Brandeis University is delighted to announce a career opportunity for a Senior Grant Administrator, DISC Office - Pre-Award Team in the Office of Research Administration. If you are looking for an opportunity to work at a beautiful university campus with lots of perks including free parking and access to a top-of-the-line athletic facility, look no further! At Brandeis we offer competitive benefits and a compensation package which includes medical, dental and life insurance. If you hope to advance your career through educational opportunities, Brandeis offers tuition benefits for employees, dependents and spouses. Our 403b retirement savings plan includes a generous match.
The Senior Grant Administrator, DISC Pre-Award facilitates and supports departmental and institutional efforts in securing external funding for research, training, and creative activities. Rooted in a comprehensive and continuously updated understanding of federal regulations governing sponsored projects, other sponsor requirements, and institutional compliance requirements, the Senior Grant Administrator serves as the primary liaison between principal investigators (PIs) and the institutional Pre-Award Services team. Operating independently and proactively, they provide expert guidance and act as a trusted advisor to PIs throughout the proposal development process, ensuring all submissions comply with sponsor guidelines and institutional policies. This position also collaborates closely with other key institutional offices including the Pre-Award Services Team, the DISC Post-Award Team, and Faculty Affairs to maintain the office's reputation for providing exceptional support in grants management and promoting Brandeis University's core mission as a research institution.
Responsibilities: Pre-Award Proposal Development (90%):
- Independently supports a portfolio of sponsored projects proposals (typically the more complicated or larger solicitations, including NIH Training grants) and ensures a high-quality product is delivered to the Pre-Award Services team within the ORA including assisting in the development, preparation, finalization, and submission of the proposals prepared by the DISC Office to the Office of Research Administration Pre-Award Team of the grant and contract proposals.
- Obtains and reviews sponsor guidelines for all proposals; advises the PI on administrative requirements in preparing proposal submissions. Coordinates and reviews certain proposal elements (biosketches and facilities & resources) for consistency, accuracy, and completeness. Reviews proposals for consistency with sponsor guidelines on format, compliance with the FOA, font size and page limits, narrative, etc.
- Works closely with the PI to develop budgets and budget justification, ensuring accuracy. Reviews budgets for consistency with sponsor requirements; monitors for compliance with agency and University guidelines; verifies all financial information, including institutional salaries, fringe, indirect rates, etc. for the project.
- Ensures all applications meet sponsor and institutional guidelines and deadlines, including management of the Just-In-Time process.
- Confers with PI and pre-award support staff at collaborating institutions to secure necessary sub-awards documents for proposals.
- Monitors and facilitates the proposal routing process in compliance with university procedures.
Program Development (10%)
- Maintains in-depth and expansive knowledge of external sponsor regulations and requirements and stays fully abreast of all proposed changes in federal and state regulations and laws affecting sponsored programs, including the Federal Acquisition Regulations, the Code of Federal Regulations and state and institutional policies and reporting requirements to ensure continued compliance. Assist in the development of an institutional response to proposed federal rules changes, as appropriate.
- May advise or assist in the development of institutional policies and operational/administrative procedures in relevant areas and help to develop communications and training materials to provide guidance regarding the interpretation of regulations, laws, and policies to the research community.
- Builds effective relationships with key Brandeis stakeholders with tact and diplomacy.
- Supports the training and mentoring of junior staff by answering questions on the grant administration process, internal procedures, and best practices.
- May serves as a primary or alternate institutional representative to various internal committees, as assigned by the Associate Director.
- All other duties, as assigned.
Education & Work Experience: - Bachelor's Degree required, master's degree preferred.
- 5-8+ years of related work experience.
Additional Requirements: - Experience and demonstrated expertise in a university setting, and deep familiarity with the research administration function, including sponsored projects administration and policy or a related field involving regulatory work and application preparation (i.e. banking, science, etc.).
- Understanding of Federal funding agencies and regulatory bodies, and experience in developing approaches to emerging administrative and compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to manage ambiguity and be able to juggle and prioritize multiple time-sensitive demands in a rapidly changing organization and environment.
- A collaborative and inclusive professional style, ability to build strategic relationships with staff at all levels, excellent organizational and communication skills (written, verbal, listening), ability to make strategic connections, and utmost respect for discretion, confidentiality and professionalism.
- Broad and deep knowledge and perspective of the University including academic and central administrative functions.
- Ability and inclination to anticipate future opportunities and consequences.
- Resonance with the mission and goals of the Office's priorities.
- Certification in Research Administration field (e.g., Certified Research Administrator (CRA®) or Certified Pre-Award Administrator (CPRA®)) required, or ability to obtain within 1 year of start date, or Advanced Degree.
- Legal, regulatory, scientific, or social science background helpful.
- Mastery of research administration and compliance concepts and business processes as well as broad and deep knowledge of the University, including academic and central administrative functions.
- Some exposure to university senior management, often providing recommendations and analysis to senior leaders; provide support to faculty, students, and staff of all levels.
- Expected to be a part of diverse teams, requiring high degrees of collaboration and inspiring confidence with team members.
Equal Opportunity Statement Brandeis University is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, caste, military or veteran status or any other category protected by law (also known as membership in a "protected class")
