Pre-Award Manager

Position Classification Title Sponsored Contracts / Grants Administration Professional, Grant Writer FLSA Exempt Position Class 89836Position OverviewJoin the Ramily!Join the Ramily!Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a distinguished institution that combines academic excellence, community engagement, and a commitment to fostering student success. We are proud to be North Carolina's only university to earn the distinguished designation of Opportunity College by the Carnegie Classifications of Higher Education and the American Council on Education (ACE). WSSU is dedicated to preparing students for leadership roles through rigorous programs in health sciences, business, education, and the humanities. Known for its supportive environment, the university fosters a close-knit community that nurtures both professional and academic excellence.Situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina-known as the city of Arts and innovation, WSSU provides students with opportunities to engage in a dynamic mix of professional, social, and cultural experiences. Winston-Salem is home to thriving arts, healthcare, and technology sectors, offering both students and faculty unique collaboration opportunities and professional development pathways.With its beautiful campus, strong sense of community, and dedication to fostering personal and professional growth, Winston-Salem State University is an ideal place to teach, work, and learn.Find information about our current benefits and retirement options, our holiday schedule, and other discounts and perks at the links below:UNC System Employee Benefits CentralUNC System Retirement BenefitsWSSU Holiday ScheduleWSSU Discounts and PerksPosition Summary* This is an internal job posting, available only to current employees of Winston-Salem State University.*Housed in the Office of Research & Innovation, the Pre-Award Manager serves as a liaison between the sponsored programs division and other administrative units at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). This person provides specialized assistance for activities that support the full life cycle of sponsored program administration with particular emphasis on the pre-award functions. The Pre-Award Manager provides direct support to Principal Investigators (PIs) who seek extramural funding from federal agencies and non-federal organizations. This person assists PIs with proactively identifying funding sources, interpretation of the sponsoring agency's guidelines, proposal development in accordance with agency guidelines, routing and submission, budget development, sub-award issuance, and contract negotiation. Additionally, this person provides feedback to the Associate Provost for Research & Innovation and the Director of Research & Sponsored Programs on operations in the Office of Research & Innovation and team leadership when working with Grants Administrators.Responsibilities include:Assist faculty who seek extramural funding by conducting one-on-one meetings or by visiting academic departments to help identify funding opportunities and develop grant seeking plans.Identify research funding opportunities and help faculty us funding opportunities database.Assist faculty with proposal development, including narratives, budgets, and required attachments and forms.Review and edit eligible proposals for grammar, punctuation, clarify, and responsiveness to funding opportunity.Provide a final review of completed proposals before they are forwarded for signature and submission.Assist faculty with routing proposals through WSSU's electronic application system(s) (e.g., Cayuse, Amplifund).Assist faculty with meeting funder reporting requirements and help request modifications such as no-cost extensions of faculty grants.Communicate with sponsors, pass-through entities and subrecipients for proposal submissions, report submissions, prior approval requests and amendments/revisions via phone, email, and electronic research administration portals.Review the terms and conditions of agreements and subawards.Recommend acceptance of modifications and liaises with WSSU's Legal Affairs Office.Help the Director of Research & Sponsored Programs identify, verify, and support upcoming faculty submissions from the different academic units at WSSU.Advise initial Internal Notice of Intent-related meeting agendas for the Grants Administrators as needed, as they meet with faculty PIs and their research teams.Confirm budget numbers and categories, as well as completeness of application components, for submitted grants in the electronic application system (e.g., Cayuse, Amplifund)Provide cross-training and cross-awareness of pre-award topics, successes, and challenges across academic units for the Grants Administrators.Work with the Director of Research & Sponsored Programs in tracking candidates for annual faculty research award recognition.Offer direct pre-award support to WSSU administrators and other non-faculty staff members interested in submitting grant applications.Keep track of relevant login, password, and other identification for sponsor portals and platforms.Attend funding agency webinars and professional conferences (CLASP, NCURA, or others) to remain current on federal and private funding regulations.Communicate and translate federal or private policy changes to faculty.Enhance knowledge of office procedures and document protocols to achieve operational efficiency.Maintain knowledge of institutional policies and protocols to apply to pre-award administrative responsibilities.Create, update, edit, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures for Pre-Award processes.Maintain knowledge of institutional organizational structure to independently initiate collaboration and partnerships with Finance and Administration or other pertinent offices as needed regarding proposal budget development, subaward grants, and other financial-related matters.Compose selected Office of Research & Innovation correspondence or reporting as requested.Copyedit or proofread proposals, reports, and correspondence as requested to ensure they are free of errors.Proofread budgets for faculty and institutional grants as requested to check calculations and alignment of WSSU grant budget and budget for submission.Assist in the development of policies, procedures, and methods to handle unusual or complex situations.Assist in writing and documenting protocols and procedures to ensure consistency and posterity.Maintain office data information systems by contributing and updating regularly the sponsored programs work log regarding faculty proposals in progress, submissions, and awards.Maintain documentation on faculty consultations.Hold electronic application system authority (e.g., Cayuse, Amplifund) for approving grant submissions.Keep a library of templates for budgets and other common forms.Write summaries of faculty grant awards as requested for use on the WSSU website or by Integrated Marketing Communication or university leaders.Position InformationPosition Number 010623 Working Position Title Pre-Award Manager Building and Room No.Anderson Center C125Appointment Type Permanent Full-Time If Time Limited. No Appointment Length.Requirements and PreferencesPosition required to work during periods of adverse weather or other emergencies Not Mandatory Normal Work Schedule8:00 - 5:00 Monday through FridayDepartment Required Skills* Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience* 2-3 years of related experiencePreferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education* Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)* Prior experience with grants management platforms and agency submission websites within a university settingRequired License or Certification Valid US Driver's License No Commercial Driver's License Required No Physical Required No List any other medical/drug tests requiredPosting DetailsPosting DetailsInternal Posting Only Yes Time Limited Position No Appointment Length Salary Commensurate with education and experience Open Date 05/28/2026 Close Date 06/05/2026 Open Until Filled No Special Instructions SummaryOur agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated, or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for Which they may be qualified.Please Note:A criminal background check will be conducted on the candidate finalist prior to the offer of employment.If it is determined that no applicants meet the minimum competency, education, and experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants.Salary will be determined based on competencies, equity, budget, and market considerations.Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application. The application must be completed in full detail (including work history) for your qualifications to be considered.Failure to complete the application completely may result in you not being considered for the vacant position.Your application for the position will not be completed until you receive an online confirmation number at the end of the process of applying for a position.If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at OHR@wssu.edu. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodation in the application and interview process, please call 336-750-2834.