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Looking for an Asst. Directory of Pre-Award Services at UMass Amherst - remote/hybrid

  • 1.  Looking for an Asst. Directory of Pre-Award Services at UMass Amherst - remote/hybrid

    Posted 10-13-2022 04:35

    Come be a part of a great team!

     

    The University of Massachusetts Amherst is currently accepting applications for the position of Assistant Director Pre-Award Services (Potential Remote/Hybrid Opportunity). The full position description, along with a link to apply, can be found on the UMass Careers site at: https://careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-us/job/516235/assistant-director-preaward-services-potential-remotehybrid-opportunity.

     

    Please direct questions to

    Kristy Reese, Director

    Office of Pre-Award Services

    kristyreese@umass.edu

    Assistant Director Pre-Award Services (Potential Remote/Hybrid Opportunity)

    no: 516235
    Work type: Staff Full Time
    Location: UMass Amherst
    Department: Pre-Award Services
    Union: PSU
    Categories: Sponsored Programs, Grants and Contracts, Research

    About UMass Amherst

    UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

     

    About Research & Engagement

    The UMass Amherst community engages more than more than 30,000 students, 1,400 faculty, and 5,000 staff in 11 schools and colleges with a wide variety of degree programs, research, and public service. More than 800 faculty lead sponsored research projects in many areas from basic to applied are sponsored by federal, state, and private sources with expenditures of more than $200 million in 2021.

     

    Job Summary

    Reporting to the Director of the Office of Pre-Award Services, the Assistant Director provides programmatic and operational support and is responsible for proposal review and submission; interpretation and implementation of Federal, State and University regulations; education and training for sponsored and proposal development activities; resource person for faculty and staff; liaison with sponsoring agencies; and exercises functional supervision over employees engaged as research service administrators in the performance of assigned duties.

    The Assistant Director has requisite knowledge and expertise to be granted signature authority and submission permission for sponsored activities proposals, certifications, and assurances. This position provides leadership in the absence of the Director.

     

    Essential Functions

    • Review proposals to ensure that they are in compliance with University policy, sponsor regulations, and compliant with federal and state law. Review and analyze proposed subcontract relationships and documenting reasonableness of cost, verification of rates, sole source justifications and other required elements. In coordination with the Director, responsible for oversight of proposal submission including, but not limited to, accuracy of budgets, institutional commitments, securing appropriate internal reviews and approvals for regulatory compliance, documenting collaborative arrangements. Conduct pre-award negotiations with sponsor representatives.
    • Upon authorization from the Director, act as an Institutional Authorized Representative designee, endorsing and submitting proposals, certify official assurances, provide representation and expanded authority as required by Federal and State statutes, and execute sponsored activities documents to bind the Institution contractually. Ensure proposals are reviewed and submitted in a timely manner.
    • Represent and participate in University committees, such as Research Council, on behalf of the Director.
    • Contributes to strategic unit planning and campus policy development and implementation for pre-award activities.
    • Responsible for working with and also acting as a resource person for electronic submission systems such as NSF Fastlane, NIH Commons and other sponsoring agency portals or systems.
    • Assist faculty and staff in all aspects of proposal preparation support multi-disciplinary submissions and project development in collaboration with other key VCRE units and staff in the Schools/Colleges, departments, centers or institutions.
    • Responsible for disbursing information (verbal, written and electronic) associated with policies/procedures, funding activity, data and reports relative too pre-award research activities, etc. as it relates to the pre-award process.
    • Responsible for monitoring sponsoring agency homepages and listserves for changes and updates to policies and procedures. Responsible for disseminating this information to the appropriate parties utilizing web page, email and other communication mechanisms Responsible for communicating proposal related subcontract procedures effectively to campus stakeholders.
    • Collaborate on the development of training and outreach efforts such as workshops and web-based training tools with other VCRE units and staff in Schools/Colleges, departments, and centers/institutes. Train and mentor new Research Award Administrators and other campus research administration staff in areas relating to proposal development and pre-award research administration.

     

    Other Functions

    • Supervisory responsibilities including, but not limited to, supervision of the OPAS Pre-Award Administrators, both Review and Development as designated by the OPAS Director.

     

    Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

    • Bachelor's degree plus five (5) or more years relevant experience. One (1) year of relevant experience may be substituted for every one (1) year or required academia.
    • Experience applying federal rules, regulations and policies (e.g., IMB Circulars A21 and A-110, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS)) to analysis of proposed sponsored programs or research activities
    • Demonstration of supervisory ability.
    • Strong oral and written communication skills.
    • Experience working with email, internet, and word processing packages.
    • Certified Research Administration (CRA) (at hire or obtained within eighteen months of hire).

     

    Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

    • Three (3) years' experience in an institution of Higher Education.
    • Experience in managing sponsored research review processes.
    • Ability to work with precision under pressure of deadline with minimal supervision.

     

    Physical Demands/Working Conditions

    • Typical office environment activity.

     

    Work Schedule

    • Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, 37.5 hours a week.
    • May be required to work some nights and weekends.
    • This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.
    • This position has the opportunity for a remote work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where the employee's work location is to work from a site other than the UMass Amherst campus. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

     

    Salary Information

    Level 29

    PSU Hiring Ranges

     

    Special Instructions to Applicants

    Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until filled.

     UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

    Advertised: Oct 6 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
    Applications close:

     

     

    Ellen

    ***********************************

    Ellen C. Bitzer, CRA

    Pre-Award Research Administrator

    Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS)

    Venture Way Center

    100 Venture Way, Suite 201, Box 16 ▪ Hadley, MA 01035-9450

    Email: ebitzer@umass.edu

    (413) 545-0699

     

    Please note: All OPAS staff members are working remotely. Email is the best way to reach me directly.

     

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