Pre-Award Manager

Pre‑Award Manager – Winston‑Salem State University
Location: Anderson Center C125, Winston‑Salem, NC. The position is a permanent, full‑time appointment.

Position Overview
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. The role provides specialized assistance for activities that support the full life cycle of sponsored program administration with particular emphasis on pre‑award functions. The Pre‑Award Manager provides direct support to Principal Investigators (PIs) seeking extramural funding from federal agencies and non‑federal organizations. Responsibilities include proactively identifying funding sources, interpreting sponsoring agency guidelines, developing proposals, routing submissions, and managing budget development, sub‑awards, and contract negotiations. The manager also provides feedback to senior research officials and leads internal training for grant administrators.

Responsibilities

Assist faculty in identifying funding opportunities and developing grant‑seeking plans through one‑on‑one meetings or departmental visits.

Help faculty use the research funding database to locate relevant opportunities.

Support proposal development, including narrative writing, budget preparation, and attachment completion.

Review and edit proposals for grammar, punctuation, clarity, and alignment with funding requirements.

Perform final proof‑reading before proposals are signed and submitted.

Assist faculty with routing proposals through WSSU electronic systems such as Cayuse and Amplifund.

Help faculty meet funder reporting requirements and request no‑cost extensions or other modifications.

Communicate with sponsors, pass‑through entities, and subrecipients via phone, email, and research portals.

Review contract terms and sub‑award agreements to ensure compliance.

Coordinate with the Legal Affairs Office on modifications and amendments.

Support the Director of Research & Sponsored Programs in monitoring faculty submissions across academic units.

Advise on Internal Notice of Intent meetings and agenda preparation.

Confirm budget totals and application completeness in the electronic system.

Provide cross‑training and share pre‑award insights among grant administrators.

Track candidates for annual faculty research award recognition.

Offer pre‑award assistance to non‑faculty personnel seeking grant applications.

Maintain login credentials and portal access for sponsor systems.

Attend funding agency webinars and professional conferences to stay current on regulations.

Translate policy changes to faculty members.

Enhance office procedures and documentation protocols for efficiency.

Maintain knowledge of institutional policies relevant to pre‑award responsibilities.

Create, update, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures for pre‑award processes.

Initiate collaboration with Finance and Administration on budget development and sub‑award matters.

Compose Office of Research & Innovation correspondence and reports as requested.

Copyedit or proofread proposals, reports, and correspondence for accuracy.

Proofread budgets to verify calculations and alignment with WSSU grant guidelines.

Assist in developing policies and procedures for complex or unusual situations.

Document protocols and procedures to ensure consistency and continuity.

Maintain the sponsored programs work log and update regularly.

Maintain documentation on faculty consultations.

Hold authority to approve grant submissions in Cayuse or Amplifund.

Keep a library of budgets and common forms.

Write summaries of faculty grant awards for use on the WSSU website or by marketing teams.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

2–3 years of experience in academic grant or sponsored program administration.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Prior experience with university grants‑management platforms and agency submission websites.

Additional Information

Position Number: 010623.

Appointment Type: Permanent Full‑Time.

Working Schedule: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

No mandatory work during adverse weather or emergencies.

No requirement for a U.S. driver’s license or commercial driver’s license.

Valid medical or drug tests are not required.

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