Senior Pre-Award Administrator

Company: The University Of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Posted on: May 27, 2025

Job Description:

DepartmentPSD Local Business Center: Comp Sci Plus - CS
About the DepartmentThe Physical Sciences Division (PSD) has a rich history of advancing and defining new fields of discovery in the physical sciences and mathematics, and this tradition of innovation continues today. Our inquiry and impact spans from the edge of the observable universe to human-computer interaction, from biophysical materials science to the geologic record of seawater composition, from gravitational waves to geometric flows, and beyond.

The Physical Sciences Division Local Business Center (PSD-LBC) provides grants and finance management support to faculty, researchers, and administrators for many of the organizations (departments, research centers, and institutes) within the Physical Sciences Division. Our goal is to provide high levels of service in order to advance the PSD's mission in research and education.
Job SummaryThe Senior Pre-Award Administrator in the Physical Sciences Division is a key role within the Computer Science-Data Science-Statistics (CDS) team in the Local Business Center. Reporting to the Grants and Contracts Supervisor, the Senior Pre-Award Administrator will perform a crucial role in managing the coordination of grant proposals of varying complexity within CDS, supporting an assigned pre-award research administration portfolio, providing unit review, supporting Policy/SOP development, and assisting with mentoring of junior grants and contracts administration staff. This position is eligible for a remote work schedule.Responsibilities

• Works with faculty and staff to identify, prepare, and submit grant applications to federal and private sources and secure sponsored funding from federal and local granting agencies as well as foundations.
• Leads proposal submissions within assigned portfolio.
• Along with Manager and Supervisor, trains, onboards, provides guidance on Pre-Award and serves as an informational resource to junior Grants & Contracts Analysists and Administrators.
• Conducts divisional review of proposals routed within CDS. Identify changes required for compliance with divisional and institutional best practices and policies.
• Provides feedback to the administrator on the proposal to provide immediate and practical instruction on areas for improvement.
• Assists in the timely submission of required annual reports and continuation applications.
• Prepares summaries of grants and effort allocations for Principal Investigators, meets with them and responds to their questions. Coordinates with other departments/units/divisions regarding multi-investigator grants.
• Based on patterns seen within reviews, communicates to the Senior Pre-Award Lead Administrator and CDS Grants and Contracts Supervisor suggested enhancements to SOPs or additional training that may be needed for CDS pre-award administration.
• Working directly with the Senior Pre-Award Lead Administrator and CDS Grants and Contracts Supervisor, supports the efforts to update standard operating procedures (SOPs) in alignment with institutional guidelines and federal regulations.
• Assist with reviewing and updating policies to ensure compliance with evolving regulations and best practices.
• Provides feedback on policies and opportunities for process improvement to streamline Pre-Award processes and CDS Grants and Contracts team efficiency.
• Provides specialized support in other areas as needed including, but not limit to, Post-Award tasks.
• Ensures service and communication to PIs, standardized information, best practices development, and that all faculty and research staff are aware of any new grant policies and changes.
• Analyzes industry trends and remains current with agency and regulatory changes. Monitors department/ unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.
• Performs other related work as needed.
  Minimum QualificationsEducation:Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
  Work Experience:Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
  Certifications:---Preferred QualificationsEducation:
  • Master's degree.Experience:
    • Considerable experience in research administration, grants management, or a related field strongly preferred.
    • Considerable experience with pre-award administration process improvement and SOP development.
    • Familiarity with research administration software and systems.Preferred Competencies
      • Proficiency in grant proposal development, including budget preparation and senior personnel document curation.
      • Knowledge of federal and state regulations related to research administration.
      • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
      • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.
      • Commitment to the University of Chicago's mission and values.Working Conditions
        • This position is eligible for a remote work schedule.Application Documents
          • Resume (required)
          • Cover Letter (required)
          • References (required)
            When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
            Job FamilyFinancial Management
            Role ImpactIndividual Contributor
            Scheduled Weekly Hours37.5
            Drug Test RequiredNo
            Health Screen RequiredNo
            Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry RequiredNo
            Pay Rate TypeSalary
            FLSA StatusExempt
            Pay Range$85,000.00 - $110,000.00The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
            Benefits EligibleYesThe University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook .
            Posting StatementThe University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu .Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
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Keywords: The University Of Chicago, Crystal Lake , Senior Pre-Award Administrator, Accounting, Auditing , Chicago, Illinois