Sr. Director of Pre-Award page is loaded
Sr. Director of Pre-Award
Apply locations Interdisciplinary Research Building time type Full time posted on Posted 3 Days Ago job requisition id JR106698
The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.
At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.
Here is what we offer :
- Health & Wellness : Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
- Work-Life Balance : PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
- Financial Wellness : Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
- Professional Development : Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
- Additional Perks : Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture
Join Howard University and thrive with us!
BASIC FUNCTION :
The Senior Director of Pre-Award leads the university’s pre-award research administration function, ensuring efficient, compliant, and strategic proposal development and submission. The role is responsible for managing all outgoing proposals and outgoing subawards, providing direct support to faculty and research administrators to enhance proposal competitiveness. As a key leader in the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO), this position provides supervisory oversight of pre-award staff, works closely with institutional leadership, and aligns pre-award services with federal, sponsor, and institutional requirements.
SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY :
Directly supervises Pre-Award Research Administrators and administrative support staff.Provides oversight of outgoing proposals and subawards within the Sponsored Programs Office.Provides training, mentorship, and professional development to pre-award staff to ensure continuous improvement in research administration.Oversees faculty engagement and training efforts, ensuring faculty and research administrators receive guidance on proposal development and compliance.Collaborates with the Executive Director of Pre-Award to establish best practices and ensure seamless pre-award operations.NATURE AND SCOPE :
Reports directly to the Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Sponsored Programs and works in close collaboration with the Executive Director of Pre-Award to align pre-award strategy with the university’s research mission.Serves as the primary point of contact for faculty and research centers on proposal development and submission.Leads the university’s outgoing proposal and outgoing subaward administration, ensuring that all submissions meet sponsor, federal, and institutional requirements.Engages with Post-Award teams, Research Compliance, and Legal to support seamless research administration processes.Cross-Coverage Clause : While the Senior Director primarily oversees outgoing proposals and subawards, they are expected to cross-train and collaborate with the Executive Director to ensure seamless research administration operations. In the absence of the Executive Director, the Senior Director may assume temporary oversight of incoming awards and agreements to maintain compliance, efficiency, and sponsor relations.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES :
Leadership & Operations ManagementManages all outgoing proposals and subawards, ensuring timely and compliant submission to federal, corporate, and foundation sponsors.Implements workflow automation and efficiency strategies to enhance proposal development.Establishes and enforces best practices and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for proposal development and submission.Serves as a liaison between faculty, research centers, and sponsors, ensuring successful proposal submission.Proposal Development & ComplianceProvides technical assistance and strategic guidance for complex and high-value research proposals.Reviews and ensures all outgoing proposals adhere to sponsor guidelines and university policies.Oversees subcontractor agreements and compliance, including but not limited to pre-award sub-recipient monitoring and assessments.Maintains up-to-date knowledge of federal research regulations, including 2 CFR 200, FAR / DFARS, and OMB Circulars.Faculty & Stakeholder EngagementDevelops and leads training programs for faculty, research administrators, and pre-award staff on proposal development, budgeting, and compliance.Conducts outreach initiatives to increase faculty participation in externally funded research.Provides consultation and guidance to Principal Investigators (PIs) to strengthen proposal competitiveness.Data-Driven Decision Making & Performance MonitoringTracks proposal volume, success rates, and sponsor trends, using data to drive strategic improvements.Implements research analytics tools to measure performance and optimize pre-award workflows.Provides regular reports to the AVP of Sponsored Programs on proposal activity, funding trends, and operational efficiency.Career Path Development Toward Executive Director RoleGains experience in contract negotiation, high-level sponsor relations, and policy development in preparation for career progression.Engages in strategic discussions with the AVP and Executive Director on research administration improvements.Develops expertise in institution-wide policy-making, budget oversight, and interdisciplinary research funding strategies.CORE COMPETENCIES :
Leadership & Mentorship : Ability to supervise, train, and mentor pre-award staff to achieve excellence in research administration.Expertise in Federal Funding & Compliance : Deep knowledge of NIH, NSF, DoD, and foundation grants, including federal compliance regulations.Proposal Development & Strategy : Strong understanding of sponsor priorities, funding trends, and proposal competitiveness strategies.Data Analytics & Process Improvement : Ability to track, analyze, and optimize pre-award workflows and research funding success rates.Stakeholder Engagement & Communication : Skilled in collaborating with faculty, administrators, and external sponsors to facilitate research success.Contract & Agreement Oversight : Ability to review and sign standard proposals and subawards, with the judgment to escalate complex cases appropriately.MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS :
Bachelor's degree is essential, with a Master's degree highly preferred, supplemented by extensive experience in grant and contract administration.8 years of experience in research administration, with at least 5 years in leadership roles.Leadership experience is crucial, particularly in guiding a team dedicated to contract administration.Exceptional organizational skills are a must, with the capacity to handle multiple concurrent projects.Comprehensive knowledge of the entire lifecycle of research award administration, from the proposal phase to the award set-up.Must possess a deep understanding of federal contract requirements.Comprehensive grasp of federal research compliance regulations, including 2 CFR 200, OMB Circulars, and FARS.Compliance Salary Range Disclosure
Expected Pay Range : $145,454 - $160,000
About Us
Howard University is a comprehensive, research-oriented, historically Black private university providing an educational experience of exceptional quality to students of high academic potential with particular emphasis upon the provision of educational opportunities to promising Black students. Further, the University is dedicated to attracting and sustaining a cadre of faculty who are, through their teaching and research, committed to the development of distinguished and compassionate graduates and to the quest for solutions to human and social problems in the United States and throughout the world.
Howard University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital status, religion, disability or protected veterans status. Veterans and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Inquiries regarding provisions for persons with disabilities or veterans status, Equal Employment Opportunity and Title IX should be directed to the Office of Employee Relations and Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-806-1280.
This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as may be required. The university has the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not be construed as a contract for employment.
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Salary : $145,454 - $160,000
