Sr. Manager, Pre-Award Unit

The Health Sciences Pre\-Award Senior Manager provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for a team of Grant \& Contract Officers (GCOs), supporting proposal development and submission across Health Sciences departments. This position ensures timely, accurate, and compliant proposal submissions while maintaining a high level of service to faculty and departmental partners. This role shapes pre\-award service delivery, optimizes workflows, and leads complex, high\-impact proposal activity across a diverse funding portfolio. The Senior Manager supervises GCO staff, oversees workload distribution, and serves as a key resource on complex funding opportunities, sponsor requirements, and institutional policies. This position collaborates closely with central offices and research leadership to support proposal activity and ensure consistent, high\-quality pre\-award services. This is a supervisory role responsible for managing a team of Grant \& Contract Officers (GCOs). This position is currently remote; however, it may transition to a hybrid schedule (approximately two days per week in the office) based on business needs. Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.eduThe department may choose to hire at any of the below job levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget. Responsibilities Senior Manager, Grant Development Management Direct/Manage/Supervise the grant process both pre\- and post\-award for the university. Oversee the research, preparation, submission and follow\-up of various grants such as industry, foundation, and government. Collaborate cross\-departmentally to determine needs and identify projects fitting organization’s strategies. Review planned proposals and submission guidelines to suggest positioning and determine feasibility of meeting deadlines. Provide strategic guidance during research and drafting stages of grant submission. Review and edit finalized grant to ensure clear and compelling language. Identify, pursue, cultivate, and enhance relationships with foundations and government agencies in support of funding needs. Second\-level manager. Manages the activities of first\-level managers and/or supervisors. Responsible for hiring, firing, performance appraisals, and pay reviews. Broad knowledge of the field with proven leadership skills. Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) \+ 8 years or a master’s (or equivalency) \+ 6 years of directly related work experience. This is a Senior Manager\-Level position in the Management track. Job Code: M23754 Grade: M19 Expected Pay Range: $56,648 to $90,000 Job Specific Responsibilities: Leads strategic planning for pre\-award operations, including capacity modeling, service delivery approaches, and continuous improvement initiatives Supervises, develops, and evaluates Grant \& Contract Officers (GCOs), providing coaching, performance feedback, and supporting staff development Oversees workload distribution and resource alignment to ensure appropriate departmental coverage and adherence to submission timelines Directs the preparation, review, and submission of grant and contract proposals to ensure compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements Serves as the senior escalation point for complex, high\-risk, or high\-visibility proposal scenarios Advises GCOs, faculty, and research leadership on complex proposals, sponsor regulations, institutional policies, and proposal strategy Reviews and provides oversight of proposal budgets to ensure accuracy, allowability, and alignment with sponsor requirements, including indirect cost application Oversees adherence to internal processes, timelines, and documentation standards to ensure consistency, quality, and compliance across pre\-award services Collaborates with the Office of Sponsored Projects, college leadership, and central units, and represents the Pre\-Award Office in institutional and cross\-functional initiatives Identifies and implements process improvements while partnering with the Director and Pre\-Award leadership to ensure alignment, cohesive operations, and consistent service delivery across supported departments Minimum Qualifications EQUIVALENCYSTATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree \= 4 years of directly related work experience). Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels: Senior Manager, Grant Development Management: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) \+ 8 years or a master’s (or equivalency) \+ 6 years of directly related work experience. Preferences Experience in an academic or health sciences research environment Knowledge of NIH policies, electronic research administration systems, and multi\-component proposal submissions Experience supporting centralized or shared service models Strong understanding of institutional policies and compliance requirements related to sponsored projects Type Benefited Staff Special Instructions Summary Additional Information The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801\) 581\-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post\-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801\) 366\-7770 or (800\) 695\-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801\) 581\-7447 if you have questions regarding the post\-retirement rules. This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen. The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities. Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy\-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106\. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page. Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security\-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South. As per University of Utah policy 5\-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period. Posting Specific Questions ------------------------------ Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (\). \ What is your highest level of completed education? + None + High School Diploma or Equivalent + Associate Degree + Bachelor's Degree + Master's Degree + Doctorate Degree \ How many years of related work experience do you have? + Less than 2 years + 2 years or more, but less than 4 years + 4 years or more, but less than 6 years + 6 years or more, but less than 8 years + 8 years or more, but less than 10 years + 10 years or more, but less than 12 years + 12 years or more, but less than 14 years + 14 years or more Applicant Documents ----------------------- Required Documents Resume * Cover Letter Optional Documents Open Date 06/29/2026 Requisition Number PRN45511B Job Title Grant Development Management Working Title Sr. Manager, Pre\-Award Unit Career Progression Track M00 Track Level M4 \- Senior Manager FLSA Code Administrative Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per Week 40 Full Time or Part Time? Full Time Shift Day Work Schedule Summary VP Area U of U Health \- Academics Department 01488 \- Health Research Admin Office Location Campus City Salt Lake City, UT Type of Recruitment External Posting Pay Rate Range $56,648 \- $90,000 Close Date 09/29/2026 Priority Review Date (Note \- Posting may close at any time)