What are the responsibilities and job description for the Proposal Research Project Manager (RPM) (Level I, II or III) College of Engineering position at Colorado State University?
Position Location
Fort Collins, CO
Work Location
Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position
Yes
Posting Number
202500417AP
Position Type
Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title
Research Coordinator
Number of Vacancies
1
Work Hours/Week
40
Proposed Annual Salary Range
RPM Level 1: $60,000 - $69,200, RPM Level 2: $69,201 - $71,000 per year, RPM Level 3 : $71,001 - $78,200 per year
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
- Review our detailed benefits information here.
- Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
- For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.
Desired Start Date
04/01/2025
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on
04/14/2025
Description of Work Unit
Colorado State University is a land-grant institution committed to a 150-year-old mission of access to higher education for the citizens of Colorado and to excellence in teaching, research, and outreach. The campus is located in the city of Fort Collins, the county seat of Larimer County. Fort Collins is a progressive community of approximately 171,000 situated 65 miles north of Denver on Interstate 25. Located at an elevation of 5,000 feet, Fort Collins has a clear, dry climate and generally pleasant temperature throughout the year.
The Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering (WSCOE) at Colorado State University (CSU) consists of about 3,000 students enrolled in BS, MS, and PhD programs, 145 tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty, and over 400 support staff and research scientists.
The Office of the Dean provides administrative support for faculty, staff, and students in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. The Office of the Dean serves as the main administrative office for the rest of the University. The office administers all financial, development, research administration, industry outreach activities, communications, facilities, human resources, and travel functions conducted within the college.
The Engineering Research Business Office (RBO) provides coordination and direct support for the management of federal, state, and commercial grants and contracts for research groups within the college. The RBO supports management decisions at all college levels with accurate and timely data accounting for compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
Position Summary
The Proposal Research Project Manager (Preaward) supports college faculty and researchers by coordinating competitive grant and contract applications for federal, state, local, foundation, and commercial funding. This role ensures the accurate and timely preparation of budget and proposals in compliance with relevant regulations and sponsor requirements. The RPM serves as a trusted resource for extramural funding, staying current on university to federal regulations, funding agency guidelines, as well as application processes and submission portals. The ideal candidate will possess excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, strong writing ability, and the capacity to learn quickly. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, as the RPM will build collaborative relationships with stakeholders in central university offices, including the Office of Sponsored Programs, as well as with college and department leaders, faculty, research staff, administrators, and team members. The RPM must be a proactive self-starter, skilled in problem-solving, managing competing priorities, while demonstrating a strong work ethic and commitment to delivering high-quality results.
The RPM also oversees the day-to-day budget management of complex portfolios of scientific research projects. Collaborating closely with faculty and senior research scientists, the RPM ensures accurate and timely financial data to support management decisions and compliance with local, state, federal, and sponsor requirements. The successful RPM will coordinate expenditure planning, forecast budgets, and recommend solutions for funding shortfalls, purchasing issues, or travel complications. While not typically responsible for executing financial transactions, the RPM reviews and approves or declines project-related expenditures in consultation with the project’s principal investigator (PI) as needed.
This position does not participate in the scientific research of any project.
The individual selected for the position will be classified into one of the following levels based on education and experience:
RPM Level 1: $60,000 – $69,200 per year
- Bachelor’s Degree. Or in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree, a high school diploma plus either eight (8) years of relevant work experience, OR a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Pre-Award Administrator (CPRA) certification in lieu of eight (8) years of experience.
- Two (2) years of related professional experience.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposal start date. The department will not sponsor a visa for this position.
RPM Level 2: $69,201 – $71,000 per year
- Bachelor’s Degree. Or in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree, a high school diploma plus either eight (8) years of relevant work experience, OR a CRA or CPRA certification in lieu of eight (8) years of experience.
- Two (2) years of related professional experience plus three (3) years of research administration experience, including but not limited to proposal submissions, project management, and/or financial management.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposal start date. The department will not sponsor a visa for this position.
