Proposal Preparation Specialist

Rice University•Houston, TX

9h•$75,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Wiess School of Natural Sciences is seeking a Proposal Preparation Specialist to provide advanced and varied support to departments to facilitate the grant proposal development process and track activities. They will lead and advise faculty and research personnel on how to plan, prepare, and write grant proposals to enable highly competitive extramural research funding (e.g. federal agencies, state agencies, industry, or foundations). Reporting directly to the Associate Director of Pre-Award Research Administration in the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, this role will play a vital role in facilitating effective communication and collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted.
Three or more (3+) years of experience in Pre-Award Research Administration (i.e. grant proposal preparation and submission to various governmental agencies such as NSF, DOD, DOE, DARPA, NIH, etc.)
Initiative and ability to work independently and as a team member
Excellent interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
Excellent administrative and organizational skills and the ability to prioritize one’s own workload
Strong critical thinking skills
Excellent writing and editing skills
Ability to work under deadline pressure

Nice To Haves

5+ years of experience in Pre-Award Research Administration in a university setting.
Demonstrated experience with large-scale, complex federal funding proposals (e.g., DARPA, ARPA-H or similar agencies).
Certified Research Administrator (CRA)

Responsibilities

Efficiently evaluate Funding Opportunity Announcements, develop proposal preparation timelines, templates, checklists, and track proposal development efforts.
Understand, explain, and clarify various agency’s proposal requirements and review processes.
Develop and analyze proposal budgets in accordance with sponsor guidelines and University research policies.
Organize and facilitate faculty teams to prepare large-scale, complex, multidisciplinary proposals, including collaborative opportunities across the University and multi-research organizations.
Research and assist in writing non-technical content of proposals.
Perform careful review of the scientific, technical, and/or scholarly narrative sections of proposals to ensure compliance with sponsor requirements and with research policies of the University.
Serve as a liaison with faculty, administrators, and the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) to ensure timely and successful proposal submissions.
Develop professional written communications to sponsor agencies, organizations, and key stakeholders.
Interact and collaborate with agencies, faculty, and departmental award management staff to support the successful life cycle of funded projects.
Lead training and development sessions designed for faculty, staff, postdocs, graduate students, and/or undergraduate students on topics related to the development of proposals for external grant funds
Assist in preparing ad hoc administrative projects such as proposal archives, reports and proposal writing tips.
Prepare and update proposal documents (revised budgets, JIT documentation, etc.) as needed prior to execution of an award.
Perform all other duties as assigned
Informs the principal investigator (PI) of all proposal preparation requirements and ensures guidelines are followed for proposal formatting, all documents required, and submission requirements.
Monitors compliance with agency and University regulations regarding submission; verifies all financial information