Proposal and Award Generalist
Penn State University is seeking a Proposal and Award Generalist to pursue, administer, and conduct sponsored programs. The role involves identifying funding opportunities, facilitating proposal preparation, and ensuring compliance with University guidelines while providing training to personnel on research administration topics.
Responsibilities
- Search for, obtain, and distribute funding opportunities utilizing expertise database; maintain database information
- Collaborate with college/unit offices on funding opportunities requiring special handling such as limited submissions, RFA (Request for Application), RFP (Request for Proposal), ITQ (Intent to Qualify) and other solicitations
- Liaison with Office of Sponsored Programs, ORP (Office of Research Protection), Office of Technology Management (OTM), Risk Management or other central units as needed to support proposal development
- Lead and or participate in meetings with faculty or department heads on funding opportunities, team formation and responses to opportunities; provide recommendations to improve proposal success rate and effectiveness of award management
- Prioritize timelines/schedules through interpretation of potential funding opportunities and hold proposal team accountable
- Assist faculty or others with proposal preparation through reviewing sponsor and University guidelines and submission requirements
- Develop, finalize and/or approve proposal budget and cost share; prepare required forms, representations and certifications, and budget justification; obtain cost share approvals
- Prepare requests for advance fund numbers, fund numbers, cost centers, cost sharing cost centers, and other account set up actions
- Prepare and submit budget documents for awarded funds, budget adjustments, and account close-out transfers
- May be responsible for tasks associated with labor distribution and effort confirmation
- Participate in meetings with Office of Sponsored Programs and unit administration concerning Export Control, publication restrictions, and other potential risks; initiate follow up on sign-offs and monitor process
- Review expenditures for approval; review and approve personnel appointments on sponsored program funds
- Run system-generated financial reports; manage subawards; prepare and submit monthly/quarterly financial reports
- Facilitate materials transfer and other agreements; assist Property Inventory with receipt, accountability, and reporting on government owned equipment
- Serve as an area expert on special award types including multi-unit, interdisciplinary, significant number of subawards, multi-fellowship awards, substantial industry involvement, significant administrative oversight, significant financial tracking and reporting, and multi-site clinical trials or field activities
- Resolves issues and implements solutions; initiates process improvements to address systemic roadblocks
- May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management
Skills
- Bachelor's Degree
- 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted (if filled as Proposal and Award Generalist - Intermediate Professional)
- No prior relevant work experience required; previous relevant work experience accepted in lieu of education (if filled as Proposal and Award Generalist - Professional)
- Successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies
- Authorized to work in the U.S
- Experience with university accounting and research administration
- Experience with financial policies
- Experience with Penn State systems, such as Strategic Information Management System (SIMS), Penn State's System for Integrated Management, Budget, and Accounting (SIMBA), and Systems, Applications and Products (SAP)
- Graduates of the ACOR Certification and Education Series (ACES) Program
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Robust retirement plans
- Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
- Generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children
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