RPM Level 3 : $71,001 – $78,200 per year
- Bachelor’s Degree. Or in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree, a high school diploma with either eight (8) years of relevant work experience, OR a CRA or CPRA certification in lieu of eight (8) years of experience.
- Five (5 ) plus years of research administration experience, including but not limited to proposal submissions, project management, and/or financial management.
- Emphasis on Pre-award experience, including but not limited to complex proposals involving cost share, multiple sub-awards, a wide variety of agencies, detailed spreadsheets and budget presentations, compliance with Uniform Guidance and/or agency policies, etc.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposal start date. The department will not sponsor a visa for this position.
The Proposal Research Project Manager reports to the Director of Pre-award Support in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering at the Colorado State University.
Remote work is negotiable depending on the experience of the candidate. Remote work candidates will be considered, however periodic on-campus presence may be necessary (e.g. staff retreat) but not on a regular basis. Therefore, candidates are expected to commute to Fort Collins when necessary.
Required Job Qualifications
RPM Level 1: $60,000 – $69,200 per year
- Bachelor’s Degree. Or in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree, a high school diploma plus either eight (8) years of relevant work experience, OR a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Pre-Award Administrator (CPRA) certification in lieu of eight (8) years of experience.
- Two (2) years of related professional experience.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposal start date. The department will not sponsor a visa for this position.
RPM Level 2: $69,201 – $71,000 per year
- Bachelor’s Degree. Or in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree, a high school diploma plus either eight (8) years of relevant work experience, OR a CRA or CPRA certification in lieu of eight (8) years of experience.
- Two (2) years of related professional experience plus three (3) years of research administration experience, including but not limited to proposal submissions, project management, and/or financial management.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposal start date. The department will not sponsor a visa for this position.
RPM Level 3 : $71,001 – $78,200 per year
- Bachelor’s Degree. Or in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree, a high school diploma with either eight (8) years of relevant work experience, OR a CRA or CPRA certification in lieu of eight (8) years of experience.
- Five (5 ) plus years of research administration experience, including but not limited to proposal submissions, project management, and/or financial management.
- Emphasis on Pre-award experience, including but not limited to complex proposals involving cost share, multiple sub-awards, a wide variety of agencies, detailed spreadsheets and budget presentations, compliance with Uniform Guidance and/or agency policies, etc.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposal start date. The department will not sponsor a visa for this position.
Preferred Job Qualifications
- Proven effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
- Demonstrated time management skills essential to meeting critical deadlines and managing priority changes.
- Advanced knowledge of office productivity software including MS Office; proficiency in development of complex formulas and pivot tables in Excel or similar spreadsheet software for report preparation; and data retrieval or other database management software (e.g., Oracle, Access, Smartsheet); and Adobe Acrobat.
- Experience with making financial decisions based on Federal Cost Accounting Standards and Uniform Guidance.
- Experience working in a higher education setting.
- Financial management experience including forecasting, personnel planning, tracking expenditures and re-budgeting.
- Experience with administrative activities associated with the scientific research process lifecycle.
- Experience with Kuali Research Proposal Development (KRPD) and Kuali Financial System (KFS) systems or similar proposal budgeting and financial management software.
- Experience with the preparation of scientific research proposals including budget development with multiple federal and non-federal funding agencies and respective proposal submission portals.
- Certification in Research Administration such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Pre-Award Administrator (CPRA), and/or Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA).
- Experience building strong work relationships with customers based on subject-matter knowledge and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of customers/colleagues.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative to problem solve through researching information and communication with resources/connection.
Essential Duties
Job Duty Category
Proposal Submissions
Duty/Responsibility
Proposal submissions, as needed to support the pre-award team.
- Researches and coordinates preparation of scientific research proposals to federal sponsors including, but not limited to, the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the National Park Service.
- Prepares proposals for state, local, international government funding.
- Prepares proposals for industry, foundation, non-profit, and other potential sponsors.
- Investigates availability of funding programs, and research submission, compliance, and project cost share requirements.
- Consults with sponsor representatives.
- Prepares proposal budgets and draft budget justifications, ensuring compliance to application requirements including allowability and allocability of anticipated costs.
