Proposal Administrator, Sr.

Job Summary:

 The Sr. Proposal Administrator is responsible for review and submission of outgoing proposals The Proposal Administrator, Sr. reviews and assists in creation of applicable proposal budgets and other aspects of proposals in alignment with sponsor and solicitation guidelines and provides feedback to the research community (faculty, business administrators, and research personnel) as applicable on required corrections or policies and proecdures for proposal review and submission. The Proposal Administrator, Sr. also reviews proposals for compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, monitoring proposals for risks and escalating deviations to Associate Director (who works with Finance leadership as appropriate), The Proposal Administrator, Sr. serves as an authorized official on behalf of RPI to represent and certify on behalf of the university to the accuracy of proposal content, as well as other matters as required by sponsors. The Proposal Administrator, Sr. assists with developing and delivering training for the research community, as well as the maintenance of business process documentation and tools for proposal submission at RPI. The Sr. Proposal Administrator shall actively participate in process improvement and training and communication to campus stakeholders related to the proposal submission process at RPI as assigned.

Who we are:

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Explore the RPI Forward plan. ↗︎

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world. 

With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree required.

Minimum of three (3) years of experience in sponsored programs within a higher education setting, including in-depth knowledge of federal proposal submission procedures for a variety of federal sponsors, as well as federal regulations related to the administration of grants and contracts, including 2 CFR 200 (Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance) and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of federal regulations and policies governing non-profit and/or educational institutions, specifically as they relate to proposal review and submission across a complex mix of Federal, State, foundation/not-for-profit and industry sponsored opportunities.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to analyze and interpret data
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet established goals and objectives
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Ability to work in fast paced, rapidly changing environment.
• Demonstrated problem solving and project management skills.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Excellent oral and written skills
• Ability to interact well with people either individually or in a group setting

Representative Job Duties:

1. Review, process and submit proposals, ensuring compliance with Rensselaer’s polices, sponsor requirements, and Federal rules. Submission includes reviewing final budgets for high risk areas such as level of effort, use of subcontracts, cost sharing, and correct application of F&A rates in alignment with RPI’s approved agreement. Serve as authoried institutional official for proposal submissions.
2. Maintain Rensselaer proposal budget template for use, including correcting and updating formulas, and developing an in-depth understanding of the tool’s features as they relate to proration of tuition and faculty/staff/student