Job Summary

Provide direction and leadership in assigning workload, developing processes and setting expectations that meet and exceed those of our customers in the support of Pre-Award activities.  Direct and monitor proposal workload activity and assignment to ensure adequate support is provided to all investigators.  Analyze past data and trends to assist with forecasting workloads and staffing needs.  Provide quality control to proposal development activity.  Partner with Pre-Award Managers and others in SPS to meet and exceed faculty expectations for services in support of research activities.  Serve as the Pre-Award functional lead for Purdue's PERA system by providing user training and support, representing Pre-Award in system-related activities and user groups, staying current on system updates, and leading testing efforts for changes and upgrades.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Leadership and Supervision:  Provide overall leadership for Pre-Award Services in Developing processes and setting priorities that meet and exceed faculty expectations for services provided in support of their pre=award activities.  Establish expectations, priorities and best practices, facilitate the availability of resources needed to achieve expectations and provide performance feedback.  With the Pre-Award Leadership team, address the needs of training, improvement to processes and increased efficiencies for all of Pre-Award and the customers served.  Proactively address the needs of the campus research community through assessment of past trends and data.  Function as a mentor to staff across Sponsored Program Services on issues of pre-award policies and procedures.  Serve as the functional supervisor to the support team staff that support Pre-Award, Pre-Award Specialists, the Training Coordinator, and the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Team.  Serve as a back up to the Director of Pre-Award, Pre-Award Managers and Training Coordinator as needed.
• Purdue Electronic Research Administration (PERA):  Provide direction and leadership in assigning monitoring and adjusting workload.  Develop processes and set expectations for distributing workload across all staff in Pre-Award.  Interface with University staff and faculty to communication information and obtain feedback regarding pre-award policies and procedures.  Serve as a key resource to the Research Administration community in all matters related to University policies for proposal development and submission.  Interpret sponsor policies and regulations and make recommendations of impact on pre-award process.  Maintain liaison relationships with sponsor officials.  Partner with the Pre-Award Training Coordinator to assess the needs of the campus-wide research community for training and development activities.  Communicate and collaborate with SPS Post Award team to facilitate a smooth transition from proposal to award.
• Proposal Development:  Direct and/or support the delivery of proposal development services for the West Lafayette, Regional campuses, and Affiliated Organizations.  Allocate resources to the proposal process and provide general quality control for proposal development activity.  Collaborate with faculty to obtain necessary information during the pre-Award process.  Assist Pre-Award Managers and Specialists in proposal development processes as needed.  Provide assistance and allocate resources to SPS Pre-Award Director and SPS Pre-Award Managers as needed.
• Proposal Review and Institutional Approval:  Review and analyze completed proposal in preparation for submission.  Assure that the proposal meets all sponsor and university guidelines.  Audit budget, budget justification, subcontract and cost sharing documentation.  Reconcile discrepancies as needed.  Exercise final institutional authority for proposals submitted within delegated limit.
• Other:  Coordinate and/or assist with other activities, special projects and reports in coordination with Director Sponsored Program Services Pre-Award.  Perform other duties as requested by Director Sponsored Program Services Pre-Award.

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree
• Five or more years of experience in higher education research administration
• Consideration will given to an equivalent combination of required education and related experience
• Ability to analyze, interpret and implement University policies and procedures
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written), planning, problem-solving, analytical, organizational, project management and customer service skills
• Ability to influence and build work relationships among a diverse workforce at all levels
• Ability to analyze large amounts of data and trends at both a high level and detailed level
• Possess a learning orientation to changing technology impacting business processes
• Personal computer and related software skills, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, database, data query and Internet

What Is Helpful:

• Degree in Business, Management or a related discipline
• Purdue Sponsored Program Services Pre-Award Management

What We Want You To Know:

• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check is required for employment in this position
• FLSA:  Exempt (Not eligible for overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility:  Defined Contribution Immediately 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Purdue University is an EOE employer.