Senior Research Administrator

Overview

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 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 are expected to 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 the 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.

Benefits 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!

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• Works directly with faculty members, research staff, program coordinators, college administrators, and other units on campus in the preparation of proposals.
• Builds and maintains 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 to ensure successful and compliant proposal submissions.
• Creates and presents training materials for research faculty and staff for pre-award activities. Supports strategic plans for the department by working with department leadership on their research missions and goals and with 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 pre-award questions and issues of a more complex nature, and delivers high-level pre-award support to faculty and departmental staff.

• Ability to maintain a solution-oriented attitude while providing elevated customer service.
• Effective verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize work and manage multiple priorities…