APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

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POSITION SPECIFICS​

The College of Health and Human Development (HHD), Office of Research and Graduate Education seeks a dynamic, hardworking, highly skilled professional to serve as Assistant Director of Pre-Award Services. This position will report to the Director of Grants and Contracts and will perform most work activities in a large volume, fast paced, complex, detailed, and multifaceted environment. The selected individual’s job responsibilities relate to the full lifecycle of sponsored program administration and will include, but are not limited to:

• Supervises a team of three Pre-Award Coordinators allocates and balances workloads.
• Provides quality review and compliance approval for all proposals. Obtains and exercises Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) authority to submit proposals on behalf of the University.
• Demonstrates mastery of proposal submission requirements for standard federal, Commonwealth and industry proposals and a depth of experience with key NIH sponsors (i.e., NSF, NIH, SAMHSA, Foundations). 
• Demonstrates extensive knowledge of federal grant policy, the Uniform Guidance, and Penn State research policies, processes, and practices and provides accurate guidance to faculty and staff based on that knowledge. 
• Responds to faculty and staff questions and resolve issues that arise during proposal development. Interprets solicitation requirements and offers context and insight, citing policy and procedures based on experience. 
• Communicates with external sponsor contacts to clarify solicitation requirements and resolve issues.
• Develops and implements processes that ensure timely, accurate, and compliant proposal submissions. Expands knowledge of best practices, incorporates it into work assignments, and prioritizes customer service and collaboration across HHD departments and institutes.
• Serves as a liaison between HHD faculty and administrative staff and the Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Research Protections, and other administrative units across the University supporting HHD research. 
• Support all aspects of the proposal lifecycle and serve as leadership support and back up for Pre-Award issues/complex situations, and provide guidance to team on conflict resolution strategies.
• Lead efforts with complex strategic applications including budgets and determining