Pre-Award Research Administrator

Virginia Commonwealth University•Richmond, VA

23h•$65,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Virginia Commonwealth University’s College of Engineering is seeking an experienced Pre-Award Research Administrator to support the College’s Sponsored Programs Office. The office provides pre-award and post-award administrative and financial management for more than $30 million in sponsored research expenditures. The position supports faculty, researchers, and academic departments in developing and submitting externally sponsored research proposals, ensuring compliance with sponsor, institutional, federal, and state requirements and facilitating timely submission of competitive applications. The administrator serves as a liaison among principal investigators, sponsors, and the university’s Office of Research, and works independently and collaboratively with faculty, team members, and external parties. Post-award proficiency is preferred. This is a benefited position with a flexible schedule of 30 to 32 hours per week, depending on the applicant. The listed hours are 32 per week, and the work arrangement is hybrid.

Requirements

Knowledge of and work experience with sponsored-project research proposal submissions.
Experience drafting budgets and working with principal investigators on revisions.
Knowledge and work experience with federal laws, rules, and regulations related to sponsored awards.
Experience drafting clear budget justifications and other written materials, and accurately completing administrative forms.
Ability to interpret and apply university and federal policies, procedures, laws, and regulations to sponsored projects; knowledge of OMB cost principles and Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.
Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office with an emphasis on Excel and use of Gmail, and the capacity to use a variety of online internal and external systems.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly respond to inquiries from faculty, staff, and external sponsors and communicate effectively with sponsored-program colleagues.
Ability to research, analyze, and evaluate sponsor-project budget data.
Ability to foster and work in an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with faculty, staff, and students from varied backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so.
Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently, be precise, thorough, and reliable, adapt to frequent changes in work assignments, and reason logically to resolve problems or concerns.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent years of experience.
Five or more years of pre-award support experience.
Post-award management experience.
Experience with engineering-relevant funding agencies, including DoW/DoD, DOE, NSF, and NIH.
Familiarity with related Commonwealth of Virginia laws, rules, and regulations.
Experience fostering a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

Prepare budgets for federal, nonprofit, and industry-sponsored research proposals, including continuation and supplemental funding proposals.
Review, interpret, and apply sponsor and university guidelines, and review proposals for compliance with applicable policies and requirements.
Communicate sponsor and university policies, procedures, and requirements to faculty, staff, external collaborators, postdoctoral research associates, and students.
Advise faculty and other research personnel on practical approaches to successful proposal submissions.
Request and review subaward proposal materials.
Prepare proposal budgets and administrative forms in accordance with sponsor guidelines.
Inform faculty and other proposal personnel about issues related to internal and external sponsored-project submissions.
Assist with completing and reviewing Current and Pending/Other Support documents and Biographical Sketches for compliance.
Work independently and collaboratively, adapt to changing assignments, and analyze and resolve problems or concerns.