Pre-Award Grants Coordinator

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT); Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. is seeking a full-time Pre-Award Grants Coordinator in Blacksburg, Virginia. This position supports faculty in the development and submission of sponsored research proposals, ensuring compliance and completeness.

The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects while providing excellent service.

Qualifications include effective communication skills, experience with MS Office Suite, and the ability to handle sensitive information. Salary range is $60,000 – $70,000.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Experience with numerical data and financial information while maintaining accuracy.
• Strong organizational skills, able to manage multiple deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Support faculty in identifying and developing research proposals.
• Assist in funding-opportunity identification and proposal coordination.
• Serve as a backup for the Post-Award Grants Coordinator.

Skills

Effective communication

MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams)

Numerical data management

Organizational skills

Collaborative teamwork

Handling sensitive information

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, science, or related field

Job description

Job Description

The Department of Chemistry at Virginia Tech seeks a full‑time Pre‑Award Grants Coordinator to support faculty in the identification, development, and submission of sponsored research proposals.

This position serves as a key resource for faculty throughout the proposal development process, assisting with funding‑opportunity identification, proposal coordination, budget preparation, document collection, and submission activities to ensure complete and compliant proposals.

The successful candidate will be highly organized, detail‑oriented, and committed to providing excellent customer service, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. This role requires strong communication skills, initiative, and the ability to build effective working relationships with faculty, staff, students, and university partners.

This on‑site position also serves as a backup to the department's Post‑Award Grants Coordinator. Some flexibility may be considered following successful completion of the probationary period; however, this position is primarily on‑site with an expectation of regular in‑person engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated experience in using MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams) and Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Demonstrated ability to work with numerical data and financial information while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines and work under pressure while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with individuals from diverse backgrounds at varying levels of an organization, including faculty, students, and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, science, or related field or equivalent level of training and/or experience.
• Experience developing, managing, or monitoring budgets.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA).
• Experience coordinating, preparing, reviewing, or submitting proposals, contracts, reports, or other complex administrative documents.
• Experience interpreting and applying policies, regulations, guidelines, or compliance requirements of federal funding agencies (e.g., NSF, NIH, USDA).
• Experience with research administration systems and electronic submission platforms (e.g., grants.gov, Research.gov, Cayuse, or similar systems).
• Experience using enterprise resource planning (ERP), financial, human resources, reporting, or business intelligence systems (e.g., Banner, HRIS, MicroStrategy, or similar platforms).
• Experience supporting scientific, technical, academic, or research‑related activities.

Other Details

• Pay Band: 4
• Overtime Status: Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
• Appointment Type: Regular
• Salary Information: $60,000 – $70,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Hours per week: 40 hours – exempt position
• Review Date: 6/15/2026
• Additional Information: The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

EEO Statement

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Leslie Cherry‑Marshall at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.