"Director, Grants Administration (Pre-Award)"

Position Summary

The Director of Grants Administration plays a critical leadership role in advancing the research mission of the Institute by managing all aspects of proposal development and submission, in addition to post-award non-financial administrative actions. This individual is responsible for overseeing the end-to-end pre-award and post-award non-financial administrative process, ensuring timely and accurate preparation and submission of grant proposals to federal agencies, foundations, and other external sponsors. The Director also oversees institutional reporting related to proposal activity and serves as a key advisor to scientists and research staff throughout the proposal lifecycle.

The Director ensures compliance with sponsor guidelines, facilitates collaborative proposals, and develops systems and policies that support a high-performing research enterprise. The incumbent works closely with principal investigators, research administration teams, and external partners to enable the successful pursuit of extramural funding. The director works closely with all members of the Finance and Research Accounting team to ensure smooth management of grants life cycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all pre-award operations, ensuring high-quality, compliant, and timely proposal submissions.
• Work closely with faculty and the Grants Development team to identify needs and develop specific proposals and solicitation methods.
• Manage and support the development of competitive proposals, including review of application materials, budgets, justifications, and institutional documentation.
• Serve as the primary institutional point of contact for pre-award and post-award administrative/non-financial communication with federal agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, DoD), private foundations, and other sponsors.
• Oversee the use and implementation of electronic research administration systems and sponsor portals (e.g., Grants.gov, NIH ASSIST, Research.gov, ProposalCentral).
• Lead and contribute to a collaborative team of pre-award professionals; provide guidance, performance management, and training to ensure excellence in service and compliance.
• Interpret and apply federal, sponsor-specific, and institute policies to ensure proposal integrity and risk mitigation both pre- and post-award.
• Collaborate with scientific staff to facilitate multi-institutional, interdisciplinary, and complex proposals.
• Track and report on proposal activity and submission trends; generate reports for internal leadership and external stakeholders as needed.
• Transitions awards to Research Accounting for post-award financial management. Works with various administrative departments (e.g., Research Accounting, Purchasing, Office of Technology Development) and Committees (e.g., IACUC, IRB, ESCRO) to assure proper stewardship/oversight of grant awards.
• Develop and implement process improvements and best practices to enhance service delivery and reduce administrative burden on researchers.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises up to 6 employees.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in research administration, public administration, science, or related field strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in research administration at a research institute, academic medical center, or university, with at least 3 years in a people management role.
• In-depth knowledge of federal and foundation funding mechanisms, particularly NIH and other health- and science-focused agencies.
• Proven experience in pre-award grant administration, proposal development, and submission management.
• Familiarity with research submission/administration systems such as Cayuse, or equivalent platforms.
• Deep understanding of the research environment, particularly in biomedical or life sciences.
• Familiarity with collaborative and international proposal requirements.
• Continuous Process Improvement experience is preferred.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or similar credential preferred.
• Computer skills required: Microsoft Office; Project Management Software, AI tools such as ChatGPT.

Salary and Benefits

The expected pay range for this position is $135,000 to $170,000 per annum. Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Salk Institute offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program.