Job descriptionReq 1387138500

Job Summary

The Pre-Award Specialist will work directly with faculty and staff as assigned in sponsored program proposal preparation that includes interpretation and compliance with sponsor and university guidelines, budget development and review, collaboration with other departments and institutions and review of completed proposal in preparation for submission.

Responsibilities and Duties

Proposal Development - Partner with Principal Investigators in proposal preparation. Review Request for Proposals (RFP) to ensure proper proposal preparation and determine if additional SPS or compliance involvement is needed (e.g., Contracting, Export Control, and Regulatory). Analyze and interpret sponsor guidelines and make recommendations to Principal Investigators for compliance. Work with Principal Investigator to develop timeline and determine responsible personnel for proposal development activities. Create and review proposed budgets and draft budget justifications. Review cost sharing commitments and prepare necessary cost share forms. Audit budget information for compliance with sponsor requirements and university policy, including cost sharing. Collaborate with other departments, institutions, and universities to resolve subcontracting issues relative to proposal submission. Ensure that sponsor forms are completed accurately. Assist Principal Investigators with the electronic research administration system functionality. Prepare electronic proposal submissions. Provide assistance to other Pre-Award Specialists as needed.
Proposal Review - Review and analyze completed proposal preparation for submission. Ensure that the proposal meets all sponsor and university guidelines. Audit budget, budget justification, subcontract, and cost sharing documentation. Reconcile discrepancies as needed. Initiate proposal certifications and required approvals in the electronic research administration system.
Pre-Award Outreach and Liaison - Serve as a key resource to Principal Investigators in all matters related to University policies for proposal development and submission. Interpret sponsor policies and regulations and make recommendations of impact on pre-award process. Communicate changes in sponsor forms and validation rules. Assure that sponsor specific reference materials are current. Maintain liaison relationships with sponsor officials. Communicate and collaborate with SPS post-award team to facilitate smooth transition from proposal to award. Provide ad hoc training for pre-award process as needed for faculty and staff.
Other - Coordinate and/or assist with other activities, special projects, and reports as requested by the Pre-Award Manager, Assistant Director, or Director.

What We're Looking For:

Bachelor's degree
Two or more years of experience in research administration, business administration, accounting, or related experience
Ability to meet deadlines, strong attention to detail, and a focus on superior customer service
Ability to analyze, interpret and implement University policies and procedures
Excellent communication, planning, problem-solving, analytical, project management and customer service skills
Must be able to manage a consistent high-volume workload in a deadline driven environment
Ability to build work relationships among a diverse workforce at all levels
Learning orientation to changing technology impacting business processes
Personal computer and related software skills, e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, database, data inquiry, Internet, etc.

What Is Helpful:

Degree in Business, Management or related field of study
Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator and/or Certified Research Administrator
Business Services or Sponsored Program Services experience

What We Want You To Know:

This position is fully remote.
Successful candidates will be hired at Professional Level 2 (P2) or 3 (P3) depending on experience. Starting pay for P2 is $54K. Starting pay for P3 is $62,625.
Pre-Award Specialists can promote within position after demonstrating mastery of specified skills and consistently strong performance.
Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
A background check is required for employment in this position
FLSA: Exempt (Not eligible for overtime)
Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contribution Waiting Period

Equal Opportunity Employer

Purdue University is an EOE employer.

View original posting on SAP SuccessFactors

What applying to Purdue University usually looks like

Based on publicly available information, candidates applying through successfactors typically begin by creating a profile and submitting a standardized application, often including a resume upload and screening questions tailored to the role, such as those at Purdue University. The process may include multiple stages, potentially involving an initial recruiter or HR screening, followed by interviews with hiring managers or department representatives, and possibly a panel discussion depending on the position's seniority. Applicants can generally expect to receive automated confirmation emails after submission, though response times vary and may depend on the volume of applicants and role type. Additional steps like skills assessments, background checks, or reference verification are common for certain roles, particularly technical, healthcare, or educational positions. Candidates are encouraged to ensure their application materials are complete and tailored, as successfactors platforms commonly rely on keyword matching and structured data fields during initial review stages.

Based on publicly available information. LandEarly does not verify interview process details.

Pre-Award Specialist

Job Summary

What We're Looking For:

What Is Helpful:

What We Want You To Know:

What applying to Purdue University usually looks like

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