Manager, Research Grant Development

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) supports the University of Denver community in its pursuit of research and the management of externally sponsored programs. ORSP is the key point of contact for faculty in the areas of sponsored research, other sponsored programs, and responsible conduct of research and compliance.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Sponsored Programs Administration, the Manager of Research Grant Development is responsible for the leadership, vision, and comprehensive management and oversight for a growing research enterprise in the areas of prospecting, pre-award management, pre-award budget development, and supervision and management of a Research Grant Development Team.

Responsibilities also include overseeing the services provided by the Research Grant Development team, supervise team members, convene pre-award administrators embedded in our academic departments, and provide direct support to faculty and administrators on complex proposal building and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external customers, as well as partners on campus.

This role will analyze and interpret data, policies and procedures, and other reports as needed in relation to pre-award research administration. The Manager of Research Grant Development will provide leadership, planning, training, assistance, support, and compliance for all aspects of pre-award sponsored research. The position will serve as the subject matter expert for research grant development services across campus.

Essential Functions

Research Grant Development Services (50%)

• Work closely with the Sponsored Programs Team to ensure the teams provide coordinated and seamless support to departments.
• Identify and promote internal and external funding opportunities for investigators – including federal, state and local government, private industry, non-profit, and non-traditional funding sources. Provide one-on-one consultations to assist faculty in navigating funding databases and identify relevant funding opportunities. Provide timely, actionable information regarding funding opportunities, award and fellowship opportunities and events.
• Works collaboratively and cooperatively with faculty, departmental administrators and all aspects of pre-award administration.
• Assist PIs in the development and review of sponsored programs proposals. Directly manages timelines, budget development, provides proposal development services such as editing, proofreading, project management and the overall progression of work undertaken by the Research Grant Development Team to ensure the on-time completion of high quality, responsive and compliant proposal applications.

Leadership (25%)

• Serves as a technical resource to Research Grant Development staff in interpreting sponsor rules and regulations during the proposal development stage.
• Supervise Research Grant Development staff and provide oversight for pre-award services related to grants and contracts.
• Develop and set team metrics addressing and ensuring internal operational efficiencies, maximum productivity, customer satisfaction, and employee proficiency. Ensure monitoring of key performance indicators and reporting to research leadership.
• Coordinate efforts to review and improve business practices, provide action oriented and expert support to PIs.
• Hire, supervise, and train junior Research Grant Development team members. Provide mentorship and support the ongoing development of the team.
• Provide problem resolution to Research Grant Development staff and departmental pre-award staff which may include escalation, work delegation, retention, training, performance management feedback, and alignment to achieve department goals.

Operations Management (20%)

• Direct and establish priorities for day-to-day operations, conduct strategic planning to align with research administration and research leadership.
• Represent the Research Grant Development Team throughout the University, interacting with Department Chairs, Department Administrators, Sponsored Programs Administration, and others. Promote success of the Research Grant Development Team by working closely and collaboratively with these contacts and by partnering with faculty and administrative leaders in departments across campus. Maintain positive relationships with clients, address escalating issues and concerns, especially complex matters involving multi-PI grants. Ensure cross-coverage and seamless support during personnel leaves and transitions.
• Establish and ensure ongoing application of processes and best practices for all research grant development services. Standardize workflow, communications flow, status tracking and documentation processes for all tasks, such as proposal development and proposal routing.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, faculty and staff.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
• Proficient in the use of computer software packages including spreadsheets, word processing and mainframe general ledger systems.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to develop grant budgets with a solid understanding of federal cost principles.
• Ability to write project narratives, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.

Required Qualifications

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, including Excel. Prior experience with and understanding of funding agency systems required, including NSF’s Research.gov, Grants.gov and eRA Commons. Experience with prospecting tools such as SPIN, Pivot and electronic research administration systems such as InfoEd.
• Bachelor’s degree plus 5-7 years of related experience in pre-award and/or sponsored research administration in a university setting (preferred). Experience with prospecting and grant budget development.
• Experience with proposal submissions to federal funding agencies.
• Supervisory and leadership experience.
• Broad understanding of university and sponsored research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration, public health, public administration or a directly related field.
• Specific knowledge of the higher education industry and research administration operations and regulations, including 2 CFR 200.
• Certification in pre-award grants management.
• Knowledge of and coordination with post-award services to support a high-quality service orientation throughout the sponsored award life cycle.

Working Environment

Physical Activities

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, all University College employees are eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) May 12, 2023.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:

The salary grade for the position is 13.
Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $85,000-$95,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.