Senior Pre-Award Research Administration Lead

University of Miami; Coral Gables, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Miami's Office of Research Administration seeks an Associate Director, Pre-Award to oversee complex proposal review, budgeting and sponsor negotiations. You will manage a team, guide compliance with federal and sponsor guidelines, and partner with departments to ensure efficient, accurate submissions.

Leading pre-award operations, you will use dashboards to monitor performance and drive improvements, mentoring staff and coordinating with PI offices to secure successful awards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in research administration.
• CRA/CFRA/CHRC certification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of NIH, OMB, regulatory guidelines.
• Ability to lead, mentor and supervise teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead review and endorsement of research proposals to ensure compliance.
• Negotiate budgets and terms with sponsors and institutions.
• Coordinate with PI, IRB, and other offices to initiate projects.
• Monitor team performance with dashboards and KPIs; ensure SLA targets.
• Mentor staff and collaborate with other units for efficient operations.
• Oversee billing grids to maintain billing compliance and accuracy.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Proposal review

Data analysis

People management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Master’s degree in relevant field preferred

Job description

The University of Miami's Office of Research Administration seeks an Associate Director, Pre-Award to oversee complex proposal review, budgeting and sponsor negotiations. You will manage a team, guide compliance with federal and sponsor guidelines, and partner with departments to ensure efficient, accurate submissions.

Leading pre-award operations, you will use dashboards to monitor performance and drive improvements, mentoring staff and coordinating with PI offices to secure successful awards.