Electronic Research Administrator (eRA), Sr. Proposal Application Specialist

at  Montana State University

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) provides a comprehensive portfolio of research administration services including proposal development and submission, leading strategic research initiatives, hosting investigator trainings and events, and fostering collaborations between diverse campus units to sustain and grow research excellence at MSU.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS – EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree and one year of proposal and/or research development or project management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Broad familiarity with the range of sponsors that fund research and scholarship.
• Demonstrated ability to explain complex requirements such as cost sharing and cost categories.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to effectively support researchers from diverse backgrounds.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other platforms for collaborative work.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS – EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Advanced degree and three years of proposal and/or research development or project management experience.
• Track record of developing successful proposals and utilizing electronic submission systems.
• Knowledgeable in sponsored research regulations, policies, and guidelines.
• Experience with proposal budgeting.
• Familiarity with research development/administration professional organizations, tools and/or networks.

POSITION SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute extensively to proposal application creation, including assisting with proposal budgets; initiating proposals in NIH ASSIST, Research.gov, Grants.gov, NSPIRES, etc.; managing proposal document versions and uploads including biosketches, current and pending support, letters of collaboration, etc.; coordinating sub-award communications and documentation; and providing other useful feedback and guidance on proposal strategy and competitiveness.
• Provide comprehensive management for proposal efforts, including establishing and adhering to timelines, tracking deliverables, assembling necessary proposal pieces and resources in collaboration with the investigator, and coordinating finalproposal submissions with fiscal managers in the Office of Sponsored Programs to submit highly competitive proposals in a timely manner.
• Develop and maintain familiarity with sponsor trends and applicable federal, state, local, sponsor, and institutional regulations, policies, and guidelines in order to interpret and communicate required components for MSU clients and review proposals for completeness and compliance.
• Develop a working knowledge of Montana State University’s research enterprise.
• Assist with other activities and special projects as requested by the Director and Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs, including maintaining boilerplate text and templates for campus investigators.