Assistant Director, Grants

Research Administrator

Assists with developing and managing priorities and initiatives to support and grow research activities across the institution. Serves as knowledgeable resource in research administration, integrating proposal development and pre-award functions to support faculty and institutional goals. Works with constituents on proposal submissions, awards, and contract management; provides guidance regarding sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and evolving federal and state regulations. Applies a high level of customer services and professional judgement in supporting faculty and staff, ensuring consistency, compliance and responsiveness in research administration process.

Displays accuracy and attention to detail to mitigate risk to the university. Ensures the daily function of operations and services related to any assigned program, initiative, or objective. Works under general supervision and may make some work procedural decisions which do not contravene policies; generally, determines work sequences (which task comes first) within any department/division guidelines. Exercises professional judgment to prioritize competing demands and allocate resources effectively to meet departmental goals.

Serves as a subject matter expert and resource person for the assigned area.

Guides faculty and staff in identifying funding opportunities, navigating and interpreting sponsor rules and requirements as well as institutional policies and procedures related to proposal submission and overall award management. Synthesizes and communicates sponsor guidelines, including changes in federal regulations, to ensure accurate interpretation and application in proposal development process and activities.

Provides support for pre-award activities, including completion of required documents, budget development, compliance review, and submission through applicable online systems. Reviews and coordinates these activities to ensure proposals are complete, accurate, and compliant with sponsor requirements, YSU Policies and aligned with relevant regulatory expectations.

Provides assistance with post-award activities, including budget modifications, extensions, reminders of interim, annual, and final reports and/or completion of other closeout documents required by granting agencies as appropriate. Supports post-award administration by monitoring requirements, facilitating timely reporting, and ensuring adherence to sponsor and institutional expectations throughout the award lifecycle.

Develops and delivers trainings and/or workshops that promote understanding of research administration process and the electronic research administration (eRA) system. Develops and delivers training on compliance requirements and sponsor expectations, policies and evolving state and federal regulations.

Maintains and updates the department's website and Penguin Portal page, reflective of institutional policies and sponsor requirements, supporting accessibility and transparency of research administration resources.

Assists in organizing research events, supporting programming to advance research development and engagement.

Acts as a lead worker; provides functional guidance to lower-level workers. Supports and supervises student assistants in the completion of special projects. Provides direction, assigns tasks, and reviews work to ensure accuracy and alignment with departmental objectives.

Designs and delivers training materials and/or other supporting documentation necessary for the operation of the assigned area.

Analyzes complex data sets and prepares comprehensive reports with recommendations for leadership.

Researches and recommends process improvements for departmental operations on a routine or regular basis. Evaluates effectiveness and recommends enhancements of services.

Participates and/or leads complex projects, including implementation plans, timelines, and resource requirements.

Coordinates daily tasks related to one or more assigned components of overall programs and/or services as assigned.

Regularly communicates with supervisor and other staff, including student workers, as required or needed in the completion of…