Pre-Award Grant Specialist

Massey Cancer Center


“To improve the lives of all Virginians by delivering cutting-edge cancer care through patient-centered prevention and treatment; high-impact, innovative research; community input and engagement; and education and training of the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals.”

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center is a nationally ranked cancer center located in the heart of Downtown Richmond. All full-time staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off,12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/university-and academic-professional-benefits/

Position Primary Purpose and General Responsibilities


Massey Cancer Center (MCC) has an exciting opportunity for a Pre-Award Grants Specialist to support MCC’s research goals of increasing external funding. The successful candidate for this position will provide grants and contracts proposal development support for our cancer center members.

This position’s duties include:

• In collaboration with the Grants and Contracts Administrator, work with senior leadership and scientific faculty across disciplines to develop and facilitate grant opportunities.
• In consultation with the PI, help manage the entire proposal process, from concept development through proposal submission, including management of meetings, task assignments, timelines, document sharing, and version control.
• Preparation of grant, subcontract, and contract proposals for new research projects and continuation/supplemental funding proposals for existing projects
• Provide non-technical writing, formatting and editing support. Inclusive of budget justifications, Biographical Sketches, institutional background descriptions, and other proposal documents.
• Assist with assembling the final proposal package to ensure successful integration of all application components.
• Managing limited submission competitions for MCC from posting FOA to notifying applicants and assisting nominee with completing full proposal to sponsor
• Reviewing, interpreting, and applying sponsor guidelines for research proposals
• Clearly communicating to internal and external audiences, sponsor and university policies, processes, and requirements related with research proposals to faculty, staff, postdoctoral research associates, and students
• Reviewing proposals to ensure they are compliant with university and sponsor policies and guidelines
• Preparing, revising, and approving research proposal budgets in accordance with university and sponsor policies and guidelines
• Coordinate the request and receipt of subcontractor proposal documentation required for VCU grant/contract proposal submissions.
• Create and maintain descriptions for facilities and other resources as well as grant application templates according to sponsor policies to standardize grant application submissions.

Minimum Hiring Standards

• Massey Cancer Center supports a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment. The candidate will demonstrate experience that shows their commitment to fostering such an environment.
• 3+ years’ experience with sponsored project and contract research proposals submissions with an interest and willingness to learn and acquire the skills to strengthen personal and team development
• Experience creating proposal budgets and working with faculty members on revisions as needed
• Knowledge and experience in working with local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Capacity to draft clear budget justifications and other written materials, and to complete a variety of administrative documents as required
• Ability to review, interpret and apply university and federal policies, procedures, laws, and regulations concerning assigned projects
• Excellent computer skills in the use of MS Office with emphasis on Excel spreadsheets, MS Word, and Adobe. Capacity to use a variety of online internal and external systems
• Ability to be precise, thorough, reliable, work independently, adapt to frequent changes in work assignments, and possess the ability to reason, think logically and analyze situations to resolve problems
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills are necessary as is the capacity to maintain consistency with performance
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are required. Must have the ability to effectively and clearly answer inquiries of faculty, staff, and various customer groups. Ability to maintain effective communication with fellow sponsored program staff
• Demonstrated ability to research, investigate, analyze and evaluate all project related data regarding budgets for assigned projects

Preferred Hiring Standards

• The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with team members, faculty, and external parties as well as work independently.
• Prefer degree in business or related field or equivalent years of experience
• Prefer 3 or more years of experience in pre-award/proposal development support
• Knowledge of OMB cost principles and Uniformed Guidance 2CFR200, with an advanced understanding preferred