Come join our growing central office research team at East Carolina University! https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/59182
The Sponsored Programs Officer (SPO) functions in a high-level professional capacity to facilitate research and sponsored activity across the university while constantly striving to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of research administration services and to minimize institutional financial and reputational risk. The SPO provides the final institutional review of grant and contract proposals before submission to ensure responsiveness to sponsor requirements, the appropriate application of costing principles, the ethical conduct of project activities, and compliance with government and sponsor regulations and UNC System and ECU policies regarding sponsored activity. Specific job responsibilities are:
Sponsored Projects Portfolio Management (Submission and Award Phases): (70%)
The SPO will manage an assigned sponsored projects portfolio and will carry out the following duties during the pre-award submission phase: (A) collaborate with Hub administrators and other unit administrators, associate deans for research, center/institute directors, and external points of contact to ensure investigators preparing proposals are fully supported, consult with university personnel to address issues that may interfere with proposal submission, and professionally balance the criticality of institutional processes with firm proposal submission deadlines; (B) provide the final institutional review of funding proposals submitted by Hub administrators and non-Hub supported faculty for compliance with sponsor and university requirements; (C ) use a variety of electronic systems to submit proposals to sponsors on behalf of the institution under delegated authority from the Chancellor and the Director of Pre-Award Services; and (D) ensure comprehensive and accurate official university records of proposal submissions in the Electronic Research Administration (eRA) system to ensure quality data for operational and strategic planning and assessment purposes.
During the post-submission and award phases, the SPO will carry out the following duties: (A) conduct, facilitate, manage, and document official communication with external funding entities to monitor and, as needed, to assist Hub and other administrators in coordinating revisions to the budget, aims, work plan, project dates, and deliverables associated with sponsored projects; (B) review awards for conformity with ECU, UNC, state and federal policies, and identify, articulate and resolve relevant issues in award/agreement review on a timely basis through contact and follow-up with university administrators, faculty, sponsors or third parties as appropriate; (C ) as needed, create, review and negotiate outgoing subawards agreements and amendments; (D) ensure comprehensive and accurate official university records of award receipts in the eRA system to ensure quality data for operational and strategic planning and assessment purposes; and (E) assist and advise Hub and other administrators, non-Hub supported faculty, and project teams in the non-financial aspects of award management.
Resource Guidance and Mentoring to Campus Constituencies: (20%)
The SPO will provide expert guidance, training and mentoring to Hub and other unit administrators and non-Hub supported faculty regarding fundamental approaches to successful grantsmanship and policies and procedures related to crafting, constructing, and submitting high-quality grant proposals and contract bids; in interpreting sponsor application requirements and preparing proposals and budgets (including addressing compensation/time allocation issues, cost-sharing, choice and application of F&A rate); and in utilizing sponsor form sets, electronic proposal submission systems, and sponsor grant management systems. The SPO will maintain/share knowledge of award management practices with these constituents to inform effective project design and development and assist them as necessary in negotiating internal approval procedures for proposal submission. Further, the SPO will develop and recommend solutions to problems that confront ORA, Hub and other administrators, investigators, and project teams. They will identify personnel with knowledge, responsibility, and authority (e.g. university leadership, administrative services, institutional risk management, university attorneys, and compliance offices), translate and interpret challenges as they relate to sponsored projects, and link such personnel with Hub and other administrators, investigators, and project teams for problem resolution. Finally, the SPO will provide training and support to Hub administrators and faculty regarding eRA system navigation and use.
Sponsored Project Policy, Procedure and Tool Development: (10%)
The SPO participates effectively in reviewing, developing and/or updating institutional policy and procedures to ensure application of best practices in pursuing and managing sponsored projects and in complying with federal and state requirements. This includes efforts to develop and disseminate information, documentation, and tools including, but not limited to, SOPs, FAQs, and flowcharts.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: This position may be eligible for Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) under the ECU FWA Policy.
Questions about the position can be directed to me, thanks!
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Deborah Lundin
Director of Pre-Award Services
East Carolina University (ECU)
lundind22@ecu.edu------------------------------