Assistant Director, Pre-Award - Sponsored Research

Department: Office Sponsored Research
Salary/Grade: EXS/11

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director, Pre-Award is responsible for overseeing the University's review and submission of sponsored research proposal submissions to federal and non-federal sponsors, and submission of required pre-award documentation. The Assistant Director supervises a team of pre-award specialists, providing daily guidance and mentoring on operational and policy issues, as well as routine activities. The Assistant Director reviews and monitors the daily workflow of proposals and other pre-award tasks, and reassigns work as needed to ensure smooth and timely submissions.

This position is a member of the Sponsored Research office's leadership team, reporting to the Director of Pre-Award and Award Management. As a member of the leadership team, the Assistant Director is responsible for cross-team collaborations and problem solving to address issues and maintain a high service standard to the research community.

The Assistant Director, Pre-Award will support the OR mission and values of understanding empathy, modeling accountability, ensuring fairness, embracing community, and valuing creativity.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Manages a team of 9 pre-award specialists. Provides daily guidance and mentoring to staff on operational and policy issues, as well as routine activities. Reviews and monitors the daily workflow of proposals, and other pre-award tasks, and reassigns work as needed.
• Maintains awareness of major sponsor deadlines.
• Monitors individual workloads as well as the overall flow of proposals and other administrative activities.
• Ensures team awareness of and compliance with both university and sponsor policies related to proposal submissions, including those related to conflict of interest and foreign influence.
• Provides input to office-wide meetings
• Facilitates cross-team collaborations to address issues and to ensure seamless handoffs between teams internal to SR, and partners across NU.
• Hires, promotes, evaluates and counsels staff with input from Director and Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Research (AVP-SR).
• Exercises delegated signature authority from the Assistant Vice President. Reviews, and signs proposal applications and pre-award documents as authorized by the University president.
• Safeguards university interests with respect to intellectual property, publications, export controls, liability, effort reporting, and compliance issues.
• Supports a team of pre-award specialists and ensures that a high level of service support is provided to principal investigators and departmental, center, school and central administrators.
• Evaluates and escalates items with potential risks, such as non-standard terms and conditions.
• Serves as expert in proposal management. Participates in establishing standard operating procedures for pre-award service delivery.
• Monitors internal performance metrics to ensure high levels of service and accomplishment of objectives.
• Solicits input from faculty, staff, and other central administrative offices, such as COI, IRB, ACUC, INVO, ASRSP, General Counsel, and Risk Management as appropriate.
• Represents Sponsored Research in meetings with principal investigators, school administrators, and senior university administrators in areas related to sponsored research. Accurately conveys current practices in research administration and works collaboratively across all sectors of the university to develop appropriate changes in procedures and policies, and implement best practices that will benefit the research community.
• Presents as needed to a variety of constituents including campus-wide and national meetings.
• Participates in the development and implementation of new policies and revisions to existing policies.
• Develops, implements and trains staff in standard procedures that support Northwestern University policies. Coordinates with other units to ensure the timing and integrity of the sponsored research life cycle. Communicates and presents procedures and policy within SR and externally to the university community.
• Assists in the development of the agenda for University-wide sponsored research meetings.
• Monitors policy changes implemented by external sponsors (related to electronic research administration and otherwise).
• Assists faculty and staff in electronic proposal submissions and award monitoring.
• Provides significant input to optimize enterprise-level systems supporting research administration and participates in managing change within the research administration community.
• Provides education, training and research information for SR staff and NU departments, schools and Centers through a variety of venues. Participates in designing and implementing research administration training programs.
• Leads ongoing service excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Optimizes staff skills and organizational structure and is responsible for staff development and continuing education. Provides staff with feedback and direction.
• Advises Director and AVP-SR on emerging and pressing issues.
• Participates in resolution of issues.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualications

• Identify the minimum qualifications required to successfully perform the job. Qualifications include education, experience, specialized knowledge, professional certification.
• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 5 years previous work experience in the administration of sponsored research at an educational institution, in the federal government, or entity engaged in sponsored research
• Previous, proven experience supervising and mentoring staff.
• Capable of presenting at various meetings across campus including faculty meetings and campus-wide meetings and at professional organizations (MAGI, FDP, NCURA, UIDP, SRA, etc).
• Advanced knowledge and application of federal regulations necessary to administer and manage externally funded sponsored research.
• Advanced knowledge of federal proposal submission systems (such as research.gov, ASSIST, grants.gov, eRA Commons, etc.)
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.

Preferred Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills)

• Master's degree. Past experience in a central sponsored research or other research-related office is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct training sessions.

Demonstrated ability to effectively manage staff.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $107,000-$125,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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