(Remote) Assistant Director of Pre-Award - WVU Cancer Institute

The Cancer Institute at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Remote) Assistant Director of Pre-Award.

About the Opportunity

As an Assistant Director of Pre-Award, you will be responsible for managing and supporting sponsored research endeavors in the WVU Cancer Institute (WVUCI), including, but not limited to, pre-award and post-award sponsored research operations, and budget and data management and reporting. You will work directly with the WVUCI Director and leadership team for the strategic alignment of research administration with the WVUCI's long-term goals to cultivate nationally recognized research programs.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits (this position is a benefits-eligible, non-classified staff position)
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What you'll do:

• Provide leadership and operational oversight of the WVU Cancer Institute's proposal development activities, with a focus on portfolio growth and sustainability.
• Lead proposal development initiatives for large, multi-investigator program grants and strategic research project grants. Work directly with emerging research groups to obtain funding for expansion into nationally recognized research programs.
• Work directly with the WVU Cancer Institute Director and leadership team on strategic initiatives to increase WVUCI's research capacity and maximize impact throughout the region. Conduct or direct special projects as assigned.
• Work directly with faculty to strategically identify, plan, and secure research funding, including meeting with new cancer research faculty regarding individual research funding goals and internal support mechanisms.
• Seek out, identify, and disseminate research and scholarship opportunities/updates and funding opportunities.
• Encourage, assist in the development of, and provide review and approval of research and grant proposals for faculty.
• Manage all aspects of the National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) application process.
• Provide data, reporting, information, and updates on research productivity and grant-related outcomes.
• Develop and manage critical relationships with faculty members in order to further departmental research endeavors.
• Oversee WVUCI internal pilot and developmental grants mechanisms such as limited submission selection and pilot and seed funding.
• Develop collaborative relationships across WVU and the WVU Medicine system to grow interdepartmental research endeavors.
• Oversee all non-transactional aspects of WVUCI research administration, including budgeting, application, set-up, and reporting.
• Facilitate the management of externally funded projects, including direct management with WVU business offices. Serve as primary liaison to the Office of Sponsored Programs and funding agencies for the seamless operation of all grants.
• Advises all levels of faculty on research funding strategies, proposals, and budgeting. Provides fiscal and administrative guidance to grant principal investigators, program directors, co-investigators, and staff.
• Apply organizational policies and procedures to resolve moderate to complex matters. Apply independent judgement and resourcefulness to adapt to the business circumstance.
• Prioritize time-sensitive material for appropriate action.
• Manage operations of the pre-award unit while fostering a productive and high-performing project team environment. Hire, supervise, and direct the work of staff by providing day-to-day work planning, direction, monitoring, and ensuring accuracy and completeness of work products and opportunities for development, coaching, and mentoring.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of standardized tools, templates, and data repositories containing faculty research productivity, proposal materials, and related information. Oversee the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures in collaboration with staff members.
• Assure the adherence of WVUCI grants to all standards and policies as set forth by WVU, sponsors, and regulatory agencies. Participate in professional development activities to maintain and use this knowledge to serve as an advisor to the faculty by creating an effective application process which proves successful for submitting high quality applications.

Education: Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience: A minimum of two (2) years of experience involving:

• • Proposal development/pre-award.
    
  • Research administration and reporting.
    
  • Experience in higher education setting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of relevant institutional, state, federal, and non-federal fiscal and administrative rules, regulations and procedures.
• Advanced knowledge in/use of federal application systems (grants.gov/workspace, NIH ASSIST, NSF Fastlane, etc.)
• Advanced knowledge in/use KC and MAP/Oracle or similar systems.
  
• Experience with managing or leading sponsored projects and contracts administration in a large research university setting.
• Experience working with grants/contracts accounting.
• Experience with supervising personnel and assigning job duties.
• Experience speaking/writing effective, clear & concise reports.
• Experience researching and collecting data to form reports and make recommendations.
• Ability to perform financial calculations, prepare/maintain financial reports, analysis, and summaries for a large customer base.
• Ability to effectively present information to top managers, public groups, state officials, and/or boards of directors.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from PI/CoI, regulatory agencies, state program staff, or members of the community.
• Must have independent decision-making ability.
• Ability to work with multi-disciplinary groups and facilitate meetings.
• Possesses the interpersonal skills to positively and effectively communicate, negotiate, and resolve conflict.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree.
• Certified Research Administrator.

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia's land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley - the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you're a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic learning environment is core to WVU's academic mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.