Sponsored Programs Specialist (Pre-Award)

Governors State University is seeking to hire a Sponsored Programs Pre-Award Specialist to work with the Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research to provide guidance and support for the management of externally sponsored grants, contracts, and agreements as a pre-award facilitator at Governors State University. It is the objective of this role to be a primary contact for pre-award sponsored programs support for outgoing and incoming proposals and documents, adherence to regulations and criteria, development of required documents for submissions, and aiding the Director of OSPR with submitting sponsored programs responses as needed. This position is responsible for developing, updating, and implementing internal procedures, practices, and systems to ensure compliant and efficient workflow for proposal development, submission, and pre-award activities. Additionally, this position assists with complex data reports for submission to university administration, faculty, and funding agencies. This position provides leadership in the implementation of grant management software and tools and electronic records. This position interacts with various administration officials, deans, chairs, faculty and sponsors and reports to the Director of OSPR.

Essential Responsibilities

35% Preparation for submission of sponsored programs proposals, contracts, and/or agreements, including guidelines/solicitations adherence and compliance, budget development, non-technical proposal writing, forms completions, and submissions on behalf of the University.

• Review, understand, and encourage compliance with program announcements or solicitations for new funding opportunities.
• Apply terms, conditions, and sponsor guidelines/criteria to facilitate sponsored programs requests for funding, as well as applying University policies and guidelines.
• Understand budgetary concerns and apply them during budget preparations and a review processes and consultations.
• Perform timely reviews of proposals and applications for accuracy and completeness.
• Facilitate the Director, as an authorized official on behalf of the President, with submitting proposals and applications on behalf of the University.

20% Ensure that OSPR files and records are maintained in accordance with regulatory requirements, legal requirements, and University policies & procedures.

• Understand, coordinate, and prepare reports for submission to various agencies, organizations, and institutions, as well as principal investigators.
• Collect data for various reports and in some cases submit reports on behalf of the Director of OSPR and the University.
• Understand and apply University policies and sponsor guidelines to protect the University, faculty, and staff from liability and minimize risk.
• Coordinate with Financial Services staff to provide timely information and coordinate and project administration issues.
• Coordinate with marketing and communications when reports require being publicly available.
• Oversee maintenance of electronic records ensure accuracy between submission and reporting systems.

10% Review internal and external budgets to ensure accuracy, including the appropriateness of salary amounts, fringe benefits, and indirect cost rates, and to ensure that actual expenditures are charged properly and in accordance with approved budgets.

10% Develop, update, and implement internal procedures, policies, systems, forms, OSPR-affiliated website content, OSPR-affiliated SOPs, and the Principal Investigator Handbook.

10% Report to the Director of OSPR regarding the contracting, fiscal, personnel and programmatic status of all Grants, and assist the Director of OSPR to resolve issues as needed. Provide support for interpretation of regulations and reporting requirements.

5% Monitor sponsored programs' documents and accounts and serve as an administrative contact for sponsors of active awards.

5% Facilitate the set-up of new accounts with a Principal Investigator (Pl), their research team, Financial Services, and/or an OSPR Financial Research Administrator.

5% Maintain pre-award files in a systematic and standard format in line with OSPR file management guidance.

Salary Range: $64,989.00 - $74,797.35.

This is a Full-Time, on-campus position. Days and hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a 60-minute unpaid lunch.

This position qualifies for an expansive suite of fringe benefits including, various insurance options, paid time off, retirement and investment options, and tuition waivers. Visit: https://www.govst.edu/benefits/