- Coordinates and recommends solutions for project cost share requirements.
- Coordinates budget and application requirements across multiple CSU colleges and/or other institutions for collaborative projects.
- Coordinates directly with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) to meet submission requirements.
Percentage Of Time
95%
Job Duty Category
Project Management
Duty/Responsibility
- Management of a diverse research funding portfolio including federal, state, local government, foreign government, private sector, and non-profit agency grants, contracts, and cooperative agreement funding.
- Makes day-to-day project expenditure decisions, based on a familiarity with project objectives and available funding, consulting with the project PI, OSP, and others as needed.
- Interacts with program managers, contracting staff, and scientific leadership at external funding agencies to address questions and resolve problems related to project staffing, budget categories, contracting issues, project status updates, requests for project extension or supplemental funding, and project reporting.
- Works with scientist and administrators from other US and international institutions to coordinate joint research efforts. Leads planning for complex, international research field deployments. Researches and finds solutions to institutional or governmental hurdles (e.g., internal equipment transport and customs requirements) that might otherwise prevent or impede successful accomplishment of research objectives. This frequently involves working with the Office of Sponsored Programs and other administrative offices at CSU.
- Participates in NCURA professional meetings and/or other professional growth opportunities to promote improved job knowledge and performance.
- Interacts with program managers, contracting staff, and scientific leadership at external funding agencies to address questions and resolve problems related to project staffing, budget categories, contracting issues, project status updates, requests for project extension or supplemental funding, and project reporting.
- In coordination with RBO accounting tech and PIs, set-up and administer sales and service accounts to support department provision of scientific services to internal and external clients. Research and project future activity levels. Coordinate with customers on project management, schedule, and deliverables.
- Manage the award of graduate student fellowships and grants, dealing with complex, sometimes conflicting guidelines, associated with student receipt of multiple award types.
- Note: Customers, collaborators, subawardees, subcontractors, sponsors, etc. may be federal, state, local or foreign governments, private sector companies, or non-profits.
Percentage Of Time
2.5%
Job Duty Category
Financial Management
Duty/Responsibility
- Designs and implements models to forecast expenditures on existing projects and the likelihood of future funding via pending or planned research proposals. Identifies gaps in future funding and help identify future funding opportunities.
- In coordination with RBO accounting tech and PIs, researches costs of provided services and sets appropriate charge rates.
- Ensures the award of graduate student fellowships and grants are charged to the appropriate funding source. Prepares and administers graduate student funding plans.
- Manages the cost share associated with awards from budgeting through tracking and verifying
- Works with faculty to ensure the subawards are paying invoices in a timely manner, and as needed, meets with subawardees to discuss administrative details/requirements.
- Works with College of Engineering Development staff and PIs to plan and manage research projects funded through department, college, and university development efforts.
- Prepares and recommends staffing plans for individual faculty research groups. Using funding forecasts, makes recommendations to faculty, the director of RBO, and department heads regarding needed changes in scientific staffing. This may include the recommendation to hire or change the funding source of research associates, research scientists, post docs, and graduate students.
- In coordination with RBO accounting tech and PIs, designs business plans to acquire, appropriately utilize, maintain, and replace scientific equipment. Analyzes equipment use in support of funded research activities. Builds models to support recharge centers (21s) and lab services (22s), considering equipment capital, operating costs, and projected equipment use based on forecast of research activity levels and directions. Sets appropriate equipment use fees to ensure adequate cost recovery and build these charges into project budgets. Prepares and updates account business plans and charge rates annually.
Percentage Of Time
2.5%
Application Details
Special Instructions to Applicants
For full consideration, please upload a cover letter that clearly addresses the minimum and preferred qualifications for this position, your resume/CV, and the contact information for three (3) professional references by 11:59 PM (MST) on April, 14 2025.
The posting will remain open until filled, however for full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59 PM (MST) on April, 14 2025.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
The posting will remain open until filled, however for full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59 PM (MST) on April, 14 2025.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Conditions of Employment
Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact
Liza Hunn, Liza.Hunn@colostate.edu
EEO
Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
Salary : $60,000 - $69,200
