If you are looking for a career in health care, we offer something better.

At John Muir Health, our core values of excellence, caring, compassion, and continuous improvement reflect in the work our employees do every day. Health care is one of the most exciting, rewarding, and fastest growing industries in the nation. Our commitment to hire the most talented caregivers goes to the heart of what we do best by placing patients first. Whether you are contemplating a new career or just need a change of pace, our goal is to attract and retain the best employees. Come join our team today.

Reporting to the Vice President of Philanthropy, the Director of Sponsored Programs provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all pre- and post-award sponsored programs and research funding activities across John Muir Health. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, foundation, and industry sponsor requirements while supporting physicians, investigators, and clinical and operational leaders in securing and stewarding external funding. The Director serves as a collaborative partner across the health system, advancing John Muir Health’s mission, clinical excellence, and research and innovation priorities.

Essential Job Functions Include:

Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight

• Provide vision, leadership, and direction for sponsored programs administration at John Muir Health, aligning services with organizational strategy, clinical priorities, and research goals.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve policies, procedures, and workflows to support efficient, compliant sponsored programs administration.
• Monitor trends in healthcare, clinical research, and sponsored funding to inform strategy and institutional readiness
• Oversees and directly manages the Program Manager, ensuring alignment with sponsored program goals, providing strategic guidance, performance oversight, and ongoing professional development.

Pre-Award Administration

• Oversee proposal development and submission for federal, state, foundation, and industry-sponsored funding, including budgets, compliance review, and internal approvals. • Advise physicians, investigators, and program leaders on sponsor guidelines, funding opportunities, and proposal development strategies.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant submissions in coordination with clinical, finance, legal, and compliance partners.

Post-Award Administration

• Provide oversight of award setup, monitoring, amendments, reporting, and closeout activities.
• Partner closely with finance and compliance teams to ensure appropriate fiscal management, reporting, and stewardship of sponsored funds.
• Identify and proactively address risks related to compliance, audits, billing, or reporting.

Compliance, Risk & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, including Uniform Guidance, FDA, HIPAA, and other healthcare-related sponsor and regulatory requirements.
• Support internal and external audits and serve as a key resource for regulatory and compliance inquiries.
• Develop training and guidance to support investigators and staff in meeting regulatory and sponsor expectations.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong, trusted relationships with physicians, investigators, clinical leaders, finance, legal, compliance, research, and foundation partners.
• Serve as the primary administrative point of contact with sponsors on sponsored program and contract-related matters.
• Collaborate with advancement and foundation teams, as appropriate, on philanthropic and sponsored funding alignment

Foundation Leadership

• Committed to continuous learning in belonging to help create, foster, and promote an inclusive work environment that serves our employees, patients, and community members.
• Cultivate a workplace where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents.
• Recruit, lead, and mentor sponsored programs staff, fostering a service-oriented, collaborative, and accountable team culture.
• Establish clear expectations, support professional development, and promote continuous improvement.

Qualifications Include:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree – required.

Experience:

• 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored programs, research administration, or healthcare grants management. Required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, foundation, and industry sponsor regulations in a healthcare or clinical research environment. Preferred.
• Proven leadership and people-management experience. Required.
• Experience within an integrated health system or academic medical center. Preferred.

Certifications/Licensure

• CA Driver License – Department of Motor Vehicles

Skills:

• Demonstrated experience promoting, or desire to engage in, belonging and inclusion initiatives , or lived or professional experience working with marginalized communities
• Well-developed problem solving and analytical skills with the ability to create solutions to complex situations.
• Demonstrated superior listening skills, diplomacy, and tact to build strong relationships with funders, and internal staff including physicians and staff.
• Excellent communication skills required, both verbally and in writing, with strong customer service orientation. Must have exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide variety of constituents.
• Accuracy and speed using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Must have advanced knowledge and high comfort level generating reports, documents, and budgets.
• Database management experience desired. Knowledge of The Raiser’s Edge or other fundraising or CRM software a plus.
• Ability to work well both independently and collaboratively with a high degree of professionalism.
• Ability to effectively multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent reading, writing, research and editing skills with impeccable attention to detail.
• Strong work ethic with initiative to creatively solve problems, improve efficiencies and exceed expectations.
• Must maintain high levels of professional and personal integrity at all times.

Full-Time, Salary Range:

$166,258.00 – $249,386.00 and includes a 10% Financial Incentive