The Senior Sponsored Programs Officer (SSPO) will lead the team of SPOs. Using professional competence, outstanding customer service, and team management and interpersonal skills, the SSPO will engage with campus stakeholders and external sponsors to ensure full consideration of investigator and University interests. The SSPO will be a resource for advanced and complex questions related to proposal submission and award negotiation/acceptance, analysis and improvement of work processes and technologies, and represent ECU to outside entities. The SSPO will work with the ORA Director to support ongoing electronic Research Administration (eRA) implementation and maintenance processes. In consultation with the ORA Director, the SSPO helps develop, recommend, and/or implement policies and procedures for the administration of contracts and grants, including the submission of applications, acceptance of awards, and non-financial post-award activities.
35%
Education and Training
- Facilitate investigation and resolution of issues that risk the university's successful competition for and administration of sponsored projects.
- Ensure internal operations are effective and efficient.
- Support the ORA Director in development and implementation of continual process improvements to maintain productivity, including the review, development and/or updating policies, regulations, and rules as well as standard operating procedures and other kinds of informational tools to include graphics, websites, and flowcharts and other resources.
- Serve as one of the primary resources to the Pre-Award Services team regarding the eRA management system using input from and collaboration with internal and external sources.
25%
Supervision
- Assist in the management of day-to-day pre-award functions in the areas of proposal review and submission, award negotiation and acceptance, and award set-up.
- Provide effective supervision of assigned staff including position description development/management, mentoring/supervising, and corrective action when necessary; ensuring appropriate training and professional development; workload assignment; performance planning and appraisal.
- Recommend personnel actions to the Director and provide supporting documentation for such actions as required by Human Resources
25%
Expertise and Communications
- Maintain subject matter expertise in pre-award research administration as well as a broad understanding of post award and contracting regulations to guide proposal development appropriately.
- Stay abreast of current federal regulations and pending revisions, the Federal Acquisition Regulations, Code of Federal Regulations, cost accounting standards, North Carolina laws, and University of North Carolina System policies and reporting requirements to ensure continued compliance.
- Promote and maintain close, effective working relationships between ORA, internal campus stakeholders, and external collaborators and funding sponsors.
- In collaboration with the Director, communicate key changes to sponsor policies and procedures to ORA teams and the campus research administration community.
10%
Manage Assigned Sponsored Projects Portfolio
The SSPO will manage a limited sponsored project portfolio, providing pre-award review and submission support, facilitating official responses to external stakeholders during the post-submission phase, and engaging in award negotiation and acceptance on behalf of the investigator and the University.
5%
Miscellaneous
Perform special projects, delegated managerial tasks, and other duties assigned by the Director as well as serving as a back-up for the other Pre-Award team members in their absence.
This position may be eligible for Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) under the East Carolina University (ECU) FWA Policy.
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Deborah Lundin
Director of Pre-Award Services
East Carolina University (ECU)
lundind22@ecu.edu------------------------------