Research Administration Manager - College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences - UTK

The Research Administration Manager provides comprehensive PreAward research administration support for faculty, center directors, and the College. In Proposal Management, the role identifies funding opportunities, assists faculty with interpreting sponsor guidelines, creates templates/checklists from agency rules, plans and coordinates tasks and timelines for proposal submission, develops accurate budgets aligned with sponsor requirements and University accounting codes/fiscal policy, initiates correspondence with grant personnel and external agencies, and performs other research administration duties as assigned by the Associate Dean for Research (ADR) and Senior Research Administration Manager.

In Research/Award Management, the Admin trains designated departmental support personnel and interested faculty on electronic submission, reporting, and financial/compliance systems; ensures intellectual property provisions are submitted to UTRF for review; queries research data for monthly accolades and College reporting; coordinates with the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development to keep faculty/staff informed of UT and sponsor policies; and monitors and evaluates research activities for research and fiscal compliance across pre-award stages.

Under Oversight & Administrative Management, the position serves as a front-line service and office support specialist in a deadline-driven, customer service environment; reviews and approves proposal submissions in the College’s internal routing system; assists the Senior Research Administration Manager with establishing additional support services and trainings to grow CEHHS scholarship; manages all research workshop registrations; and serves as backup to the Senior Research Administration Manager.

For Marketing & Data Management, the Admin assists with designing and coordinating office marketing materials, evaluates and disseminates funding opportunity announcements to appropriate target groups, creates and maintains distribution lists for efficient information dissemination, and inputs/evaluates monthly, quarterly, and annual research-related data to measure progress toward Office and College strategic goals and reporting needs.

The role also includes reading and interpreting agency guidelines into usable proposal requirements, recommending appropriate fund allocations, coordinating necessary steps to complete grant submissions within specified timeframes, and initiating required correspondence with departments and University officials. This role acts as a compliance steward—ensuring adherence to university, state, federal, and sponsor policies—and provides operational support to expand the College’s external funding capacity.

• Manages PreAward activities for an assigned portfolio of grants using knowledge of grant management rules and regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills. 

• Ensures effective and efficient workflow and adherence to quality standards for faculty, staff, and oneself. 

• Ensure all applications meet agency and university guidelines and published timelines and deadlines. 

• Assist the PI in the development of budget(s) and budget justifications which includes proofing the budget for inconsistencies and ensuring accuracy. 

• Advises the PI on administrative requirements in preparing proposal submissions and on budget adjustments and revisions necessary to meet the sponsor requirements. 

• Works effectively with other offices (post award, central, school, departments, centers, divisions) on research proposal. 

• Contributes operational and strategic growth to the office by contributing information and ideas related to areas of responsibility as part of a cross functional team. 

• Coordinates with OREF Senior Research Administration Manager regarding pre-award activities, issue resolution and workload distribution. 

• Ensures proposal are entered and routed in a timely manner for further review, meeting internal and central office deadlines. 

• Facilitates with PI and PreAward support at collaborating institutions to secure necessary subaward documents for proposals. 

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree

• Experience: 3-5 years with grants and contracts in a University setting

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: