Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Proposal and Awards

The Proposal and Award Manager pursues, administers, and conducts sponsored programs; leads the identification of funding opportunities; oversees the proposal preparation process; leads the submission of proposals; reviews awards for items specific to the faculty, department, and college/unit; informs faculty and college personnel of special contractual requirements; ensures compliance with University guidelines; and provides training to personnel on topics that cover the breadth of research administration. 

• Lead, direct, and manage research administration activities of a college, unit, or institute
• Oversee a research administration team; oversee workflow and assign priorities; establish best practices; ensure quality service is provided to research teams, support staff, and faculty within a research area
• Monitor deadlines, interpret sponsor guidelines, resolve complex award issues, consult faculty on non-routine proposal activities including subawards, multi-disciplinary awards, cost shares, and special requirements; exercise signature authority to approve and submit proposals
• Develop a collaborative partnership with the research unit; engage faculty and managers to provide recommendations to improve proposal success rate and award management effectiveness
• Serve as a liaison between the research unit and University research administration offices including Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Research Protection, Office of Technology Management, Risk Management, or other central units
• Ensure compliance with University, government, and sponsor regulations; monitor, interpret, and disseminate policy changes that impact research administration practices
• Develop tools, forms, documentation, and operating procedures to ensure service standards are met; resolve issues and implement solutions; initiate process improvements to address systemic roadblocks
• Contribute new research administration models, practices, and ideas to the larger University research community; participate in projects and committees with the aim of promoting the reach and impact of University research activities
• Hire, train, mentor, and train others; provide feedback and development opportunities
• Serve as a subject matter expert in a specific research administration area; provide consultation in guidance within the unit and across the research administration community in area of expertise

Level:

– Manager

Base Description:

– Manages direct reports where primary duty is the management of a working unit.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates proficient ability in work design, project management, financial planning and development of goals for accomplishing unit assignments. Reviews and guides work to ensure conformity to policy and effective approaches. Evaluates employee performance and recommend development opportunities. Demonstrates ability to coach employees. Presents and communicates key university indicatives and connects it to unit contributions. Provides broad guidelines. Develops, evaluates, enhances, and/or implements quality improvement practices. Recommends innovative solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Oversees a team (typically 4 or more; no fewer than 2) full
– time direct reports of individual contributors and/or first level supervisors.

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Monitors and tracks department/area budget
– May plan, forecast, and/or assist in developing budgets
– May have final signature authority for specific area

Problem Solving:

– Encounters varied and complex problems
– Helps to develop creative and/or novel approaches to resolve problems that are difficult in nature but within limited scope
– Modifies, adapts, or refines guidelines if necessary to resolve issues or problems

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices and advanced working knowledge to determine appropriate work methods for the team
– Reviews completed work of others for conformity to policy, and effectiveness of approach
– Delegates advanced tasks to others

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and various areas across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Communicates key university initiatives and how unit’s work contributes to their achievement
– Presents ideas, concepts and instructions in a clear manner, and uses persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 13
• Minimum – $86,300.00
• MidPoint – $107,900.00
• Maximum – $129,500.00