Job Summary:
The Sr. Proposal Administrator is responsible for review and
submission of outgoing proposals The Proposal Administrator, Sr.
reviews and assists in creation of applicable proposal budgets and
other aspects of proposals in alignment with sponsor and
solicitation guidelines and provides feedback to the research
community (faculty, business administrators, and research
personnel) as applicable on required corrections or policies and
proecdures for proposal review and submission. The Proposal
Administrator, Sr. also reviews proposals for compliance with
federal, state, and institutional regulations, monitoring proposals
for risks and escalating deviations to Associate Director (who
works with Finance leadership as appropriate), The Proposal
Administrator, Sr. serves as an authorized official on behalf of
RPI to represent and certify on behalf of the university to the
accuracy of proposal content, as well as other matters as required
by sponsors. The Proposal Administrator, Sr. assists with
developing and delivering training for the research community, as
well as the maintenance of business process documentation and tools
for proposal submission at RPI. The Sr. Proposal Administrator
shall actively participate in process improvement and training and
communication to campus stakeholders related to the proposal
submission process at RPI as assigned.
Who we are:
Founded in 1824,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is
the first technological research university in the United States.
We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address
society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional
problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry,
disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan,
RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era
of RPI.
Explore the RPI Forward plan. ︎
Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home
to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an
observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM
Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in
the world.
With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer
offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program,
tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum of three (3) years of experience in sponsored programs
within a higher education setting, including in-depth knowledge of
federal proposal submission procedures for a variety of federal
sponsors, as well as federal regulations related to the
administration of grants and contracts, including 2 CFR 200 (Office
of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance) and the Federal
Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be
considered.
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of federal regulations and policies governing
non-profit and/or educational institutions, specifically as they
relate to proposal review and submission across a complex mix of
Federal, State, foundation/not-for-profit and industry sponsored
opportunities.
Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
Ability to analyze and interpret data
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in
writing
Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet established
goals and objectives
Ability to work independently or as part of a team
Ability to work in fast paced, rapidly changing
environment.
Demonstrated problem solving and project management
skills.
Demonstrated supervisory skills
Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal
supervision
Excellent oral and written skills
Ability to interact well with people either individually or in
a group setting
Representative Job Duties:
- Review, process and submit proposals, ensuring compliance with
Rensselaer’s polices, sponsor requirements, and Federal rules.
Submission includes reviewing final budgets for high risk areas
such as level of effort, use of subcontracts, cost sharing, and
correct application of F&A rates in alignment with RPI’s
approved agreement. Serve as authoried institutional official for
proposal submissions.
- Maintain Rensselaer proposal budget template for use, including
correcting and updating formulas, and developing an in-depth
understanding of the tool’s features as they relate to proration of
tuition and faculty/staff/student time, calculation of cost share,
and others.
- Navigate multiple sponsor systems (e.g., grants.gov,
research.gov, EERE Exchange, NASA NSPIRES) and forms (e.g., SF424,
various FDP forms, DOE/DOD budget workbooks by gov’t fiscal
year/task, etc.) and Q/A such forms for compliance with RPI and
sponsor rules. Serve as SME for campus and lead training efforts
for campus business managers on divisional/departmental pre-award
research administration.
- Become a campus resource for RPI systems (e.g., Cayuse, Banner)
and tools (e.g., checklists, templates, forms, etc), viewed as a
Subject Matter Expert (SME), to faculty and the business community.
Participate as a leader in hands-on training of campus users for
RPI specific business processes and policies related to proporsal
review and submission.
- Review policies and procedures to identify areas for potential
streamlining and provide recommendations to supervisor.
- Serve as a campus resource, viewed as a Subject Matter Expert
(SME), to faculty and the business community for proposal related
questions for a complex mix of Federal grant and contract
solicitations (NIH, NSF, DoD, DOE, and others), State, foundation,
and industry-funded proposals. Provide interpretation of federal
agency announcements and proposal guidelines; assist the research
community with completion of agency specific forms, and navigating
agency specific portals to submit proposals.
- Ensure that RPI Cost Share proposed is approved and documented
prior to proposal submission. In cases where an exception is
warranted, document approval from Assistant Vice President of
RAF.
- Notify Operations Specialist within 48 hours of proposal
submission to ensure timely data entry for proposal metrics. Track
and enter all proposal submission information into Cayuse and other
trackers as required.
- Review and validate subcontract documentation (i.e., SOW,
Budget, AOR Approval, etc.) for inclusion with RPI proposals at
time of submission.
- Assist with costing and just-in-time-processes in order to
respond to sponsors who request revised budgets or updated proposal
packets from RPI prior to award issuance, including review and
completion of representations and certifications and other forms
which are received in response to proposals.
- Perform other duties as requested and assigned.
Shift:
Business Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
Location:
Our Institute is primarily onsite and located in Troy, NY. Our team
supports flexible work arrangements, including hybrid schedules.
Remote work arrangements may be considered for the right candidate.
Candidates must be available during Institute operational hours
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
Starting Salary/Rate:
Expected hiring range: $75,000 - $80,000
Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary
will be determined based on factors that include the available
budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications,
experience, education and other job-related credentials. This
hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the
expected hiring range at the time of posting.
Application instructions:
Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile.
Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.
If you need assistance with the online application process, please
contact
careers@rpi.edu.
Job Posted Date:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Total Compensation and Benefits Information:
Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide
stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package,
and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription
plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a
comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of
financial security and protection during your employment. For more
information, please visit
Benefits | Human Resources
(rpi.edu) .
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is committed to the
cultivation of a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and above
all values learning. We welcome candidates who bring a variety of
perspectives to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's work and campus
communities. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Equal
Opportunity Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status,
protected veteran status, or other characteristic protected by
law.