Sponsored Programs Officer

Posting Details

Position Information

Job Title Sponsored Programs Officer

Position Number 500724

Vacancy Open to All Candidates

Department AAH REDE Office of Research Admin

Department Homepage https://rede.ecu.edu/ora/

Advertising Department

RESEARCH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT

Division Academic Affairs

Classification Title Program Officer

Working Title Sponsored Programs Officer

Number of Vacancies 1

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 1.0

Full Time or Part Time Full Time

Anticipated Recruitment Range. Salary offered may be outside of this range as impacted by budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications. $69,786 - $77,540

Position Location (City) Greenville

Position Type Non-Faculty

Job Category Non-Faculty Professional

Be a Pirate! Be a Pirate!

East Carolina University (ECU) is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public universities for its commitment to research, innovation, social mobility, and public service. Classified as a R1 institution by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, ECU is among the top 5% of research universities in the United States, an elite designation reflecting the highest levels of research activity, funding, and doctoral output.

Founded in 1907, ECU is a public, four-year university located in Greenville, N.C., which is widely regarded as the cultural, educational, economic, and medical hub of eastern North Carolina. Through education, research, healthcare, community engagement, athletics, cultural enrichment, and service, ECU enhances the quality of life for its students, the state and communities around the world. It is a great place to work, teach, and learn.

ECU’s commitment to impactful scholarship is further demonstrated through its repeated Carnegie Community Engagement Classification (2010, 2015, 2024), as well as its 2024 designation as a Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose institution. These distinctions recognize the university’s leadership in translating research into meaningful community partnerships and measurable societal benefits.

The university supports its workforce through a wide range of professional development opportunities designed to foster career growth and skill advancement. Eligible employees also benefit from a comprehensive benefits package that promotes a healthy work-life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

Academic Affairs, led by the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, comprises the university’s colleges, schools and libraries, along with other academic support and administrative units. Academic Affairs works collaboratively to strengthen ECU’s culture of academic excellence in line with our mission to be a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation.

Research, Economic Development and Engagement (REDE), led by the Senior Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, provides strategic leadership for East Carolina University’s research, innovation, economic development, and community engagement enterprise. REDE advances discovery, workforce development, and societal impact through research administration and development, industry engagement, technology transfer and commercialization, economic development initiatives, community-engaged partnerships, continuing education, and collaborations with federal agencies and national security partners. REDE also oversees research integrity, compliance, and responsible research practices.

Pre-Award Services, part of the Office of Research Administration (ORA), provides guidance on sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and proposal development. It oversees the institutional review, approval, and submission of sponsored project proposals; provides funding opportunity guidance, budget preparation, compliance review, and application submission; coordinates institutional approvals; manages award negotiation and acceptance; and provides select non-financial post-award support throughout the project lifecycle.

Primary Purpose of Position The primary purpose of the Sponsored Programs Officer (SPO) position is to provide institutional oversight of sponsored project administration in support of the ECU research enterprise. Reporting to the Research Services Manager, this position serves as the University’s authorized representative for the review, approval, and submission of sponsored project proposals, the negotiation and acceptance of sponsored project awards, and the facilitation of select post-award non-financial actions, including the issuance and modification of subawards.

The SPO provides direct supervision and guidance to Pre-Award Research Specialists (PRSs) and serves as the primary escalation point for complex proposal, compliance, sponsor, and award-related matters. This position is responsible for conducting final institutional reviews to ensure proposals comply with sponsor requirements, institutional policies, cost principles, and regulatory standards. The SPO exercises delegated authority to approve and submit proposals on behalf of the university and serves as the official institutional representative in communications and negotiations with external sponsors.

Working independently and in collaboration with faculty, administrators, sponsors, and other internal and external stakeholders, this position promotes efficient, compliant, and service-oriented research administration while minimizing institutional risk and supporting the university’s research, instruction, and service missions.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Directly supervises Pre-Award Research Specialists (PRSs) to include prioritizing workload, verifies compliance and service standards, and provide on-going feedback for staff support (20%)
• Manages assigned portfolio of sponsored projects and resolves complex pre-award issues (50%)
• Services as point of contact for sponsor communications, executes sponsor agreements, and advises on sponsor requirements (20%)
• Oversight of proposal and award administration to ensure compliance (10%)

Minimum Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Relevant master’s degree in business or public administration, accounting, or relevant fields; for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity or professional-level background in sponsored research administration, will accept a relevant undergraduate degree and three (3) years of relevant experience in substitution.

Progressively responsible professional level experience in a university, academic medical center, or non-profit research institute in a pre-award or combined pre- and post-award environment; or related experience in a governmental or non-profit setting

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation None

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience 2 years or more experience in pre-award management and/or research administration. Prefer one year of supervisory experience.

Knowledge of federal sponsor regulations, funding mechanisms, application requirements, and proposal submission processes. Knowledge of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200), including cost principles and administrative requirements. Working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and regulatory compliance requirements related to sponsored projects, including research ethics, export controls, data security, and data access.

Experience preparing and administering proposals for a variety of federal, state, nonprofit, and other external sponsors, including use of electronic proposal submission systems, sponsor award management systems, and institutional proposal and award tracking systems. Experience with eTRACS (InfoEd) is strongly preferred.

Knowledge of legal and administrative terms and conditions commonly contained in sponsored project agreements and experience supporting or negotiating sponsored project contracts and agreements.

Ability to lead and develop staff; build effective working relationships; facilitate collaboration; and resolve complex problems and conflicts.

Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, analytical, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a dynamic, service-oriented environment.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word and Excel, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and federal and non-federal proposal submission and award management systems.

Certified Research Administrator or Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (preferred), or ability to obtain certification within 12 months of hire.

Special Instructions to Applicant East Carolina University requires applicants to submit a candidate profile online in order to be considered for the position. Candidates must also submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references, including contact information, online.

At the time of employment two to three original letters of reference, official transcripts, a criminal background check, and proper documentation of identity and employability are required. Please be aware that if selected as a candidate of choice, an automatic e-mail will be sent to the individuals entered by the applicant in the References section in the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system. Letters of reference submitted via the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system will be verified and considered towards meeting this requirement.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Additional Instructions to Applicant In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit the required documents, as requested. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable.

Unless otherwise identified in the applicable job posting and consistent with University policy, the University will principally employ individuals who reside in the State of North Carolina to the greatest extent practicable. As such, most positions at East Carolina University require employees to live and work in North Carolina (or live within a reasonable daily commuting distance from their duty station) after hire. Candidates should be prepared to relocate within a reasonable, agreed-upon time after an offer of employment has been made and accepted to meet this requirement.

Job Open Date 11/04/2026

Open Until Filled Yes

Job Close Date - Positions will be posted until 11:59 p.m. EST on this date. If no closing date is indicated, the position may close at any time after the initial screening date.

Initial Screening Begins 11/19/2026

Rank Level

Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/98148

Nondiscrimination Statement East Carolina University is committed to workforce success and cultivating a culture of care for our employees. ECU prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment based on race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status or disability.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) should contact the ADA Coordinator at (252) 737-1018 (Voice/TTY) or ADA-Coordinator@ecu.edu.

Eligibility for Employment Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity at (252) 328-9847 or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to employment@ecu.edu. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST.