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Department:
Office for Research & Economic Development
Job Summary:
The Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs: Pre-Award provides leadership and operational oversight for pre-award research administration, ensuring the effective, timely, and compliant development, review, and submission of externally sponsored grant and contract proposals. This position supervises pre-award research administration staff, serves as a subject matter expert on sponsor regulations and university policies, and works collaboratively with faculty, departmental administrators, research centers, and university leadership to support the institution's research mission. The Assistant Director develops and implements training, procedures, and best practices that promote consistency, compliance, and exceptional customer service while assisting with strategic initiatives that advance institutional research growth and competitiveness.
Job Description:
Essential Job Responsibilities
Oversee and conduct comprehensive compliance reviews of grant and contract proposals to ensure adherence to sponsor requirements, university policies, and applicable federal and state regulations.
Supervise and provide leadership, guidance, and performance oversight for Pre-Award Research Administrators and other assigned staff.
Coordinate and monitor proposal review workflows, workload distribution, and resource allocation to ensure timely proposal submissions and high-quality support services.
Provide training, mentoring, and professional development opportunities for pre-award staff to promote consistency, competency, and continuous improvement in research administration practices.
Review and approve proposal budgets to ensure accuracy, consistency, allowability, and alignment with sponsor and institutional requirements.
Ensure all required institutional approvals, certifications, and compliance reviews are obtained prior to proposal submission.
Serve as a primary resource for interpreting and communicating sponsor guidelines, funding opportunity requirements, and institutional research administration policies.
Develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures, training materials, job aids, and best-practice guidance related to proposal development and submission.
Manage sponsor electronic research administration systems and submission portals, including user access, account administration, troubleshooting, and institutional registrations.
Provide consultation and support to principal investigators, departmental administrators, research centers, and other stakeholders throughout the proposal development process.
Promote and foster a culture of excellent customer service, responsiveness, collaboration, and continuous improvement within Sponsored Programs Administration.
Identify, assess, and escalate complex, high-risk, or emerging compliance issues to the Director of Sponsored Programs Administration and other institutional leaders, as appropriate.
Assist with strategic planning initiatives designed to improve research administration services, proposal support, and institutional research growth.
Support the development, implementation, and evaluation of research administration policies, systems, processes, and operational improvements.
Analyze trends in proposal activity and sponsor requirements and recommend process enhancements to improve efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
Participate in special projects, institutional committees, and cross-functional initiatives related to sponsored programs administration and research development.
Collaborate with university leadership and administrative units to…