Assistant Director of Pre Award

About The Department

BSD ADM - Pre Award

The University of Chicago is an intellectual community and a globally renowned research institution dedicated to fostering innovative and impactful research in various domains, including the Biological Sciences. The Biological Sciences Division is at the forefront of cutting‑edge research and the Research Administration Office (RAO) plays a pivotal role in supporting and facilitating the faculty who conduct research.

The job manages a team of professional staff responsible for administering pre‑award and/or post‑award activities related to grant and contract proposals/funding within a department or unit.

The Assistant Director of Pre‑Award in the Biological Sciences Division is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing all pre‑award activities related to sponsored research within the division. Reporting directly to the Director of Pre‑Award, the Assistant Director will manage pre‑award administrators, implement policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs), and support complex submissions. This individual will also support training initiatives in the division and provide guidance and expertise on all pre‑award matters to faculty, staff, and administrators.

• Team Management: Supervise and lead a team of pre‑award administrators, ensuring effective coordination and collaboration within the team; provide mentorship, guidance, and professional development opportunities; set team goals, evaluate performance, and provide feedback and additional training.
• Implementation of Policies/SOPs: Work directly with the Director of Pre‑Award to implement standard operating procedures in alignment with institutional guidelines and federal regulations; regularly review and update policies to ensure compliance; provide feedback on policies and opportunities for process improvement.
• Complex Submission Support: Provide oversight for complex grant and contract proposals within the division; offer expertise and support to the primary research administrator; help develop timelines and roles/responsibilities for administrators to ensure high‑quality, compliant submissions.
• Unit Reviews: Conduct divisional reviews of proposals routed within the division; identify changes required for compliance with divisional and institutional best practices; provide feedback to the administrator on the proposal; identify enhancements to SOPs or additional training needs.
• Support Training Initiatives: Work with the Director of Pre‑Award to develop and deliver training programs for faculty, researchers, and administrators on pre‑award processes, policies, and compliance requirements; remain current with agency and regulatory changes; plan for department/unit compliance and implement corrective actions; manage employees through goal setting, resource allocation, performance assessment, and promotion decisions; perform other related work as needed.

Minimum requirements:

a college or university degree in a related field.

Minimum requirements:

7+ years of experience in a related job discipline.

• Education: College or university degree in a related field;
  Master’s Degree strongly preferred.
• Experience: Extensive experience in research administration, grants management, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Preferred
  
  Competencies:
  
  Strong leadership and managerial skills with a track record of leading teams; proficiency in grant proposal development, including budget preparation and narrative writing; knowledge of federal and state regulations; exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced and collaborative environment; familiarity with research administration software and systems; commitment to the University of Chicago’s mission and values.

• Office Environment.

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s)
MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Financial Management

People Manager

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