Pre-Award Specialist

Description

The responsibilities of this position are multifaceted. The pre-award team supports faculty, staff and students in securing external funding by assisting with various aspects of the process. This includes reviewing RFPs (requests for proposals); ensuring compliance with sponsor, university, state, federal and other relevant requirements; reviewing budgets; submitting proposals for external funding and performing other duties related to sponsored projects. The role requires ongoing training in regulations and compliance and involves representing the university's interests during the review and submission of proposals.

The target salary offer for this position is $3,958.00 to $4,228.00. Final salary offer will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints.

Examples of Duties

1. Serve as the primary liaison between external agencies and principal investigators in the review and acceptance of grant proposals submitted on behalf of SIUC. Ensure that all proposals submitted on behalf of SIUC are correct and in compliance with university/agency, federal and state regulations.
2. Respond to post-submission requests for information related to submitted proposals while clarifying the terms and conditions with sponsors to ensure consistency with university policies, as well as institutional policies such as HIPAA, FERPA, COI, Debarment, etc.
3. Coordinate all assigned pre-award service functions in OSPA to facilitate the proposal submission process, which includes the development of grant applications, and reviewing funding opportunity announcements for eligibility and other requirements.
4. Collaborate with departments and guide faculty on grant application processes and review budgets to ensure costs are appropriate and in accordance with applicable guidelines/policy to complete OSPA’s internal approval processes for accurate and timely submissions.
5. Review proposals and sponsored project award documents to assure compliance with federal, state and university guidelines and make sure that university policies and the legitimate rights of sponsoring agencies are protected.
6. Work with the appropriate stakeholders to provide clarity and/or address administrative and contractual challenges that may exist between sponsoring agencies, principal investigators, other key personnel and interested parties within the university.
7. Review awards for compliance with university policies as well as to make sure compliance certifications or assurances such as IACUC, IRB, FCOI, RCR, Export Control and Biological Hazards, etc., are in place as needed. Coordinate required compliance review with responsible university office(s).
8. Perform negotiation functions to ensure SIUC reduces potential requests to waive federally negotiated indirect cost rates. If needed, work with your supervisor and/or manager.
9. Demonstrate and apply effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills and analytical skills while coordinating with other teams within OSPA to improve general business processes for effective and efficient delivery of services.
10. Must be adaptable to using technological software to store information, design usable reference documents for internal and external use and submit deliverables as needed.
11. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Supplemental Information

The Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (OSPA), part of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, oversees grant and contract activities, ensuring compliance with federal, state and university regulations while managing proposals and awards on behalf of faculty.

SIU Carbondale, member of the SIU System, is an anti-racist community that opposes racism, discrimination and inequity in any form, and embraces diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice for all people.

SIU Carbondale is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans that strives to enhance its ability to develop a diverse faculty and staff and to increase its potential to serve a diverse student population. All applications are welcomed and encouraged and will receive consideration.

University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). These benefits include: Health Insurance plans (HMOs, OAPs, QCHP and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts, MCAP and DCAP, and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.

Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois.

Other benefits available to eligible employees include: Generous paid time-off, 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans, Employee Assistance Program and a Tuition Waiver Program.