Pre-Award Project Manager - Grants Hub
About The Position
The Grants Hub at Iowa State University is seeking a Pre-Award Project Manager to support the development of interdisciplinary research teams and proposals. The position coordinates the preparation and submission of large, complex grant proposals involving multiple stakeholders and provides project management support to interdisciplinary research teams, from team formation through handoff to a post-award project manager. It is classified as a Research Administrator II. The role works with researchers across colleges and disciplines, with emphasis on large, center-type proposals involving multiple colleges, institutions, and sectors. It serves as the primary point of contact coordinating comprehensive, team-based proposal development support for selected teams. The position may be performed on-site in Ames or in a hybrid arrangement, and the successful candidate must reside in Iowa on or before the start date. The Grants Hub is Iowa State’s central research development unit within the Office of the Vice President for Research. It provides strategic pre-award support and consultation to help researchers compete for funding and build high-impact research teams.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of related experience.
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- A proactive and collaborative approach to customer service and relationship building.
- High attention to detail and ability to adjust to shifting deadlines and priorities.
- Must reside in the state of Iowa on or before the start date.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship; immigration sponsorship is unavailable.
Nice To Haves
- Demonstrated experience managing the development and submission of complex research grant proposals and budgets involving multiple investigators and subcontracts.
- Experience with federal regulations and agency policies and guidelines for sponsored research, proposal submission, and budgeting.
- Demonstrated experience working with interdisciplinary research teams, preferably in a university environment.
- Experience developing and managing strategic partnerships and collaborating with multiple stakeholders.
- Experience and/or formal training or certification in project management methodologies, frameworks, and best practices applied to complex research projects, grant development, or strategic initiatives involving interdisciplinary teams and multiple stakeholders.
- Experience leveraging technology, AI tools, and/or automated workflows to improve project management, grant development, research administration, or other complex administrative processes.
Responsibilities
- Develop proposal checklists and calendars, identify milestones and deadlines, assign tasks, and track progress toward deliverables.
- Work with interdisciplinary research teams to identify and manage project scope, goals, risks, resources, and stakeholders.
- Develop project communications and reporting plans.
- Manage proposal-related communications with research teams, collaborators, stakeholders, and sponsored funding support staff; participate in and facilitate working group meetings.
- Manage preparations and logistics for site visits and reverse site visits.
- Provide backup and supplemental pre-award administration support, including budget development, document collection and review, and proposal routing and submission.
- Coordinate proposal-strengthening activities with Grants Hub staff and external consultants, including strategic intelligence analyses and color team reviews.
- Identify and implement improvements to project management and pre-award research administration processes, including development of AI agents and automated workflows.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental.
- Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
- Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans.
- Onsite childcare in Ames, Iowa.
- Life insurance and long-term disability.
- Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Various voluntary benefits and discounts.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Wellbeing program.
- WorkFlex options for some positions, providing flexibility on when, where, and how work is done.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
