Research Support Manager (Pre-Award)

The University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement contributions

Job summary

The University of Iowa is seeking a Pre-Award Research Support Manager to support a broad range of research proposals within the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The role covers grant submission planning, budgeting, and compliance across federal and non-federal sponsors.

The position emphasizes collaboration with DSP, GAO, and PI teams, plus experience with NSPIRES, Research.gov, and Cayuse. Located on the UI campus in Iowa City, with hybrid work arrangements discussed during hiring.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• 3–5 years of research administration experience with federal grants and contracts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• An advanced degree such as MS/MA/MBA or equivalent.
• 6–8 years relevant grants experience.
• Experience managing and/or submitting NASA applications.
• Experience with NSPIRES, research.gov, and Cayuse for grants.gov.
• Experience preparing applications for federal funding in academia.
• Experience with UI Research Information System (UIRIS) and UI policies.

Responsibilities

• Pre-award submissions to federal and non-federal funding sources with high complexity.
• Assist PIs with proposal preparation including timelines, budgets, sponsor guidelines, and materials.
• Liaise with DSP, GAO and other offices to navigate research infrastructure.
• Create, edit/review, and submit grant proposals and progress reports electronically.
• Prepare routing forms and obtain approvals for grant/sub-award documents.
• Provide feedback on budgets and grant regulations to ensure compliance.
• Provide training and support on new guidelines as needed.
• Advise on implications of grant awards such as cost sharing and facilities usage.

Skills

Grant administration

Proposal preparation

Budget development

Stakeholder communication

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

MS/MA/MBA or equivalent

Tools

NSPIRES

research.gov

Cayuse

UIRIS (UI Research Information System)

Job description

Research Support Manager (Pre-Award), University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The Grant Support Office in the University of Iowa (UI) College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) seeks to hire a Pre-Award Research Support Manager to support a wide range of exciting research and scholarship in its renowned Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The UI Department of Physics and Astronomy is an established leader among universities in Space Physics. Our faculty and staff include researchers who have built instruments for spacecraft including TRACERS, Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, Polar, Cluster, Juno, Van Allen Probes, and Magnetospheric Multiscale and sounding rockets.Other programs in the department include Plasma Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Condensed Matter Physics and a growing effort in Quantum Information.

The successful candidate will support application preparation for NASA, DOD, DOE, NSF, and other sponsors.

• Responsible for pre-award submissions to federal and non-federal funding sources with a high degree of complexity.
• Assist Principal Investigators (PIs) with preparation of research proposals for external funding by developing grant submission timelines, creating budgets, interpreting sponsor guidelines, developing supporting materials, advising on internal deadlines, etc.
• Assist faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and research staff with navigating the university’s research infrastructure by liaising with the Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP), the Grant Accounting Office (GAO), and other offices.
• Create, edit/review, and submit grant proposals and progress reports via electronic systems, including Research.gov, Cayuse, and nSPIRES.
• Prepare routing forms, obtain institutional approvals for grant/sub-award documents, and electronically submit grant proposals to the Division of Sponsored Programs for final review and submission.
• Provide feedback and direction to faculty and research staff based on grant regulations or budgets to ensure compliance and desirable outcomes.
• May provide necessary training and support based on new and/or changing guidelines.
• Advise DEOs and department administrators of implications of grant awards, such as cost sharing requests and use of facilities.

For a full job description or questions about this position, please send an email to [e-mail].

Education Required:

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive experience (3-5 years) of research administration experience of federal grants and contracts
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as demonstrated at an extensive proficiency level.
• Evidence of work experience requiring strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Extensive proficiency in Microsoft computer programs, particularly Excel.
• An advanced degree such as an MS, MA, or MBA, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 6-8 years relevant grants experience
• Experience managing and/or submitting applications to NASA.
• Experience working with federal agency and/or S2S electronic systems, such as NSPIRES, research.gov, and Cayuse (for grants.gov)
• Experience preparing applications for federal funding in an academic setting
• Experience working with the University of Iowa electronic financial reports (EFR), and/or UI Research Information System (UIRIS).
• Working knowledge of University of Iowa policies, procedures, and regulations.

Salary: $80,000 to Commensurate

Location: This position is located on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa. CLAS considers hybrid work arrangements for some positions; options will be discussed during the hiring process.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. Please note that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship in the United States.

For additional questions, please contact: [e-mail]

Benefits Highlights:

Regular salaried position. Pay Level 5A. Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.
For more information about Why Iowa? Click here.

About Iowa

Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success. Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation. Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.

Additional Information

• Classification Title: Research Support Manager
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus, Hybrid within Iowa

Compensation

• Starting Salary Minimum: 80,000.00
• Starting Salary Maximum: Commensurate

Contact Information

• Organization: College of Liberal Arts

Equal opportunity employer

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, [phone] or [e-mail] . For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543 .