Salary: $56,704.00 Annually
Location : West Chester University, PA
Job Type: Regular / Full-Time
Job Number: 23-181
Department: President’s Office
Division: Research and Sponsored Programs
Opening Date: 05/25/2023
Position Summary
Join a vibrant campus community whose excellence is reflected in its diversity and student success. West Chester University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs invites applicants for the position of Grants Development Specialist (SUA 3).
West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, selected post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.
WCU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with many wellness programs; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities.
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) mission is to facilitate, coordinate, and safeguard the institution’s research and creative activity enterprise by supporting faculty and promoting student research and creative activities. The Office has received over $6 M of external funding for this year, nearly 300 IRB submissions, and submitted more than $15M in grant funding proposals in the 2023 fiscal year to contribute to the learning community and develop skills that lead to success.
Reporting to the Associate Provost for Research and Creative Activity, the Grants Development Specialist (GDS) works closely with the Associate Provost in the design and administration of a comprehensive system for obtaining, managing, and stewarding external grant support for institutional priorities and faculty research. This position provides leadership and vision for increasing external grant and contract support; submits grant applications on behalf of the University while ensuring compliance; prepares complex budgets, in amounts up to $5 million, in support of grant proposals; facilitates faculty and staff training; and develops campus-wide awareness and interest in externally funded sponsored program opportunities in collaboration with faculty, administrators, and staff.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience with grants administration, submissions, and federal guidelines regarding sponsored projects; experience creating and updating complex budgets; the ability to manage multiple time sensitive projects in a fast-paced environment; attention to detail; the ability to review legal documents and proposals critically and collaboratively; and to communicate effectively across a diverse population.
Responsibilities include:
- Manage pre-award, non-financial post award and compliance activities for grants
- Facilitate workshops for faculty and staff
- Provide support to faculty and staff in the development, preparation, and submission of grant and contract proposals and budgets
- Ensure applications meet federal, sponsor, and university guidelines and deadlines
- Communicate with sponsor and faculty
- Oversee grant reporting
- Write compliance policies in collaboration with campus partners
- Maintain compliance documentation for all federal, state, and sponsor requirements
- Collaborate with campus constituencies across PASSHE, including University Legal Counsel, PASSHE Director of Sponsored Programs and Grant Development, University Finance and Business Services, Human Resources, senior staff, and faculty
- Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of all federal and state regulations governing research and sponsored projects including but not limited to OMB Uniform Guidance, Code of Federal Regulations, Federal sponsor terms such as those from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health
- Interpret and communicate sponsor guidelines, policies, and regulations to faculty, administrators, and staff
- Meet tight application deadlines
- Provide extensive proposal development support for principal investigators
- Review of proposals for accuracy and clarity, and provide appropriate feedback to faculty
- Prepare complex line-item budgets in support of grant proposals in collaboration with Finance and Business Services
- Ensure budget aligns with proposed activities and all costs are calculated in accordance with state, University, sponsor, and federal guidelines
- Maintain submissions and awards database
- Remain up to date with regulations, policies, and guidelines related to the conduct of research and laws and regulations governing sponsored programs
- Perform other related duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Experience in grant submissions and / or administration
- Demonstrated understanding of federal funding agencies, grants, and policy guidelines
- Budget experience
- Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and university regulations governing sponsored projects
- Research Administrator certification by the Research Administration Certification Council
- Experience using on-line submission tools including Workspace, NIH Assist, and Research.gov
- Master’s Degree
Special Instructions
Ask about opportunities to work from home and alternate work schedules.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Candidates should apply online at Application materials must include a resume, cover letter and references (all required for consideration).
Applicants must successfully complete the interview process to be considered as a finalist.
Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty and staff advances WCU’s educational mission and strategic Plan for Excellence. West Chester University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all pre-employment background checks.
WCU proudly offers comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance, generous retirement plans, many wellness programs, a tuition waiver for self and family members, and training, development and advancement opportunities.
- On the first working day, new employees are eligible to enroll in medical benefit plans and can choose between two PPO plans or an HMO plan.
- Supplemental dental, vision, hearing and prescription coverage is also offered to employees.
- The Get Healthy Wellness program rewards participants with reduced health care premiums and provides tools and resources to maintain good health.
- Flexible spending accounts allow employees to withhold income from their paychecks before taxes for reimbursement of approved medical and dependent care expenses.
- A University mission to support employee personal and professional growth.
- PASSHE tuition waiver lowers the cost of college expenses.
- Leave and time-off benefits include generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays.
- Choice of two group retirement plans with generous employer contributions.
- Voluntary retirement plans offer two additional options to save and invest money for retirement and are available to all employees upon their date of hire.
- Group life insurance is provided at no cost to all permanent employees.
- Voluntary long-term disability insurance (LTD) and voluntary group life and personal accident insurance (VGLIP/AD&D) are available to employees.
- State Employee Assistance Program (SEAP) provides a wide range of free services including counseling, legal, and financial services.
For additional benefit details please see the PASSHE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PAGE .
Theinformation is provided for general purposes only. Legal Plan Documents will govern any discrepancies that may arise. Benefits, benefit levels, and eligibility rules are subject to change. The benefits described are available to most employees; however, certain eligibility requirements must be met.