Special Instructions to Applicants: Please attach a cover letter and a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application.
About Rice:
Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

About George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing:

The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing ranks among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff and students in an inclusive environment.

We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought, and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.

Position Summary:

The Engineering Research Administration (ERA) Team in the School of Engineering and Computing is seeking a Pre-Award Specialist to support all phases of research proposal development and submission. This position will serve as a key administrator for pre-award activities, working closely with faculty, departmental staff, and institutional partners to ensure timely and compliant submissions of grant proposals.

Success in this role requires an independent, analytical mindset, strong organizational and time management skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of federal, state, and sponsor-specific regulations, policies, and procedures related to research administration.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate is an experienced research administrator with strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills. They are adept at managing complex proposals, interpreting sponsor guidelines, and coordinating with faculty and institutional partners. Familiarity with research systems such as Cayuse and a working knowledge of budgeting and compliance requirements are preferred.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is a full-time, fully remote position with the potential of occasional travel as required by team operations. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change .

Hiring Range: $75, 000 annually

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or a related field
• 2+ years of related experience in proposal development, project management, and/or accounting
  • In lieu of education or experience requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted

Skills Required:

• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with faculty, research staff, and external stakeholders
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and strong client service orientation and professionalism in communication across diverse audiences.
• Advanced problem-solving skills and the ability to manage complex research and administrative challenges
• Strong organizational and time management skills with ability to prioritize multiple projects and deadlines in fast paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with grant submission systems and related administrative tools
• Proven critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with experience addressing complex administrative and research coordination challenge
• Understanding of budgeting principles and ability to support the preparation of financial and programmatic materials

Preferences:

• At least four years of experience in grant-related roles, including research proposal preparation and submission
• Direct experience submitting research proposals to major funding agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, DARPA, CPRIT, ARPA-H, CFF, and JDRF
• Proven experience working in a higher education setting, serving as a liaison with faculty, administrators, and research administration offices to facilitate timely and successful proposal submissions
• Strong proficiency in drafting, formatting, and editing professional documents in Word and PDF formats with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail

Essential Functions:

• Coordinates and tracks proposal development efforts and timelines to ensure timely submission
• Interprets and communicates sponsor guidelines, including proposal requirements and review processes
• Researches and drafts non-technical sections of proposals; reviews and offers feedback on technical narratives
• Ensures proposal content is compliant with sponsor and institutional policies
• Supports faculty teams in the preparation of large, complex, multi-disciplinary, and multi-institutional proposals
• Identifies limited submission opportunities, maintains the internal portal and listserv, and coordinates internal competitions as needed
• Assists with the development and delivery of training sessions for faculty, staff, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students on grant proposal preparation
• Supports the Principal Investigator (PI) with administrative aspects of proposal development, including formatting, compliance, and submission
• Collaborates with the PI to develop and review proposal budgets; assists with cost-sharing commitments and sponsor-required forms
• Coordinates the collection and review of subcontract documentation
• Prepares and submits required information in sponsor portals and internal systems (e.g., Cayuse SP)
• Assists with ad hoc administrative tasks, such as maintaining proposal archives and updating web content
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Rice University HR | Benefits: https: //knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.