs on “final” stamped approved PDQ and sends to HR for personnel file.
Employee Signature:_______________________________________________ __________________
Date
Printed Name: ____________________________________________________
Rev: 10/1/2012
Position Description – Director, GSCJS and Research Support
Pg 2
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position and its role in the
university. Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division
which reflects the position in it as well as those supervised in the department. (This section is
used for advertisement of the position.)
The Director, Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies (GSCJS) (within the College of Liberal ArtsCLA) and Research Support (within the School of Community Health Sciences - SCHS) manages
statewide programs which assist researchers in conducting statistical studies and survey/research
design in efforts to fund research projects. The individual is responsible for the overall operation of the
units, both the statistical and survey/research design components, and all research administration
under the GSCJS. The position works 75% for CLA and 25% for SCHS. The position reports to the
Dean, CLA, but also works closely with the Director of the School of Community Health Sciences and
the Director of the School of Social Research and Justice Studies.
The major oversight functions of the Director for the Sawyer Center in CLA include establishing and
monitoring quality assurance of the services provided by the unit, securing grant funding, assisting
with fundraising, community outreach and marketing, serving as liaison between the University and
outside organizations, producing the deliverables of all grant and contract-related activities as well as
project management, human resource management and fiscal management.
The major duties for SCHS Research Support include providing assistance in the areas of grant
search, grant proposal development, request for proposal submission and post-award account set-up
for CLA faculty and graduate students. The assistance includes providing help with the theoretical
development, research design and survey methodology consultation, budget preparation, request for
proposal submission assistance and all phases of grant writing assistance. The position assists the
Principal Investigators (PI), as necessary, with all post-award account set-up functions once a grant or
contract is awarded.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job (percentage
first with heading and then bulleted information).
50% - Grants and Contracts Services (CLA)
 Support CLA faculty and graduate students with search for funding opportunities
 Coordinate and facilitate the proposal development process, up to and through grant
submission including budget preparation, for CLA faculty; assist with post award grant
management
 Review accuracy of F&A rates, salaries and fringe rates, allowable expenses, and analyze
grant budget needs with agency expectations
 Serve as liaison for CLA faculty and graduate students with the Office of Sponsored Projects
(OSP) on grant rules and processes to facilitate grantsmanship
 Serve as a liaison between CLA, other departments on campus, other institutions, and state
wide organizations to facilitate collaborative grant writing
 Compile data and prepare reports as requested by the CLA Dean’s Office
 Assist faculty and graduate students with post-award account set-up upon award of contracts
 Provide training to CLA faculty and graduate students on grant processes
 Complete other projects as assigned by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts
 Participate in OSP training and planning meetings related to the above duties
Position Description – Director, GSCJS and Research Support
Pg 3
25% - Director, Sawyer Center for Justice Studies (CLA)
 Oversee day-to-day research operations of GSCJS
 Serve as liaison for GSCJS to University organizations, departments, other Nevada System of
Higher Education (NSHE) institutions, and state agencies, including the National Judicial
College, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the State Justice Institute
 Provide bids, budgets, and scope of work proposals to potential clients with respect to Office
of Sponsored Projects grant and contract activities
 Oversee GSCJS staff and their collaboration with UNR faculty in the grant proposal
development and submission process to external funding sources
 Provide research design services for all GSCJS grant and contract related activities
 Manage the data collection, program evaluations, focus groups, content analysis, data
analysis, and report writing for GSCJS grant and contract related activities
 Select, supervise, train, coach, and manage all personnel actions for GSCJS grant and
contract related staff
 Provide public service to the University via service on academic committees, search
committees, and other external committees that improve the visibility and profile of the
University.
 Identify fundraising opportunities, meet with prospective donors as requested by the CLA
Dean or CLA Development officer, and assist the CLA development office with the gift writing
process.
25% - Research Support (SCHS)
 Oversee day-to-day grants and survey operations
 Serve as liaison to University organizations, departments, other Nevada System of Higher
Education (NSHE) institutions, and state agencies
 Provide bids, budgets, and scope of work grant and contract proposals to potential clients with
respect to OSP grant and contract activities as well as Business and Finance recharge and
sales and service activities
 Provide research design services for all grant and contract related activities
 Manage the data collection, program evaluations, focus groups, content analysis, data
analysis, and report writing for grant, contract, and recharge or service-oriented activities
associated with survey services
 Select, supervise, train, coach, and manage all personnel actions for survey services grant
and contract related staff
 Provide public service to the University via service on academic committees, search
committees, and other external committees that improve the visibility and profile of the
University.
3. Describe the level of freedom to take action and make decisions with or without
supervision and how the results of the work performed impact the department, division and/or
the university as a whole.
