Pre-Award Grants Manager

Reporting to the Vice Provost, Research and Sponsored Programs, the Pre-Award Grants Manager plays a critical role in supporting faculty, researchers, and staff with the preparation and submission of grant proposals and contracts. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a growing portfolio of research and scholarly activities by promoting and supporting external funding efforts across the University.

This position offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Ensures the accuracy, compliance, and timely submission of funding proposals to external agencies, including federal, state, private, and non-profit sponsors.
• Supports the strategic pursuit of external funding opportunities by assisting faculty, administrators, and staff in identifying, monitoring and disseminating new funding opportunities, preparing proposals and ensuring compliance with sponsor guidelines and institutional policies.
• Provides guidance on the strategic alignment of research projects with sponsor priorities.
• Reviews and edits proposals for completeness, accuracy, and clarity, with a focus on budgets, narratives, and required documentation.
• Develops project budgets in collaboration with principal investigators (PIs), ensuring alignment with funding agency requirements.
• Monitors proposal deadlines and coordinates timely proposal submission through sponsor-specific portals (e.g., Grants.gov, Research.gov, eRA Commons).
• Maintains a repository of funding resources, templates, and institutional data to support proposal development.
• Ensures proposals meet all regulatory and sponsor requirements, including institutional compliance with human subjects, animal research, and conflict of interest policies.
• Serves as a liaison to confirm IRB/IACUC approvals, when applicable.
• Provides training and workshops on proposal development, budgeting, and funding agency guidelines to faculty, administrators, and staff.
• Serves as a resource for faculty, administrators, and staff, answering questions and troubleshooting issues related to proposal submissions.
• Stays current with funding agency updates, trends, and changes in policies to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Collaborates with faculty and administrative units, as appropriate, to ensure alignment on project scope and budgets.
• Coordinates with post-award staff to ensure a smooth transition from proposal submission to award setup.
• Establishes strong relationships with external funding agencies and internal stakeholders to facilitate effective communication throughout the proposal process.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3-5 years of experience in research administration or sponsored programs, with a focus on pre-award activities.
• Experience with grant submission systems such as Grants.gov, NSF FastLane, or NIH eRA Commons.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and private funding agency guidelines and processes.
• Strong analytical and budgeting skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and a commitment to contribute to a positive and inclusive team culture.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Familiarity with Uniform Guidance and other federal regulations governing sponsored projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Knowledge of grant management software.