Research Administration Specialist: Pre-Award, SERC

Job Description

This position offers a highly qualified individual the opportunity to perform a critical role within the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) at Stevens Institute of Technology.

The Pre-Award Research Administration Specialist will support the development, preparation, and submission of research proposals to SERC’s contracting agency.

This position focuses on pre-award activities and works closely with post-award colleagues to ensure continuity across the award lifecycle, including drafting and submitting prior approval requests and assisting with effort management across the department.

The Pre-award Research Administrator reports to the Senior Finance Manager and serves as a strategic partner to researchers, sponsors, and university offices in support of SERC’s mission as a high-impact, leading systems engineering research center. The successful candidate will possess strong analytical and creative thinking skills to proactively evaluate and resolve problems and make decisions; strong organizational skills to manage a significant volume of proposals; and the ability to communicate clearly with leadership, researchers, technical and non-technical stakeholders, and others on proposal related matters.

Key Responsibilities will include but not be limited to: 


* Prepare, review and submit proposals that are complete and in compliance with relevant policies and regulations, including with the policies, procedures and requirements of federal sponsoring agencies.


* Submit proposals involving one or more of the following situations: multiple departments; multiple institutions (subawards); multiple option years and optional tasks.


* Enter proposals into central pre-award application system InfoEd.


* Provide proposal component review on budgets, Part I&II, required templates, and the narrative to ensure compliance.


* Review and endorse completed proposals to ensure use of the correct processes, forms and submission requirements.


* Provide critical analysis and guidance in the review and interpretation of request for proposals.


* Answer inquiries that require an explanation of rules, regulations and procedures with knowledge of individual programs.


* Collaborate with others such as Principal Investigators (PIs), sponsors and other relevant offices to ensure that sponsored research projects are managed in an efficient and effective manner consistent with relevant policies and procedures, and applicable federal agency guidelines, laws and regulations.


* Educate researchers and staff on all aspects of proposal development, including detailed budgets and review of unique federal sponsor requirements.



* Serve as a resource on pre-award activities and as an overall technical resource to PI and other staff. 


* Maintain standards: budget templates, standardized checklists for core staff and PIs tailored to the sponsor/mechanism, standardized filing system using shared driv...