Grant Preparation Assistant

Salary/Position Classification

• $52,000+ annual, Exempt
• 40 hours per week
• This position will work onsite the Grand Forks, ND campus.

Purpose of Position

As a key member of our CEM Research Support Unit, you'll play a vital role in advancing research initiatives by:

• Partnering with faculty and staff to develop compelling funding proposals
• Guiding researchers through complex grant guidelines and requirements
• Creating detailed budgets and justifications that bring research visions to life
• Managing award setup processes to ensure smooth project launches
• Building relationships across campus as a liaison with research administration
• Maintaining comprehensive tracking systems for all departmental proposals

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist faculty and staff in preparing and submitting external funding proposals
• Contact funding agencies concerning specific programs, eligibility, grant preparation guidelines, etc. 
• Assist staff with interpreting sponsor guidelines and restrictions. Develops a checklist & guide for PI which includes the requirements.
  • Aid in proposal development and clearance of proposals and budgets in accordance with policies, federal regulations, and funder guidelines. 
  • Review applications for internal and external funding for completeness and facilitate adherence to institutional and agency policy and procedures prior to submission, recommending changes as needed.
  • Become Novelution expert for CEM 
  • Review Cost Share Requirement to verify 
  • Verify any subcontracts listed in the proposal have appropriate documentation 
  • Assist PIs in the generation of letters of support consistent with the guidelines of the proposal call
  • Assist Pl in preparing all relevant files in the proper format as requested in the proposal call and assist the Pl in uploading these documents in grants.gov, research.gov or other proposal systems
  • Act as the budget advisor on grant proposal teams
  • Act as liaison with central research administration offices
  • Work with the technical editor to ensure resumes and current and pending support are up to date and in the required format
  • Maintain documentation of all concept papers, preproposals, and proposals submitted by CEM
  • Track cost share commitments 
• Participate in Grant Award Setup
  • Once awarded, review proposal details and adjust parameters as necessary.
  • Verify/Revise ABS budget from Novelution and submit to Grants & Contracts for PeopleSoft setup.
  • Utilize Novelution reports to prepare Gantt-like chart displaying HRMS information entered into SSC salary projection sheet.
  • Lead meeting with Post Award Specialist, PIs, Faculty Support Manager, and Dean's Office Support Specialist as appropriate to pass information from the proposal for proper tracking and setup for the project.
  • Provide assistance to the Post-Award Team as needed to initiate initial salary projections and payroll setup. 
• Prepare proposal and grant-related reports:
  • Proposal reports
    • Maintain documentation of all concept papers, preproposals, and proposals submitted by CEM by providing updates of submission as a function of submitting PI, Co-PIs, and the department
    • Track success ratio within Novelution
    • Track cost share commitments,
  • Grant Update Reports
    • Assist Post-Award Analyst in the development & distribution of monthly reports. 

Required Competencies

• Strong communication skills (written and oral)
• Strong attention to detail skills
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills
• Ability to multi-task and manage complex administrative processes
• Demonstrated leadership and problem-solving skills
• Ability to solve issues independently
• Ability to work collaboratively across all institutional lines
• The demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff with tact and
  diplomacy

Minimum Requirements

• Associate's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field
• Three years of accounting experience
• Microsoft Office skills to include Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field

To Apply

Please include a cover letter and resume with your application.