- Job Type: Officer of Administration
- Bargaining Unit:
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- End Date if Temporary:
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Salary Range:
Position Summary Reporting to the Director of Proposal Strategy, the Associate Director of Proposal Strategy (ADPS) partners with faculty teams to develop large scale (typically >$10M) grant proposals that support the University's long-term research vision. Working closely with the Executive Director of Research Initiatives and the Executive Director for University Research Planning and Development, the ADPS provides direct and indirect support to strengthen large and complex research grant proposals, including supporting team formation, and allocating seed funding towards very early-stage concepts. The goal of this position is to increase the rate at which Columbia pursues and wins funding to launch new interdisciplinary research efforts that bridge disciplines, schools, and campuses, and/or that provide key funding for priority initiatives.
Responsibilities Program Management (25%) - Working closely with the Director of Proposal Strategy, execute the Research Initiatives in Science and Engineering program, the broadest internal seed funding competition for Columbia faculty. Corresponding duties include design of application, evaluation, and promotional materials; customer service for prospective applicants; intake of 300+ confidential evaluations; and preparation of materials for the Executive Director of Research Initiatives and the Executive Vice President for Research. Recommend programmatic innovation designed to expedite the review timeline, and increase the competition's visibility, integrity, and utility. Manage the annual review, ROI calculation, and awardee reporting functions.
- Liaise between faculty and relevant University units, particularly Sponsored Projects Administration, the Office of Alumni and Development, and multiple Dean's Offices and institutes.
Communications (25%) - Identify and publicize large, multidisciplinary funding opportunities from federal and non-federal sources that capitalize on existing strengths and expertise across Columbia.
- Quarterly, solicit departmental and school leadership for updates on significant faculty research accomplishments for presentation at Board of Trustees meetings.
- Administer a web-based application form for University-wide faculty teams to request Proposal Strategy services. Provide customer service for faculty applicants, summarize and structure application materials for executive review, and support research leadership (the Executive Vice President for Research, school-based research deans) in the review and selection of teams that will receive support.
- Facilitate the flow of communications to internal and external audiences, including committees, leadership, and staff.
Event Planning (25%) - For funding programs that include on-campus site visits to formally evaluate the proposal, lead event planning efforts, including operations and logistics management, executive communications, financial management, and comprehensive faculty support and engagement.
- As required by the Proposal Strategy unit and faculty clients, plan and execute a range of team-formation events, including workshops, lecture series, symposia, and other large and highly-visible events aimed at research advancement.
Financial Management (15%) - Oversee external vendors and freelance workers, including graphic designers, editors, photographers, event planners, and others, in order to assemble resources that increase proposal impact, effectiveness, and compliance.
- Work closely with Sponsored Projects Administration, conduct ongoing and rigorous compliance reviews of necessary proposal documents, particularly financial budgets and letters of support/collaboration, prior to proposal submission.
- Work closely with departmental administrators and grants managers in planning budget drafts and editing budget justifications, which may often involve highly confidential and proprietary information.
- Collaborate with the Finance Manager and Executive Assistant to initiate all necessary financial protocols for the Proposal Strategy unit, including but not limited to Accounts Payable, Procurement, Financial Planning, Reporting, and Purchasing Card reconciliation.
Special Projects (10%) - Other opportunistic projects as assigned by the Director of Proposal Strategy, including but not limited to authoring of training documents and the initial launching of internally-funded projects.
Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree and at least three years of related experience.
- Two years of progressively responsible experience in program management, preferably in an academic or non-profit setting.
- Experience managing and reporting upon complex financial budgets.
- Experience developing communications content for diverse audiences and perspectives, and communicating via a wide variety of channels, including web, email, and formal report.
- Outstanding organization and project management skills required.
- Experience in providing optimal customer service, preferably to faculty and other academic audiences.
- High level of discretion and good judgment, ability to take initiative, integrity, trustworthiness, diplomacy, respect, and team collaboration are required.
Preferred Qualifications - Advanced degree in the natural sciences or engineering strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with a number of stakeholders, including leadership, faculty, faculty, government employees, vendors, and external partners.
- Experience in pre-award research administration, preferably budgeting and compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to develop written content for internal and external audiences, and alter narrative styles for promotional, instructional, and analytical purposes.
- High level of organization, and the ability to initiate and complete projects on deadline.
Other Requirements
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents. |
