Grant Administrator, Pre-Award, Office of Research

Job Details

Job Title: Grant Administrator, Pre-Award, Office of Research
Posting Start Date: 5/11/26 Work Arrangement: Remote

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors

Next Lives at the University of Cincinnati

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,600 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 360,000 living alumni, UC, a Carnegie 1 institution, combines research prowess with a physical setting The New York Times has called “the most ambitious campus design program in the country." UC's momentum has never been stronger as the anchor of the Cincinnati Innovation District, the oldest cooperative education (co-op) program in the country with students earning $94 million annually through paid experiences, an academic health system, and as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The university contributes $10.6 billion in economic impact to the city and $22.7 billion to the state of Ohio. At UC, next is all of us. Learn more at uc.edu.

UC is a mission-driven organization where we are committed to student success and positively transforming the community through scholarship and service. We thrive on innovation, making an impact, and fostering an environment where staff and faculty are key contributors to UC’s success.

About Cooperative Grants Office

The Cooperative Grants Office (CGO) is a centralized department in the Office of Research primarily responsible for the development, review, and submission of sponsored research proposals.

Job Overview

The Grant Administrator Pre-Award (GA pre-award) is responsible for the development of proposals in compliance with University, funder, and federal requirements. The GA pre-award works closely with the Principal Investigator to develop the proposal submission and with an Authorized Organizational Representative to ensure the timely submission of all required proposal documents.

The start date for this position will be after July 1, 2026.

Essential Functions

• Assist faculty and staff with developing proposals for submission to federal, state, and private grants, contracts, and external funding sources. Advise faculty and staff in the design of sponsored programs, including budget development, document editing and sponsor forms/templates.
• Maintain proposal records in accordance with the department’s policies and processes, support development of proposal documentation templates and instructions, and attend regular meetings to review the status of assigned projects.
• Facilitate coordination across units/colleges for interdisciplinary proposals. Facilitate collaborative work between central offices and the college/unit.
• Ensure compliance with university, federal, state and sponsor requirements.
• Initiate grant proposals in various sponsor portals, enter data directly into portal applications or append required files.
• Dependent on skill level, may be required to function as a University Authorized Organizational Representative to submit proposals on behalf of the university by required deadlines.
• Ability to learn quickly, adapt and grow professionally in order to meet the demands of both simple and complex proposal submissions as well as work with a varied group of faculty and staff within the university.
• Provide feedback and recommendations on business operations to help improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Build and maintain effective professional relationships with faculty and colleagues in different environments.
• Perform related duties based on departmental needs. This job description can be changed at any time.

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree.
Five (5) years of relevant work experience and/or other specialized training can be used in lieu of education requirement.

Required Experience

One (1) year grant and/or finance-related experience.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Pre-award grant administration experience.
• Understanding of SAP, Kuali, Grants.gov, Research.gov/FastLane and other state and federal grant systems.
• Intermediate proficiency in MS Office Skills, e.g., Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment
- Sitting - Continuously
- Repetitive hand motion (such as typing) - Continuously
- Hearing, listening - Continuously
- Talking - Often
- Standing - Seldom
- Walking - Seldom
- Bending - Seldom
- Stooping - Seldom
- Climbing stairs/ladders - Seldom
- Kneeling, squatting - Seldom
- Crouching - Seldom
- Reaching overhead - Seldom
- Lifting - up to 20 pounds - Seldom

Application Process Information

A resume and cover letter are required as part of the application process. Attach these documents before submitting your application.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. UC Benefits Eligibility may vary by position and FTE status. Highlights include:

Salary/Hourly Pay Rate Information:

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won’t contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you’ll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14–18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

Vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)

6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our Careers Page.