Level of Freedom:
All three positions require working collaboratively with clientele and PI’s. Decisions are made with
minimal to no oversight. The position influences the number of research resources available as well
as the grant/contract administration for clients, Grant Sawyer clients, and the CLA faculty and
graduate students. The independent decision making exercised in the execution of the duties is
directed by the funding source, the Director, and/or the PI of the research project.
Position Description – Director, GSCJS and Research Support
Pg 4
Impact:
A primary goal of UNR is to increase its overall research enterprise and funding (Goal 2 in UNR’s
Draft Strategic Plan for 2015-2021). In the Draft Strategic Plan, one proposed mission is to encourage
social and economic development of the State of Nevada. Under effective leadership, social and
economic development of the State of Nevada will be encouraged through services and collaborative
entrepreneurial activities. The University Administration has indicated the need for increasing the
research infrastructure and funding as integral to the success of the research mission.
The success of the Sawyer Center, CLA grants, and SCHS survey services depends upon the
demand for services as well as the ability to write and secure grants and contracts. The survey
design, research methodology, pre-award, project management, and fiscal knowledge coupled with
the successful delivery of services impacts the ability to garner funding and ultimately the quality and
quantity of research conducted. Successful efforts benefit the University through the growth of its
research enterprise. Failure to provide such services will have a significant negative impact on the
ability of UNR to continue to expand its research capabilities through the abilities of the faculty. Given
that the research enterprise contributes significantly to the overall UNR budget, the impact would be
campus-wide.
4. Describe the knowledge, skills (to include cognitive requirement and verbal and written
communication), and abilities (to include task complexity, problem solving, creativity and
innovation) essential to successful performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
 Grant development and grant management processes including university procedures
 Areas of departmental specific research and creative activities expertise
 Research methodology
 Survey design and administration
 Experimental design and administration
 Cost accounting standards
 Funding sources and application processes
Skills:








Range of data collection methods and research methodology
Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
Strong analytical and decision making skills
Strong organizational and time management skills
Proficient in the use of a personal computer and software applications
Grant proposal writing or reviewing grant proposals for a federal funding agency
Personnel management
Project development, management and coordination
Ability to:
 Build partnerships with administrators, faculty and students as well as with outside agencies
 Promote and assist collaborative activities in a multi-disciplinary environment
 Read and analyze information
 Multi-task and effectively prioritize tasks
 Review, manage, revise, and oversee project and office budgets under University policies and
the Cost Accounting Standards
Position Description – Director, GSCJS and Research Support
Pg 5
5. Describe the type of personal contacts encountered in performing the duties of the job.
Explain the nature and purpose of these contacts: i.e., to provide services, to resolve
problems, to negotiate.
Internal
University administrators, deans,
directors, department chairs,
faculty, staff, and NSHE
students at all levels
Department chairs, directors,
deans, faculty, and graduate
students
Liberal Arts faculty and staff,
OSP faculty and staff
External
State agencies and businesses
and funding organizations
Other Institutions
General Public
Reason for Contact
To act as a faculty consultant and provide theoretical and research
design consultation, committee support, and grant writing training
to faculty and graduate students.
To facilitate and coordinate grant proposal coordination and
development, and collaboration between the College of Liberal
Arts faculty members and other faculty on the UNR campus, within
NSHE, or at other Universities and colleges.
To maintain effective interpersonal communication and
collaboration on projects as well as supervise work, personnel,
and project deliverables.
Reason for Contact
To act as a faculty consultant for UNR and explain the services
both the College of Liberal Arts and SCHS Survey Services can
provide for their agency, organization, or business. To contact
funding organizations with respect to the rules and regulations
regarding their proposal announcements or grant guidelines.
Serve as liaison for collaborative grant/research efforts
To provide assistance with grant proposal development and
coordination, research design, data collection, and survey
research consulting.
6. Indicate the minimum qualifications which are necessary in filling this position should it
become vacant. Please keep in mind the duties/responsibilities of the position rather than the
qualifications of the incumbent.
a.
Minimum educational level, including appropriate field, if any.
Doctoral Degree from a regionally accredited institution preferably with an emphasis in
the social sciences
b.
Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required
education necessary for a person entering this position.
Doctoral Degree and two years of experience to include:
- project management or grant management experience on large-scale collaborative or
multi-disciplinary research projects, preferably in a higher education setting
-graduate coursework that includes statistics, survey methodology, research
methodology, and evaluation research
-survey design and administration, grant proposal writing, and data management and
analysis
Position Description – Director, GSCJS and Research Support
Preferred Licenses or Certifications: None
c.
Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
None
Pg 6