Associate Director, Pre-Award

Central Washington University is recruiting an Associate Director, Pre Award to join our Grants and Contracts team in Ellensburg,Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $64,974 to $94,213annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres.

You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the  academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Rent Cafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.

Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more:

Benefits, Perks, and Leave .

The Role:

This position helps manage and direct pre-award (proposal submittal) efforts related to university research and sponsored programs. Funding opportunities may be private, state and/or federal. The position supports the university's mission to develop partnerships between faculty and students to extend scholarship to important areas of research and practice. All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWU's vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence.

Pre-Award Administration
- This position helps manage and direct pre-award (proposal submittal) efforts related to university research and sponsored programs. Funding opportunities may be private, state and/or federal. The position supports the university's mission to develop partnerships between faculty and students to extend scholarship to important areas of research and practice.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and necessary support to faculty and staff in the development of research projects and in the preparation and submission of applications for funding.
- Prepare and submit grant and contract proposals, including interpreting guidelines, developing and approving budgets, and ensuring compliance with all university and agency guidelines.
- Conduct preliminary fiscal and administrative reviews. Analyze proposals for issues of concern regarding budget, staffing, indirect costs, CWU requirements, etc.; communicate these and make recommendations to the faculty member and the relevant appointing authorities.

Submit proposals, including communicating and coordinating with any partner institutions.
- Prepare and approve proposed grant application budgets.
- Monitor, help manage, and disseminate all relevant information related to grant application and management.
- Coordinate grant application and administration activities with college deans, finance and administration, student success, and academic and student life.
- Monitor and interpret for use all relevant regulations and practices associated with federal, state, local, and private funding sources.
- Coordinate agreements and subcontracts between the university and sponsors.
- Help administer…