Research Administration Manager - College of Education, Health, & Human Sciences - UTK

This position will support the PreAward administration and the strategic efforts of the Office of Research and External Funding led by the Senior Research Administration Manager. The position will provide a central infrastructure to support external funding for faculty and centers. The position is on a team that supports PreAward operations of approximately 172 TT and NTT faculty and service center directors and staff. This position will assist all administrative functions of this office which includes but not limited to: scheduling of meetings, office communications, data management and processing, database oversight/upkeep, pre-award research development, and liaise with Division of Research Administration.

The Pre-Award Research Administrator provides comprehensive PreAward research administration support for faculty, center directors, and the College. In Proposal Management, the role identifies funding opportunities, assists faculty with interpreting sponsor guidelines, creates templates/checklists from agency rules, plans and coordinates tasks and timelines for proposal submission, develops accurate budgets aligned with sponsor requirements and University accounting codes/fiscal policy, initiates correspondence with grant personnel and external agencies, and performs other research administration duties as assigned by the Associate Dean for Research (ADR) and Senior Research Administration Manager. 

In Research/Award Management, the Admin trains designated departmental support personnel and interested faculty on electronic submission, reporting, and financial/compliance systems; ensures intellectual property provisions are submitted to UTRF for review; queries research data for monthly accolades and College reporting; coordinates with the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development to keep faculty/staff informed of UT and sponsor policies; and monitors and evaluates research activities for research and fiscal compliance across pre-award stages.

Under Oversight & Administrative Management, the position serves as a front-line service and office support specialist in a deadline-driven, customer service environment; reviews and approves proposal submissions in the College’s internal routing system; assists the Senior Research Administration Manager with establishing additional support services and trainings to grow CEHHS scholarship; manages all research workshop registrations; and serves as backup to the Senior Research Administration Manager.

For Marketing & Data Management, the Admin assists with designing and coordinating office marketing materials, evaluates and disseminates funding opportunity announcements to appropriate target groups, creates and maintains distribution lists for efficient information dissemination, and inputs/evaluates monthly, quarterly, and annual research-related data to measure progress toward Office and College strategic goals and reporting needs.

The role also includes reading and interpreting agency guidelines into usable proposal requirements, recommending appropriate fund allocations, coordinating necessary steps to complete grant submissions within specified timeframes, and initiating required correspondence with departments and University officials. This role acts as a compliance steward—ensuring adherence to university, state, federal, and sponsor policies—and provides operational support to expand the College’s external funding capacity.

• Manages PreAward activities for an assigned portfolio of grants using knowledge of grant management rules and regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills. 

• Ensures effective and efficient workflow and adherence to quality standards for faculty, staff, and oneself. 

• Ensure all applications meet agency and university guidelines and published timelines and deadlines. 

• Assist the PI in the development of budget(s) and budget justifications which includes proofing the budget for inconsistencies and ensuring accuracy. 

• Advises the PI on administrative requirements in preparing proposal submissions and on budget adjustments and revisions necessary to meet the sponsor requirements. 

• Works effectively with other offices (post award, central, school, departments, centers, divisions) on research proposal. 

• Contributes operational and strategic growth to the office by contributing information and ideas related to areas of responsibility as part of a cross functional team. 

• Coordinates with OREF Senior Research Administration Manager regarding pre-award activities, issue resolution and workload distribution. 

• Ensures proposal are entered and routed in a timely manner for further review, meeting internal and central office deadlines. 

• Facilitates with PI and PreAward support at collaborating institutions to secure necessary subaward documents for proposals. 

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree

• Experience: 3-5 years with grants and contracts in a University setting

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Ability to interpret and disseminate complex information and excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

  • Strong administrative, financial, administrative, and customer service skills

  • Knowledge of university, state, and federal policies and procedures related to external funding

  • Knowledge of and ability to interpret specific sponsors' and funders' policies and procedures related to proposal preparation and grant management

  • Ability to maintain a strong customer service environment and remain calm and patient 

  • Must have extensive communication, organizational, and analytical skills as well as demonstrated ability to conduct effective training sessions in a large group or individually

  • Familiarity with pre-award practices/policy including ledgers, budget posting and reconciliation, fiscal and HR policy and how they apply to sponsored project compliance in a higher education environment

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Professional, Cayuse, Oracle or other cloud-based ERP system, all web interfaces, and Windows and MAC operating systems

 

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s Degree and/or CRA or SPA Certification; Communications & Customer Relations Certification

• Experience: Knowledge of the types of grants and contracts processed for the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of research administration and development of best practices in higher education

 

Work Location 

• Location: Remote

 

Compensation and Benefits 

• UT market range: MR11
• Anticipated hiring range: 
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

 

Application Instructions 

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted. 

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

 

Additional Information on all postings provided by UTK

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. 
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.  
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The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.  
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