Pre-Award Specialist

Overview

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is seeking a full-time pre-award specialist to join the Office of Sponsored Programs.

UWM earned the highest rating – R1 – for a research institution from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the gold standard for assessment. The Office of Research facilitates the creation of new knowledge and the development of innovative solutions by supporting research across the sciences, arts, and humanities that enhances the mission of UWM, and spurs economic growth.

The Office of Research, and its staff, are responsible for central research administration, oversight of research policy and compliance, and internal research development programs. The Office is part of Academic Affairs, and includes the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Office of Undergraduate Research, as well as several research centers.

Within the Office of Sponsored Programs, the pre-award specialist: Ensures proposal and award compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and terms and conditions; Reviews, approves, and negotiates grants, subcontracts, and agreements on behalf of the institution, and; Campus level pre-award administration responsible for reviewing work submitted from campus partners prior to submission to sponsor for consideration.

Job Responsibilities

• Review proposals and budgets for compliance with sponsor requirements, state, UW-System, and UW-Milwaukee policies, and federal guidelines
• Submit proposals to extramural sponsors
• Collect and provide post-submission materials to sponsors
• Review and negotiate grant and subcontract award documents
• Facilitate award set-up
• Work with departmental and unit-level research administrators to complete the above tasks
• Work with various campus partners to manage compliance items, information requests, and other tasks as they develop
• Work and communicate with sponsors at various stages of proposals and awards to request clarification, provide information, and request approvals

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any field, or commensurate combination of directly related experience and relevant coursework
• At least 2 years’ experience in an academic, non-profit, government, or healthcare environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree, including master’s, doctorate, juris doctor or other terminal degree
• 3 or more years’ experience administering sponsored projects in higher education, healthcare, government, non-profit, or industry
• Evidence of working knowledge of Uniform Guidance and history administering research funding from federal agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Energy
• Evidence of experience with contract negotiation and subcontract preparation
• Evidence of experience with operational process improvement and procedure documentation
• Evidence of experience developing and facilitating trainings on research administration topics
• Evidence of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness

Core Competencies

• Ability to think independently and make qualified judgments
• Ability to work on many projects simultaneously with attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize and perform effectively with self-direction
• Strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and collegial working relationships with university personnel, state and federal agencies, and private organizations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, Adobe Acrobat, and virtual collaboration programs (e.g., Teams, Zoom)

For this position, applicants are required to apply online: https://jobs.uwm.edu/postings/34406. Application deadline is open until filled; initial review date is June 2, 2022.