Director, Pre-Award Grants & Contracts (14062)

Updated: 4 months ago
Location: Washington, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Job Type: FullTime

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Our diverse community of students, faculty, and staff represent every state and more than 150 countries. Our internationally recognized faculty are today's thought leaders in the areas of public policy, law, the arts, communications, international development, and more. Our staff are innovative, service-oriented, and dedicated to moving the university towards achieving its strategic goals. We are committed to an excellent experience for all of our students, faculty and staff and share a passion for creating change through our knowledge and our work. 

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Essential Functions
  • Management and Compliance for Grants and Contracts: Work with CAS faculty to encourage and provide guidance on how to seek external funding for their research projects from foundations, corporations and government. Ensure compliance with rules, regulations, policies and procedures in conjunction with the College, the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), Principal Investigators (PIs), departments, and other University offices. 

  • Proposal Development and Review: Advise and strategize with the faculty and staff on how to develop and prepare highly competitive proposals, seek new collaborations, and develop relationships with a wide variety of external funders. Review all requests for proposals (RFP) and/or submission terms of reference (TOR), and initiate and develop proposed budgets with PIs. Review proposal narratives to ensure compliance with sponsor requirements and university policies. Coordinate with AU research compliance staff as necessary in specific situations (IRB, IACUC). 

  • Training and Communication: Lead training of College’s faculty and administrative staff on proposal development and submissions. Develop and disseminate policies and procedures for proposals and research administration. Supervise tracking of submissions and deadlines, assign individual grants and/or contracts to subordinate position(s). Ensure subordinate(s) are trained properly in College and University sponsored research policies and procedures.

  • New Projects and Initiatives: Work with the Associate Dean for Research and CAS faculty and staff to identify and initiate new externally funded research studies, projects, or programs in line with faculty research interests and CAS and University research strategies and priorities. 

  • People Management: Hire, onboard and manage fulltime staff. This includes coaching, mentoring, providing feedback, and evaluating performance. Identify and encourage participation in professional development activities.

  • Other Duties: As requested by the CAS Dean or Associate Deans, the Director, advise CAS faculty on compliance issues and post-award grant administration questions. Maintain databases for CAS proposals, and provide reports and analysis of grants activity when needed.


  • Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
    • Full-Time.

    • 6.1 Team Leader/Consultant B.

    • Exempt.


    Salary Range
    • Commensurate with experience.

    Required Education and Experience
    • Bachelor's degree in Business or closely related field.

    • 5-8 Years' experience in initiating, developing, and bringing grant and contract proposals to completion/submission, preferably in an institution of higher education.

    • Knowledge of the appropriate Federal rules pertaining to the administration and management of sponsored grants and contracts (OMB Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations) and strong knowledge of funding sources (federal, non-federal, especially NIH, NSF, DOE, DOD).

    • Knowledge of funding searches databases, such as Community of Science/Pivot, GrantForward, grants.gov, Foundation Center, etc.

    • Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with faculty and staff and demonstrated ability to work in a team environment.

    • Excellent writing and editing skills.

    • Must possess ability to work independently and accurately and make reasoned decisions on short notice.

    • Excellent, analytical, computer literacy skills, and high attention to detail.


    Preferred Education and Experience
    • Master's degree.
    • Supervisory experience.
    • Experience with Cayuse and business intelligence tools desirable.

    Benefits

    AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options .

    Other Details

    • Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
    • Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
    • Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

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    Contact Us

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