Knight Campus Pre-award Research Administration Coordinator 2/ Senior

University of Oregon; Eugene (OR); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

The University of Oregon's Knight Campus seeks a highly organized Pre-award Research Administration Coordinator 2/Senior to support pre-award activities for up to 15 principal investigators. You will manage deadlines, budgets, sponsor guidelines, and final submissions in a hybrid/remote work environment.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Research Administration, you will provide guidance, generate reports, and ensure compliance with sponsor and university requirements, collaborating with

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree and at least two years of progressive experience in research administration or sponsored programs.
• Experience developing, editing, and reviewing proposals, budgets, grants, or contracts.
• Familiarity with grants/awards regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience with proposal routing/submission systems (Grants.gov, Research.gov, ASSIST, SciENcv).

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level pre-award research administration support for Knight Campus portfolio.
• Manage internal deadlines, monitor proposal progress, and ensure sponsor guidelines compliance.
• Prepare budgets and supporting documentation; coordinate final proposal submissions.
• Generate activity/productivity reports and advise on budget-related questions.

Skills

Organization

Analytical skills

Customer service

Communication

Independence & teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Grants.gov

Research.gov

ASSIST

SciENcv

Job description

Knight Campus Pre-award Research Administration Coordinator 2/Senior

Department: Knight Campus

Appointment Type and Duration: Regular,Ongoing

Salary: RAC 2: $63,000 - $75,000 Senior RAC:$72,000 - $82,000

Compensation Band: OS-OA06-Fiscal Year2026-2027

FTE: 1.0

Department Summary

The Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact is anambitious initiative designed to fast-track scientific discoveriesinto innovations that improve the quality of life for people inOregon, the nation, and the world. The campus creates theintellectual infrastructure to establish Oregon as a center forboth research and development, making Oregon a place wherecompanies can start up and grow. The Knight Campus is reshaping thehigher education landscape in Oregon by training the nextgenerations of scientists, forging tighter ties with industry andentrepreneurs, and creating new educational opportunities forgraduate and undergraduate students.

The Research Administration unit provides full-cycle research andsponsored project administration from proposal development,proposal submission, award and contract set-up to post awardadministration and contract required financial reporting. ResearchAdministration monitors relevant policy and regulation changes atthe federal, state, and university level and provides support toPrinciple Investigators in change implementation. ResearchAdministration is the chief liaison with the University's SponsoredProject Services unit, responsible for responding to audit requestsfrom internal and external entities and a partner when engagingwith University Research Compliance Services staff.

Position Summary

The Knight Campus seeks a highly motivated, organized, andcommunicative individual to provide high-level researchadministration support for the Knight Campus research portfolio. This position may be filled in either the Research AdministrationCoordinator (RAC) 2 or Senior Research Administration Coordinator(Senior RAC) level and will primarily support pre-award activitiesfor up to 15 principal investigators (PIs).

The RAC provides comprehensive research administration and grantmanagement services to Knight Campus faculty and affiliates. Working closely with PIs, this position proactively manages thepre-award process, including establishing internal deadlines, monitoring progress toward proposal completion, reviewing sponsorguidelines, ensuring compliance with sponsor and universityrequirements, preparing supporting documentation, developingproposal budgets, proofreading submission materials, andcoordinating final proposal submissions. The RAC also generatesactivity and productivity reports and serves as a resource oncompliance and budget-related questions.

This position regularly interacts with external sponsors andpartners, faculty, staff, students, and administrative leadersacross the university and beyond.

Reporting to the AssistantDirector of Research Administration, the RAC plays a critical rolein supporting the Knight Campus's growing research enterprise andadvancing its strategic research and innovation goals.

This position offers flexibility with a hybrid or remote workenvironment.

Additional Responsibilities for the Senior Research AdministrationCoordinator:

In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, the Senior RACprovides leadership in research administration by balancingexceptional customer service with institutional and sponsorcompliance requirements. The Senior RAC contributes to thedevelopment and implementation of strategic goals, standardoperating procedures, and operational best practices for researchadministration. This position exercises a high degree ofindependent judgment in research administration matters and mayprovide supervision, mentorship, and consultation to colleagueswithin the unit and across the Knight Campus. The Senior RAC alsoleads the development, testing, and implementation of new pre-awardworkflows, processes, policies, and protocols to support thecontinued growth and effectiveness of the Knight Campus researchadministration portfolio.

Minimum Requirements

RAC 2:

• A bachelor's degree AND at least two years of progressively responsible experience in research administration, administrationof sponsored programs, and/or writing grant proposals. Twoadditional years of relevant work experience may substitute for abachelor's degree.
• One year of experience in developing, editing, and reviewingproposals, budgets, grants, and/or contracts for adherence to stateand federal regulations.
• Six months' experience in an environment working withgovernmental and granting agency regulations pertaining to grantsand contracts.
• Experience with proposal routing and submission systems such asGrants.gov, Research.gov, ASSIST, SciENcv, or comparableplatforms.

Senior RAC:

• A bachelor's degree AND four years of progressively responsibleexperience in research administration or administration ofsponsored programs in an institution of higher education or similarmajor research institution. Two years of this experience mustinclude management of pre-award administration for NIH, NSF and/orDOD grants with knowledge of governmental and granting agencyregulations pertaining to grants and contracts OR Eight years ofrelevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education andtraining.
• Experience with proposal routing and submission systems such asGrants.gov, Research.gov, ASSIST, SciENcv, or comparableplatforms.

Professional Competencies

Both RAC levels:

• Ability to manage multiple priorities with overlapping deadlinesand frequent interruptions while maintaining a high level ofcustomer service and professionalism.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with close attentionto detail.
• Effective customer service and communication skills, includingthe ability to communicate and work effectively with faculty,staff, students, and individuals from diverse backgrounds andcultures.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a teamenvironment.

Senior Level:

• Advanced knowledge and demonstrated ability to interpret andapply sponsor requirements, including federal regulations, UniformGuidance, federal cost accounting standards, and otheradministrative rules.
• Demonstrated ability to learn, understand, interpret, and explaincomplex university, sponsor, and government policies, rules,regulations, and requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

Both RAC levels:

• Professional certification in research administration (e.g.,C.R.A.) and/or a bachelor's or advanced degree in researchadministration, business administration, management, publicadministration, or a closely related field.
• One or more years of project management experience related toresearch or grant administration in higher education, researchorganizations, or a related environment.
• Experience with budget and financial management.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and other softwareprograms, including HRIS/FIS platforms and databases.

Senior Level:

• Master's degree in research administration, businessadministration, management, public administration, or a closelyrelated field.
• Experience with research compliance.
• Experience with complex research or grant administration inhigher education, including foundation awards and non-standardsponsored awards.
• Experience using additional software and tools, includingAd

FLSA Exempt: Yes

All offers of employment are contingent upon successfulcompletion of a background check.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefitspackage to eligible employees, including health insurance,retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information aboutbenefits, visit ourwebsite.

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institutioncommitted to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americanswith Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualifiedindividuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of anyprotected status, including veteran and disability status. TheUniversity is committed to providing reasonable accommodations toapplicants and employees with disabilities. To request anaccommodation in connection with the application process, please email us or call541-346-5112.

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