JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) seeks a highly motivated and experienced professional to serve as a Pre-Award Manager in the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research.


The EMS Research Office provides proposal preparation support and grant administration services for a $70 million per year college research enterprise. College-level research administrators are a vital part of Penn State’s vibrant research community which boasts annual research expenditures exceeding $1.2 billion and ranks among the top 30 public research universities in the nation. The selected candidate will join a highly respected team of pre-award and post-award professionals in a high-volume, fast-paced, innovative, and service-first environment.


Responsibilities
The Pre-Award Manager is responsible for the pre-award functions and proposal submission process for all sponsored research administered in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

• Supervises a team of five Pre-Award Coordinators (Proposal and Award Generalists), allocates and balances workloads, and ensures quality of work.
  
• Provides quality review and compliance approval for all proposals. Obtains and exercises Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) authority to submit proposals on behalf of the University.
  
• Demonstrates mastery of proposal submission requirements for standard federal, Commonwealth and industry proposals and a depth of experience with key EMS sponsors (i.e., NSF, DOE, NASA, Do D).
  
• Demonstrates extensive knowledge of federal grant policy, the Uniform Guidance, and Penn State research policies, processes, and practices and provides accurate guidance to faculty and staff based on that knowledge.
  
• Responds to faculty and staff questions and resolve issues that arise during proposal development. Interprets solicitation requirements and offers context and insight, citing policy and procedures based on experience.
  
• Communicates with external sponsor contacts to clarify solicitation requirements and resolve issues.
  
• Develops and implements processes that ensure timely, accurate, and compliant proposal submissions. Expands knowledge of best practices, incorporates it into work assignments, and prioritizes customer service and collaboration across EMS departments and institutes.
  
• Serves as a liaison between EMS faculty and administrative staff and the Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Research Protections, and other administrative units across the University supporting EMS research.
  
  
  

Work Arrangement
The EMS Research Office is supportive of flexible work arrangements aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. The location of this position is flexible and can operate remotely within the United States . Standard working hours are in the Eastern time zone.


Education and Experience
This position will be filled at the Proposal and Award Manager - Manager level and requires a Bachelor’s Degree or higher and eight years of relevant experience, including three years of supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Preference will be given for proposal submission experience with Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, and/or Department of Defense (Do D) sponsors and for those possessing the Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential.

Application Instructions
Candidates should submit a cover letter expressing their interest and qualifications in the position, as well as a resume describing their education and work experience.

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the Pennsylvania State University are committed to, and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.


Penn State offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, in addition to tuition discounts (75% discount for spouse and children), and paid holidays. Please visit https://hr.psu.edu/current-employee/benefits for more detailed information.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

$86,300.00 - $129,500.00
Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

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