Proposal and Award Generalist

Penn State University • Ferguson Township, PA

1d

About The Position

The Department of Food Science is seeking a dedicated, detail-oriented, and collaborative professional to join our team as a Proposal and Award Generalist. This role is integral to supporting our research mission and will manage the full life cycle of grants, from proposal development through award closeout. Our department includes 18 active research faculty, 6 postdoctoral scholars, and 45 graduate assistants, and we pride ourselves on fostering a team-oriented environment that makes Food Science an exceptional place to work.

Requirements

• Accounting and research administration experience required.
• Strong knowledge of SIMS/SIMS Budgets, SIMBA (Penn State’s financial system), Adobe Acrobat, WorkLion, and MS Office Suite.
• Familiarity with university financial policies and procedures preferred.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of ACES (ACOR Certification and Education Series).

Responsibilities

• Review notices of intent and solicitations for grant proposals; collaborate with Principal Investigators (PIs) on draft budgets and justifications.
• Gather required documents for proposal submission (biosketches, current & pending support, conflict of interest forms, facilities and equipment details, etc.).
• Coordinate with the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC) to obtain special approvals (e.g., cost share, financial risk, IAF, advanced accounts).
• Distribute correspondence and updates from OGC and ACOR listserv to faculty regarding proposal deadlines and sponsor requirements.
• Review awarded grants for accuracy; ensure necessary internal orders (IOs) are created and distributed to Co-PIs as needed.
• Prepare journal entries in SIMBA for cost transfers or account updates.
• Advise faculty, staff, and students on cost allowability and allocability.
• Assist PIs with no-cost extensions, carryforward requests, budget revisions, and personnel changes.
• Prepare detailed invoice documentation for sponsors such as PLCB and CDC.
• Provide financial reports to PIs and monitor grant end dates to ensure timely closeout.
• Serve as the primary initiator for purchasing cards, travel, PSUbuy orders, SIMBA forms, and other transactions as part of the Finance Optimized Service Teams (OST) rollout in February 2026.

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees