Pre-Award Manager

University of North Carolina at Wilmington; Wilmington, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid leave

Tuition assistance

Wellness programs

Job summary

UNCW seeks a Pre‑Award Manager to lead all pre‑award activities within the SPARC office, guiding proposals, budgets, and regulatory compliance. You will collaborate with investigators, departments, and sponsors to ensure timely and accurate submission and adherence to guidelines.

The role emphasizes training staff, interpreting complex sponsor rules, and maintaining data integrity across systems while supporting university research excellence.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree plus 3 years of relevant pre-award experience or exceptional bachelor’s with 5+ years in sponsored research administration.
• At least 3 years of experience in pre‑award research administration within a centralized office.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pre‑award activities for the SPARC office and advise Principal Investigators and staff on proposals, budgets and timelines.
• Coordinate with university offices, sponsors and departments on proposal development, review and pre‑award compliance matters.
• Interpret agency and university requirements, disseminate changes to the research community, and ensure data integrity in systems.
• Train staff and clients on practical pre‑award applications and compliance.

Skills

Research administration

Budgeting

Sponsor guidelines

Pre-award compliance

Management experience

CRA certification

Communication skills

Team training

Education

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Benefits of Working at UNCW

At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, we are driven by a clear purpose: to empower student success, advance innovation, and strengthen the communities we serve. Guided by our strategic vision and commitment to excellence, UNCW offers a dynamic and collaborative environment where employees can make meaningful contributions while growing their careers.

Located in coastal North Carolina, UNCW combines the energy of a thriving academic community with the natural beauty of nearby beaches and outdoor spaces. Here, professional opportunity is balanced with an exceptional quality of life—creating a workplace where you can thrive both personally and professionally.

As a member of the Seahawk community, you’ll benefit from a culture that values well-being, lifelong learning, and connection. UNCW offers a competitive and flexible benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth. From comprehensive health coverage and retirement options to generous paid leave, tuition opportunities within the UNC System, learning and development opportunities, and wellness programs, UNCW is committed to helping you thrive both at work and in your personal life.

Brief Summary of Work for this Position

Under the direction of the SPARC Director, the Pre‑Award Manager oversees all pre‑award activities for the SPARC office. The individual makes decisions and authorizes actions in collaboration with the leadership team. Duties include supervision, training, and management of the SPARC Pre‑Award Team comprised of Sponsored Programs Officers; advises Principal Investigators and supporting staff with project proposals, budget analysis and review, and submission; confirms compliance with University and sponsor guidelines and requirements; holds delegated authority to evaluate and endorse proposals on behalf of the University; coordinates and resolves pre‑award management and compliance issues, questions, and procedures with other University offices; resolves complex and higher‑level pre‑award issues; contributes to proposal activity, proposal volume, and pre‑award reporting by reviewing data in electronic systems to ensure accuracy; and works closely with the electronic research administration team to support proposal‑related system functionality and data integrity.

The Pre‑Award Manager serves as a liaison among Principal Investigators, university administrative units, sponsors, departments/deans, and the SPARC team on proposal development, proposal review, and pre‑award compliance matters. The role is critical in interpreting agency and university proposal requirements, policies, and best practices for departments; disseminating information on proposal and award volume and budget development; and proactively communicating changes to the research community about sponsor proposal requirements and other pre‑award regulatory information.

A key success factor for this role is staying current with federal, state, and sponsor requirements applicable to proposal development and submission, including Uniform Guidance, FARs and DFARs when relevant to federal contract proposals, and institutional policies governing sponsored programs. The position must also be able to train others on the practical application of these requirements in the pre‑award process.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• A master’s degree and three years of relevant experience; or, on an exceptional basis, a bachelor’s degree and five or more years of pre‑award research administration experience for candidates demonstrating comparable professional‑level background in sponsored research administration.
• At least three years of experience in pre‑award research administration within a centralized research administration office.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Extensive knowledge of research administration, proposal budgeting, sponsor guidelines, institutional approvals, and pre‑award compliance practices.
• Management experience in an academic setting.
• Research administration certification, including, but not limited to, Certified Research Administrator ( CRA ).
• Experience working in a fast‑paced, changing environment while interacting with people at all levels of the organization in a diplomatic and professional manner.
• Ability to work on a team and independently, including experience training staff and clients.
• Working knowledge of proposal budgeting, cost principles, sponsor budget restrictions, F&A, cost sharing, and subrecipient proposal requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to solve problems and exercise judgment, discretion, and initiative in interpreting administrative policies and procedures.
• Highly organized, flexible, and able to self‑manage workload.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret complex state, federal, and sponsor rules, regulations, policies, and laws related to proposal development and submission.

Required Certifications or Licensures

N/A

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance ( SPARC ) office is committed to providing efficient and effective service to the faculty and staff throughout the university in support of their sponsored research and scholarship activities.

The Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance ( SPARC ) office is charged with oversight of externally sponsored programs. SPARC provides complete cradle‑to‑grave sponsored program administration and support to ensure faculty have the resources and encouragement necessary to successfully and legally conduct their programs, including a) support in identifying funding sources, b) assisting faculty with the proposal and budget development, c) monitoring/overseeing the responsible management of sponsored projects, d) ensuring university compliance with contract/grant fiscal and regulatory requirements, and e) protecting the university from unrecovered revenue, disallowed costs, and non‑compliance with state and federal policies pertaining to sponsored programs. SPARC also administers the return of F&A to departments. SPARC remains centralized for compliance and reporting purposes but is becoming decentralized in service delivery to the university research enterprise.

SPARC seeks professionals who demonstrate critical thinking and a client‑centered mentality to join the team. The office is committed to fostering a collaborative community that contributes to an inclusive campus environment, aiming to make UNCW a thriving place for staff, researchers and stakeholders.

University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world‑class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate‑and graduate‑level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN‑to‑BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation’s only bachelor’s degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university’s efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

EEO Statement

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents – except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.