Director, Pre-Award & Research Proposals

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 106,100 - 137,900; Full time

Job summary

University of Houston System seeks a Director for the Office of Contracts & Grants to provide strategic vision and oversight of research proposal preparation, pre-review activities, and contract negotiations. The role emphasizes leadership, compliance, and cost-effective research operations to support high-profile proposals.

Under the Assistant Vice President for Sponsored Programs, you will align sponsor requirements with institutional policies, advise faculty, and serve as a trusted resource

Qualifications

• Requires a directly job-related Master’s degree or equivalent.
• Minimum seven (7) years of directly job-related experience.
• All positions are security-sensitive and require a criminal history check.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pre-award operations and develop and maintain policies to ensure timely proposal submission and contract negotiations.
• Provide leadership to the research administration team and monitor performance for accuracy and timeliness.
• Advise faculty and staff on proposal strategy, sponsor guidelines, and institutional requirements.
• Oversee contract review and negotiation activities and act as Authorized Organizational Representative.
• Collaborate with university offices to ensure alignment of pre-award operations with policies and regulations.
• Develop and deliver training programs for university personnel in research administration.

Skills

Leadership

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Strategy development

Education

Master’s degree or higher

Job description

University of Houston System seeks a Director for the Office of Contracts & Grants to provide strategic vision and oversight of research proposal preparation, pre-review activities, and contract negotiations. The role emphasizes leadership, compliance, and cost-effective research operations to support high-profile proposals.

Under the Assistant Vice President for Sponsored Programs, you will align sponsor requirements with institutional policies, advise faculty, and serve as a trusted resource