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Asst Dir Pre-Award Services

Employer
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Location
UMass Amherst

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Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

Job no: 506465
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: Pre-Award Services
Union: PSU
Categories: Laboratory & Research, Professional Staff Union (PSU), Research

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of the Office of Pre-Award Services, the Assistant Director provides programmatic and operational support and is responsible for proposal review and submission; interpretation and implementation of Federal, State and University regulations; education and training for sponsored and proposal development activities; resource person for faculty and staff; liaison with sponsoring agencies; and exercises functional supervision over employees engaged as research service administrators in the performance of assigned duties.

The Assistant Director has requisite knowledge and expertise to be granted signature authority and submission permission for sponsored activities proposals, certifications, and assurances. This position provides leadership in the absence of the Director.

Essential Functions

  • Review proposals to ensure that they are in compliance with University policy, sponsor regulations, and compliant with federal and state law. Review and analyze proposed subcontract relationships and documenting reasonableness of cost, verification of rates, sole source justifications and other required elements. In coordination with the Director, responsible for oversight of proposal submission including, but not limited to, accuracy of budgets, institutional commitments, securing appropriate internal reviews and approvals for regulatory compliance, documenting collaborative arrangements. Conduct pre-award negotiations with sponsor representatives.
  • Upon authorization from the Director, act as an Institutional Authorized Representative designee, endorsing and submitting proposals, certify official assurances, provide representation and expanded authority as required by Federal and State statutes, and execute sponsored activities documents to bind the Institution contractually. Ensure proposals are reviewed and submitted in a timely manner.
  • Represent and participate in University committees, such as Research Council, on behalf of the Director.
  • Contributes to strategic unit planning and campus policy development and implementation for pre-award activities.
  • Responsible for working with and also acting as a resource person for electronic submission systems such as NSF Fastlane, NIH Commons and other sponsoring agency portals or systems.
  • Assist faculty and staff in all aspects of proposal preparation support multi-disciplinary submissions and project development in collaboration with other key VCRE units and staff in the Schools/Colleges, departments, centers or institutions.
  • Responsible for disbursing information (verbal, written and electronic) associated with policies/procedures, funding activity, data and reports relative too pre-award research activities, etc. as it relates to the pre-award process.
  • Responsible for monitoring sponsoring agency homepages and listserves for changes and updates to policies and procedures. Responsible for disseminating this information to the appropriate parties utilizing web page, email and other communication mechanisms Responsible for communicating proposal related subcontract procedures effectively to campus stakeholders.
  • Collaborate on the development of training and outreach efforts such as workshops and web-based training tools with other VCRE units and staff in Schools/Colleges, departments, and centers/institutes. Train and mentor new Research Award Administrators and other campus research administration staff in areas relating to proposal development and pre-award research administration.

Other Functions

  • Supervisory responsibilities including but not limited to supervision of the OPAS Pre-Award Administrators, both Review and Development as designated by the OPAS Director

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field (including reading and writing intensive fields such as English) plus five or more years relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience applying federal rules, regulations and policies (e.g., IMB Circulars A21 and A-110, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS)) to analysis of proposed sponsored programs or research activities
  • Demonstration of supervisory ability
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Experience working with email, internet, and word processing packages.
  • Certified Research Administration (CRA) (at hire or obtained within eighteen months of hire)

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

  • Three years’ experience in an institution of Higher Education.
  • Experience in managing sponsored research review processes.
  • Ability to work with precision under pressure of deadline with minimal supervision.

Work Schedule

May be required to work some nights and weekends.

Salary Information

PSU Level: 29

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information (phone and email) for three professional references by October 8, 2020 for priority consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Sep 24 2020 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:

Organization

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the preeminent public research universities in America. Nestled in idyllic Amherst, Massachusetts—often called “The top college town in North America”—the campus is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation, and offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. 

As one of the nation's top public research universities – as measured by national and international rankings, academic citations, and research funding – the campus spends more than $180 million on research each year, demonstrating its contribution to the nation’s position as a technological and economic leader. The university works in conjunction with academic, government, and private partners to translate new knowledge and scientific discoveries into technical innovations and scholarly works that create opportunities for students, faculty and the public. 

Eight schools and colleges offer more than 85 undergraduate majors, 68 master’s and 48 doctoral degree programs, many counted among the top programs in the nation and world. UMass Amherst is also home to New England's premier honors college.

The 1,159 full-time faculty members are dedicated teachers and world-renowned researchers and the campus has regularly been listed among the top performers in terms of faculty awards. With over 24,000 students from all 50 states and over 70 countries, the student body is the most academically successful in the history of the campus. Students participate in 240 organizations, 21 NCAA Division I athletic teams, extensive intramurals, living-learning residence halls, community service, and internships. With one of the largest residential life systems in the nation, UMass Amherst houses approximately 12,000 students on campus. The university is enjoying a facilities renaissance, including new buildings in the sciences, the arts, and recreation. UMass Amherst is part of the Five College consortium with Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and Amherst colleges.

As an employer, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a national leader in developing family-friendly policies, benefits and amenities designed to help faculty members develop both productive careers and satisfying personal lives. The university offers one of the nation’s most generous parental leave policies. The university is also part of the Academic Career Network, a regional consortium formed to serve dual-career couples and encourage greater diversity in the academy.

 

Company info
Website
Telephone
4135454894
Location
181 PRESIDENTS DR
Whitmore Administration Building
Amherst
Massachusetts
01003
US

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