Pre-Award Grants and Contracts Manager

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

3d • $67,632 - $101,448

About The Position

The College of the Environment is hiring a Pre-Award Grants and Contracts Manager to manage proposal development from concept through submission. Reporting to the Grants and Financial Manager, the position partners with faculty investigators, research staff, central University offices, and collaborating institutions. It independently interprets sponsor requirements and University policies, advises faculty on proposal strategy and competitiveness, and ensures timely, compliant submissions, including complex multi-investigator, multi-institutional, and international proposals to public and private sponsors.

The role also improves departmental pre-award processes, develops tools and training resources, tracks proposal activity and workload metrics, participates in research administration committees and working groups, and provides backup support to grants administration staff. The position is temporary, full-time equivalent at 100%, and works in a standard indoor office setting. Compensation is $67,632 to $101,448 annually. The role is first shift.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, research administration, public administration, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored research administration, including significant pre-award grants and contracts experience.
• Experience interpreting and applying sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and applicable federal, state, or other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to manage multiple proposals, competing deadlines, and detailed administrative requirements accurately.
• Experience working directly with faculty, investigators, research staff, institutional partners, or external collaborators.
• Strong written, verbal, analytical, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential or sensitive information appropriately.
• Commitment to working effectively with people from varied backgrounds, disciplines, roles, and levels of administrative experience.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple deadlines in a fast-paced research environment.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and communication skills.
• Strong financial analysis and budget development skills.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential.
• Experience supporting research programs within higher education, research institutions, or scientific organizations.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing complex proposals submitted to federal sponsors, particularly NSF, NASA, NOAA, DOE, DOD, and USGS.
• Knowledge of University of Washington grants and contracts policies and procedures.
• Experience with SAGE, Workday Finance, Research.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, NSPIRES, and similar electronic research administration systems.
• Experience supporting large center grants, cooperative agreements, multi-institutional awards, and international collaborations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the complete grant and contract proposal process, from identifying funding opportunities through submission.
• Advise faculty and research teams on proposal strategy, sponsor requirements, eligibility, and compliance obligations.
• Develop proposal budgets and budget justifications in accordance with sponsor regulations and University policies.
• Coordinate proposal development with investigators, collaborators, subrecipients, departmental staff, and central University offices.
• Prepare, review, and submit proposal packages through University and sponsor systems, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely submission.
• Guide faculty and research teams on sponsored research policies, institutional approvals, cost sharing, data management, export controls, and other compliance requirements.
• Serve as the primary pre-award resource for faculty and research teams, supporting external funding growth and competitiveness.
• Evaluate and improve departmental pre-award policies, workflows, and business processes.
• Develop tools, templates, guidance documents, and training resources to improve efficiency and consistency.
• Track proposal activity, submission trends, and workload metrics to support strategic planning and resource management.
• Participate in College, departmental, and University research administration committees and working groups.
• Provide backup support for other grants administration staff during peak workload periods.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the College of the Environment's research mission.

Benefits

• The posting refers applicants to the University of Washington benefits information page.
• Opportunities for professional growth.
• An environment characterized by diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level