Senior Research Administrator
Listed on 2026-02-16
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Business
Office Administrator/ Coordinator, Business Administration, Administrative Management, Corporate Strategy
Overview
Senior Research Administrator
Posting Number: req
25074
Department: Sponsored Projects Services
Department Website Link: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./
Location: Main Campus
Address: Tucson, AZ USA
Position Highlights
Sponsored Projects Services (SPS) at the University of Arizona is seeking experienced Senior Research Administrators (RAs) to provide high-level proposal support for investigators within the College of Science. This role is ideal for a seasoned pre-award professional who thrives in a complex research environment and values close partnership with faculty, sponsors, and central administrative offices.
As part of a centralized Proposal Support team, Senior RAs serve as a strategic hub between investigators and campus partners, including the Office of Research Contracts and Agreements (ORCA), Financial Services, the University of Arizona Foundation, and institutional compliance units with a high degree of independence and collaboration with peers and the SPS Pre-Award team to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely submissions.
In this role, the Senior RA directly supports faculty throughout the full proposal lifecycle—providing expert guidance on proposal development, sponsor requirements, budgets, subawards, and institutional policies—while delivering exceptional customer service and proactive problem-solving. The position requires demonstrated, working knowledge of federal, private, nonprofit, and international sponsors, including application of Uniform Guidance and agency-specific policies.
The Proposal Support team is committed to continuous improvement and adherence to best practices in grants and contracts administration. Senior RAs uphold the highest standards of integrity, compliance, and fiduciary responsibility, while contributing to process refinement and knowledge-sharing across SPS.
SPS, in partnership with ORCA, is part of the Office of Research & Partnerships (ORP). Together, these units support University of Arizona research by delivering high-quality proposal, contracting, and financial services that promote responsible stewardship of sponsored funds and minimize institutional risk. Our work supports the University's strategic research goals across proposal development and submission, contract negotiation, post-award management, and administrative guidance.
Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!
The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please .
Duties & Responsibilities
- Works directly with faculty members, research staff, program coordinators, college administrators, and other units on campus in the preparation of proposals.
- Responsible for building and maintaining collaborations with academic institutions and research consortia (internal and external), government agencies, industry partners, non-profits and foundations (including the UA Foundation), other research networks (including Arizona universities and subaward partners), institutional leadership, international collaborators, and legal and compliance networks (such as OGC, OROI, and Export Control) to ensure successful and compliant proposal submissions.
- Creates and presents training materials for research faculty and staff for preaward activities. This position will support the strategic plans for the department by working closely with the department leadership on their research missions and goals and by working directly with the business offices specific to those departments.
- Develops and submits large, complex proposals such as program projects, interdisciplinary research centers, multidisciplinary university research initiatives, etc.
- Assists faculty and departmental staff with preaward questions and issues of a more complex nature, and assists in the delivery of high-level support to faculty and…
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