About the Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) is a world-renowned not-for-profit bioscience research and education institution. Founded in 1890 and home to eight Nobel laureates, CSHL inspires curiosity, discovery and innovation in genetics, neuroscience, AI, and molecular biology to generate knowledge that will advance the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, neurological diseases, and other major causes of human suffering. United by this mission, CSHL’s researchers and technicians…
focus on four core areas: cancer, neuroscience, genomics & quantitative biology, and plant biology, while CSHL’s Education Division focuses on the communication, advocacy and education of bioscience through a variety of programs, publications and events. As one of the leading basic research institutions in molecular biology and genetics, CSHL is consistently ranked among the best in the world in research output by Thomson Reuters, and the journal Nature. The Laboratory is led by Dr. Bruce Stillman, a biochemist and cancer researcher who has served as President & CEO since 2003. CSHL is located on the North Shore of Long Island, about 30 miles east of New York City. The Laboratory employs approximately 1,000 people, including 600 scientists, students, and technicians, and is consistently ranked as one of Long Island’s Top Workplaces. To learn more, visit https://www.cshl.edu/
Position Summary
The Vice President, Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) provides strategic and operational leadership for CSHL's sponsored research enterprise. Building on a strong foundation of research administration and faculty service, the VP will position OSP as an increasingly proactive partner to investigators by identifying emerging funding opportunities, shaping competitive proposals, and helping assemble teams for complex, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional awards.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and with direct and regular exposure to the President and Director of Research, the VP oversees the full lifecycle of grants, contracts, and other sponsored agreements, including pre-award and post-award administration, award negotiation and acceptance, subrecipient monitoring, financial oversight, reporting, and closeout. Working closely with faculty, institutional leadership, Finance, Legal, and other administrative partners, the VP supports the development and submission of competitive proposals, identifies emerging funding opportunities, and ensures that sponsored research activities are administered in accordance with sponsor requirements, applicable laws and regulations, and institutional policies and priorities. Importantly, the VP will lead and develop the OSP team, promoting consistent and efficient research administration practices, and advancing systems and processes that support CSHL’s research, education, and scholarly mission.
Ideal Experience
- A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored research administration within a research institution, university, academic medical center, non-profit research organization or comparable environment.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing complex federal and non-federal grants, contracts, and sponsored agreements through the full award lifecycle.
- Experience partnering directly with faculty, principal investigators, and scientific leadership in a research-intensive environment.
- Experience identifying and advancing complex funding opportunities, including center grants, program project grants, multi-PI awards, consortium-based initiatives, or other large-scale sponsored programs.
- Demonstrated success expanding and diversifying funding portfolios across federal agencies, foundations, industry sponsors, and other funding sources.
- Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing teams through periods of growth and change.
- Experience leading organizational change, process improvement, and systems implementations within a research administration environment.
- Experience building relationships with federal agencies, sponsors, research institutions, and professional associations relevant to sponsored programs.
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in research administration, business administration, public administration or a related field preferred; Ph.D. in biological sciences strongly preferred. Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential highly desirable.
Applications and Nominations Process
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has partnered with Spencer Stuart, a leading global executive search firm.
To receive the position specification with more information, submit application materials, share thoughts
about the search, or nominate a candidate to serve as the next VP, OSP, please email:
CSHLOSP@SpencerStuart.com
The position is based in Cold Spring Harbor, NY and will require onsite presence.