Associate Director for Research Development and Pre-Award

Description

Summary : American University’s School of International Service (SIS) has a long history of interdisciplinary scholarship and research, addressing some of the world’s most complex problems, with niche expertise in translational research to affect policies and programs.

We are looking to expand the impact of SIS research by increasing extramural funding, supporting more faculty to obtain extramural funding, developing relationships with key funders, and amplifying the results of research and scholarship.

The Associate Director of Research Development and Pre-Award sits within the SIS Office of Research and supports research and pre-award development for the School.

The position guides and assists faculty and project teams with the identification of research opportunities, and submission and securing of research grants and contracts.

The position reports to SIS’s Associate Dean of Research and works closely with the Office of Financial Operations (OFO).

The Associate Director for Research Development and Pre-Award works with the Associate Dean of Research to link faculty and project teams to funding opportunities.

Additionally, the Associate Director oversees the preparation of funding submissions, oversees budget preparation, and works with central American University offices to ensure development and submission of proposals that comply with funding calls and guidelines.

Faculty and project teams in SIS depend on funding from a variety of foundation, corporate, government, and international sources.

The incumbent will read and interpret relevant funding guidelines, furnish sample proposal sections, draft supporting proposal sections where necessary, fully validate proposals for completion, and route proposals through the university’s central Office of Sponsored Awards and Research Administration approval processes.

The Associate Director for Research Development and Pre-Award will work closely with SIS finance personnel and relevant school-level and university administrators to ensure compliance with university policies and procedures, as well as funder requirements.

The incumbent will supervise the Assistant Director for Research Promotion and help to formulate and implement strategies to raise the profile of faculty research and programming.

The incumbent also directs the work of a student position, the SIS Research Program Assistant. The Associate Director for Research Development and Pre-Award is responsible for developing and implementing systems for tracking proposal and award activity and refining, tracking, and reporting on quarterly and annual performance assessment metrics.

They are responsible for financial management of the SIS Research Office. The position will oversee the SIS Research website and will be responsible for maintaining assigned sections.

Essential Functions : Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1.) Research Proposal Management

The Associate Director for Research Development and Pre-Award directs all aspects of the proposal submission process, to include : providing guidance and support to PIs about funder requirements, submission procedures, and applicable university policies;

preparing proposal budgets; producing supporting documents and contributing proposal content when needed.

The incumbent is expected to stay current on pertinent federal guidelines and best practices in research administration.

They will coordinate proposal submissions with the central Office of Sponsored Awards and Research Administration and SIS’s Office of Financial Operations.

2.) Research and Business Development

In partnership with the Associate Dean of Research and in coordination with the School’s office of strategic partnerships and development offices, the Associate Director for Research Development and Pre-Award will devise research development strategies and policies.

The incumbent will conduct research on funding opportunities for faculty as needed.

The incumbent will meet with faculty to learn of their research interests and to help identify funding opportunities that align with their interests and funders who may be interested in supporting faculty research.

3.) Data Analytics and Reporting

The Associate Director for Research Development and Pre-Award will be responsible for tracking award activity, compiling SIS Research performance metrics.

The incumbent will also compile periodic reports along with an annual report on SIS Research activities and will collect, analyze, and present data to guide and enable decision making and strategic investment.

4.) People and Office Management

The Associate Director for Research Development and Pre-Award will oversee the work of the office’s Assistant Director for Research Promotion, which includes, but is not limited to, the maintenance of a research website with a curated database of funding opportunities for faculty and doctoral students, preparation of regular emails with upcoming funding opportunities, and conducting targeted research on potential funders.

The position also bears primary responsibility for monitoring the Office’s finances and providing responsible financial oversight.

5.) Special Projects

To include development of grant submission guidelines and the creation of funding opportunities database website content on proposal development and relevant policies.

Other duties as assigned.

Salary Range :

$93,000 - $98,000 annually.

Position Type / Expected Hours of Work :

Full-Time.

35 hours per week.

Supervisory Responsibility :

The Associate Director for Research Development and Pre-Award supervises the Assistant Director for Research Promotion as well as student positions such as the Program Assistant.

Required Education and Experience :

Master's degree.

5-8 years of relevant experience.

Experience with budget preparation and proposal development across a range of different funder types (US federal, private foundations, corporate, and others).

Excellent interpersonal skills and a willingness to take on tasks as they arise.

Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with high-level stakeholders.

Data analytics, including the production of reports to help guide strategic decision making.

Ability to actively mentor staff.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Strong computer skills.

Attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and the ability to work under deadline pressures.

Preferred Education and Experience :

Knowledge of grant management and a familiarity with OMB Uniform Guidance on Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards is highly desired.

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

Experience in a university setting preferred.

Knowledge of research about and within other countries preferred.

Experience with content management software preferred.

Knowledge of International Affairs is a plus.

Additional Information :

Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.

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. . 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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