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Assistant Director, Pre-Award Administration

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL Other
POSTED ON 3/20/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 4/18/2025
Department

BSD ADM - Research Administration

About The Department

The University of Chicago is an intellectual community and a globally renowned research institution dedicated to fostering innovative and impactful research in various domains, including the Biological Sciences. The Biological Sciences Division is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and the Research Administration Office plays a pivotal role in supporting and facilitating the faculty who conduct research.

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Pre-Award in the Biological Sciences Division is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing all pre-award activities related to sponsored research within the division. Reporting directly to the Director of Pre-Award, the Assistant Director position will perform a crucial role in managing pre-award administrators, implementing policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs), and supporting complex submissions. This individual will also support training initiatives in the division and provide guidance to and expertise on all pre-award matters to faculty, staff, and administrators.

Responsibilities

Team Management:

  • Supervise and lead a team of pre-award administrators, ensuring effective coordination and collaboration within the team.
  • Provide mentorship, guidance, and professional development opportunities for team members.
  • Set team goals, evaluate performance, and provide feedback and additional training to ensure adherence to team standards.

Implementation Of Policies/SOPs:

  • Working directly with the Director of Pre-Award, implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) in alignment with institutional guidelines and federal regulations.
  • Regularly review and update policies to ensure compliance with evolving regulations and best practices.
  • Provide feedback to the Director of Pre-Award on policies and opportunities for process improvement to streamline pre-award processes and team efficiency.

Complex Submission Support:

  • Provide oversight for complex grant and contract proposals prepared within the division.
  • Offer expertise and support to the primary research administrator assigned to that opportunity to facilitate appropriate support to the faculty. Help develop timeline and roles/responsibilities for administrators supporting this submission to ensure the submission is of high-quality and compliant with institutional and sponsor policies.

Unit Reviews:

  • Conduct divisional review of proposals routed within the division. Identify changes required for compliance with divisional and institutional best practices and policies.
  • Provide feedback to the administrator on the proposal to provide immediate and practical instruction on areas for improvement.
  • Based on patterns seen within reviews, identify enhancements to SOPs or additional training that may be needed for the pre-award team.

Support Training Initiatives:

  • Work with the Director of Pre-award to develop and deliver training programs for faculty, researchers, and administrators on pre-award processes, policies, and compliance requirements.
  • Stay informed about changes in regulations and help disseminate relevant information to the division about policy changes.
  • Manages employees by establishing annual performance goals, allocating resources, assessing annual performance, and determining individual merit, incentive and/or promotional increases.
  • Remains current with agency and regulatory changes. Plans for department/unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.
  • Performs other related work as needed.

Education:

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • Master's Degree strongly preferred.

Experience:

  • Extensive experience in research administration, grants management, or a related field strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

  • Strong leadership and managerial skills, with a track record of successfully leading teams.
  • Proficiency in grant proposal development, including budget preparation and narrative writing.
  • Knowledge of federal and state regulations related to research administration.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.
  • Familiarity with research administration software and systems.
  • Commitment to the University of Chicago's mission and values.

Working Conditions

  • Office Environment.

Application Documents

  • Resume (required)
  • Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Financial Management

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$100,000.00 - $130,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

In addition to the base pay posted above, this position may be eligible for N/A

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Salary : $100,000 - $130,000

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