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Director, Research Administration & Pre-Award

Job Description

Posting Number

PG193814EP

Internal Recruitment

No

Working Title

Director, Research Administration & Pre-Award

Anticipated Hiring Range

Commensurate with experience

Work Schedule

8:00 AM- 5:00 PM; Monday-Friday. Other hours as needed. This position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements, such as flexible office hours and/hybrid remote work schedule.

Job Location

Raleigh, NC

Department

College of Design

About the Department

The College of Design offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate studies in architecture, art + design, graphic and industrial design, and graduate studies in landscape architecture and environmental planning through several degree programs, including the Ph.D. in Design and newly established Doctorate of Design. The College faculty are engaged in cutting-edge scholarship and research in the context of professional programs nurturing a design culture with global influence. As a result of the new strategic plan adopted, the College is expected to grow its research and sponsored activities. Thus, the Office of Research is positioned to oversee and enhance the research program and overall scholarly efforts within the College of Design.

Central to this mission is the Office of Research, which oversees and enhances research and scholarly activities within the College. This office plays a vital role in:

  • Facilitating sponsored research and scholarly collaborations with faculty.
  • Organizing seminars and workshops focused on grant writing and publishing.
  • Reviewing and assisting with research and service agreements.
  • Supporting faculty development programs, including administering Faculty Research and Professional Development (FRPD) seed funds.
  • Coordinating proposal development to ensure financial compliance and effective management.
  • Overseeing post-award activities to maintain alignment with funding requirements.

As the primary liaison between faculty and the university’s central research offices—including the Office of Research and Innovation and the Office of Contracts and Grants—the Office of Research ensures streamlined communication and compliance, strengthening the College’s capacity for impactful research and scholarship

Essential Job Duties

The Director of Research Administration & Pre-Award will strategically lead the College of Design’s research efforts by managing pre-award activities, identifying funding opportunities, and supporting faculty in achieving scholarly and research goals. This role involves overseeing the College of Design’s Office of Research, Extension, and Engagement operations, developing faculty training programs, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, and fostering partnerships to advance the College’s global impact.

By providing expertise in pre-award administration, faculty training, and compliance, the Director ensures the effective execution of the College’s strategic research goals and promotes a culture of excellence and innovation.

Here’s a categorized and streamlined version based on the requested categories, removing redundancy while maintaining all key content:

Pre-Award Administration
  • Research and identify funding opportunities with government agencies, foundations, industry, and non-profits. Connect faculty expertise to opportunities, including interdisciplinary and collaborative projects relevant to the College’s key scholarship areas.
  • Review RFPs and assist faculty in proposal development, including preparing sponsor and university proposal forms and gathering essential documents (e.g., CVs).
  • Develop proposal budgets and budget justifications (e.g., space, materials, and equipment needs) with faculty, ensuring compliance with cost accounting standards and regulatory requirements. Collaborate with the College’s Budget Manager to ensure submissions meet agency and institutional policies.
  • Prepare and manage all non-technical portions of pre-award agreements using systems such as PINS, PMR, RADAR, PS Financials, Grants.gov, and Fastlane.
  • Review and edit proposals before submission to ensure requirements are met and content aligns with grant reviewers’ expectations.
  • Assist with drafting letters of support or commitment from NC State and partner organizations.
  • Facilitate strategic planning with the Associate Dean of Research to increase research funding for the College.
  • Provide reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually) on proposals, grants, research expenditures, and funding trends to the Associate Dean of Research.

Faculty Development
  • Manage internal funding programs and projects, including Faculty Research and Professional Development (FRPD) seed funds.
  • Offer faculty training on grant-writing strategies, funding opportunities, and agency missions. Host workshops and seminars (e.g., monthly “Research Talks”) and provide orientation on sponsored research processes.
  • Provide one-on-one counseling and support to faculty to ensure grant submissions meet proposal requirements.
  • Serve as a resource during faculty recruitment to introduce research support infrastructure.
  • Develop professional relationships with faculty to encourage open communication about research interests and funding sources.
  • Organize training and development activities for College staff related to research administration.

Compliance
  • Monitor compliance with federal, state, and institutional research policies, including cost accounting standards and reporting requirements.
  • Review and oversee cost-share commitments for sponsored research activities, ensuring accuracy and allowability.
  • Monitor Conflict of Interest (COI) certifications in conjunction with the Associate Dean of Research.
  • Collaborate with the Post-Award Manager to ensure TEARS effort reporting aligns with research expenditures.
  • Assist in the closeout process for sponsored projects.
  • Keep up with changes to sponsored research guidelines and procedures at NC State.
  • Advocate for the College’s research office with internal and external partners, participating in university initiatives in research administration.

Other Responsibilities

Other Responsibilities
  • Approve proposals in PINS on behalf of the Associate Dean of Research as needed and track proposals through the approval process.
  • Attend relevant university and College meetings, continuing education workshops, and training sessions (e.g., NCURA).
  • Assist the Associate Dean of Research with oversight of Research Administration responsibilities, including providing technical support and supervision to the Post-Award Manager.
  • Maintain relationships with College accounting staff and collaborate on research administration training and development initiatives.

Minimum Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of three years in research administration, budgeting, research, and/or administrative management
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience of all research components, including proposal development, proposal submission processes and final deliverables to funding agencies, and financial closeout

Other Required Qualifications

  • Demonstrated knowledge of government regulations and the Uniform Guidance
  • Overall understanding of the total research environment at the university
  • Demonstrated ability to interpret guidelines, rules and regulations, and analyze policies and procedures relevant to funding agencies;
  • Demonstrated proficiency in providing verbal and written presentations/reports to all audiences
  • Demonstrated ability to solve problems
  • Experience in managing office workflow to maximize efficiency
  • Demonstrated ability to apply standard auditing processes and procedures in an academic environment (i.e. internal controls, cost accounting standards, etc.)
  • Demonstrated ability to foster and maintain effective working relationships with other university offices, College staff, and contract agencies
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.) and ability to rapidly adapt to new technology
  • Demonstrated appropriate interpersonal skills such as the ability to communicate and build relationships with various groups of stakeholders including faculty, management, and staff
  • Demonstrated ability to motivate others, build teamwork and prioritize during times of heavy workloads and shifting priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Certified Research Administrator or working towards certification
  • Demonstrated experience in proposal development and contract management in an academic and/or professional environment
  • Demonstrated knowledge of State and university fiscal policies, procedures, and management systems
  • Demonstrated ability in the fiscal and administrative management of complex agreements and relationships with external sponsors/funding agencies
  • Experience in contracts and grants proposal review and oversight
  • Proficient ability to utilize University financial and research computing systems.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required

No

Commercial Driver's License required

No

Job Open Date

11/22/2024

Anticipated Close Date

12/09/2024 or Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants should attach a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

Position Number

00103692

Position Type

EHRA Non-Faculty

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)

1.0

Appointment

12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather

Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events

Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID

120101 - College of Design

AA/EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-515-3148 to speak with a representative at the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

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