Knight Campus Pre-award Research Administration Coordinator 2/ Senior

UO HR Website•Eugene, OR

About The Position

The Knight Campus seeks a highly motivated, organized, and communicative individual to provide high-level research administration support for its research portfolio. The position may be filled at the Research Administration Coordinator (RAC) 2 or Senior Research Administration Coordinator (Senior RAC) level and primarily supports pre-award activities for up to 15 principal investigators. The RAC provides comprehensive research administration and grant management services to Knight Campus faculty and affiliates, working closely with principal investigators to manage the pre-award process. Duties include establishing internal deadlines, monitoring proposal progress, reviewing sponsor guidelines, ensuring compliance with sponsor and university requirements, preparing supporting documentation, developing proposal budgets, proofreading submission materials, and coordinating final proposal submissions. The RAC also generates activity and productivity reports and serves as a resource on compliance and budget-related questions. The position regularly interacts with external sponsors and partners, faculty, staff, students, and administrative leaders across the university and beyond. It reports to the Assistant Director of Research Administration and supports the Knight Campus's growing research enterprise and strategic research and innovation goals. The position offers a hybrid or remote work environment. In addition to the responsibilities above, the Senior RAC provides leadership in research administration while balancing customer service with institutional and sponsor compliance requirements. The Senior RAC contributes to strategic goals, standard operating procedures, and operational best practices; exercises a high degree of independent judgment; and may supervise, mentor, and consult with colleagues. The Senior RAC also leads the development, testing, and implementation of new pre-award workflows, processes, policies, and protocols.

Requirements

RAC 2: Bachelor's degree and at least two years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, sponsored programs administration, and/or grant proposal writing; two additional years of relevant work experience may substitute for a bachelor's degree.
RAC 2: One year of experience developing, editing, and reviewing proposals, budgets, grants, and/or contracts for adherence to state and federal regulations.
RAC 2: Six months of experience working with governmental and granting agency regulations pertaining to grants and contracts.
Both levels: Experience with proposal routing and submission systems such as Grants.gov, Research.gov, ASSIST, SciENcv, or comparable platforms.
Senior RAC: Bachelor's degree and four years of progressively responsible experience in research administration or sponsored programs administration at an institution of higher education or similar major research institution, including two years managing pre-award administration for NIH, NSF, and/or DOD grants with knowledge of applicable government and granting agency regulations; alternatively, eight years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and training.
Both levels: Ability to manage multiple priorities, overlapping deadlines, and frequent interruptions while maintaining customer service and professionalism.
Both levels: Strong organizational and analytical skills and close attention to detail.
Both levels: Effective customer service and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Both levels: Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Senior RAC: Advanced knowledge and demonstrated ability to interpret and apply sponsor requirements, including federal regulations, Uniform Guidance, federal cost accounting standards, and other administrative rules.
Senior RAC: Ability to learn, understand, interpret, and explain complex university, sponsor, and government policies, rules, regulations, and requirements.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification in research administration (e.g., C.R.A.) and/or a bachelor's or advanced degree in research administration, business administration, management, public administration, or a closely related field.
One or more years of project management experience related to research or grant administration in higher education, research organizations, or a related environment.
Experience with budget and financial management.
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and other software programs, including HRIS/FIS platforms and databases.
Senior RAC: Master's degree in research administration, business administration, management, public administration, or a closely related field.
Senior RAC: Experience with research compliance.
Senior RAC: Experience with complex research or grant administration in higher education, including foundation awards and non-standard sponsored awards.

Responsibilities

Support pre-award research administration activities for up to 15 principal investigators.
Establish internal proposal deadlines and monitor progress toward proposal completion.
Review sponsor guidelines and ensure proposals comply with sponsor and university requirements.
Prepare supporting documentation, develop proposal budgets, proofread submission materials, and coordinate final proposal submissions.
Generate activity and productivity reports.
Serve as a resource on compliance and budget-related questions.
Interact with external sponsors and partners, faculty, staff, students, and administrative leaders.
At the Senior RAC level, contribute to strategic goals, standard operating procedures, and operational best practices for research administration.
At the Senior RAC level, exercise independent judgment and potentially supervise, mentor, and consult with colleagues.
At the Senior RAC level, lead development, testing, and implementation of pre-award workflows, processes, policies, and protocols.