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Pre-Award Administrator - Team C

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $75,000–$100,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

The posting asks you to review all applications against University guidelines. Tell me about a time you had to tell a faculty member their application wasn't compliant.

What they are checking: Willingness to hold a rule against someone with more standing

Part of the job is seeking new funding opportunities and bringing them to faculty attention. How do you find them, and how do you decide which are worth flagging?

What they are checking: Initiative rather than waiting for work to arrive

How do you keep track of several proposals with different deadlines and different sponsor formats at once?

What they are checking: Time management on concurrent deadlines, a stated requirement

What would you do

A principal investigator brings you a proposal two days before the sponsor deadline. What do you do?

What they are checking: The most common situation in this job and how they handle it

You'd coordinate with post-award administrators to make sure spending follows award terms. How do you keep that handover clean?

What they are checking: Working across the pre-award and post-award boundary named in the posting

About the work

This role supports pre-award grant and contract work for faculty in the Department of Neurological Surgery. Walk me through how you'd take a proposal from idea to submission.

What they are checking: Command of the full pre-award sequence rather than one piece of it

How do you build a budget for a federal grant application?

What they are checking: Direct and indirect costs, effort, and where people usually get it wrong

How do you prepare an effort allocation summary, and what questions do principal investigators usually ask you about it?

What they are checking: Familiarity with effort reporting, a named duty here

What's your experience with federal grant policies, and which sponsors have you submitted to?

What they are checking: Concrete sponsor experience rather than general administration

The posting prefers a bachelor's in accounting, business administration or a science, plus three years of administrative, accounting or grants experience. Where are you against that?

What they are checking: The stated preferred qualifications, confirmed

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The full job description

As published by University of Chicago.

Department BSD ADM - Pre Award - Team C About the Department The University of Chicago is an intellectual community and a globally renowned research institution dedicated to fostering innovative and impactful research in various domains, including the Biological Sciences. The Biological Sciences\ Division is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and the Research Administration Office (RAO) plays a pivotal role in supporting and facilitating the faculty who conduct research. Job Summary The job provides professional support for pre-award and/or post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals and funding within a department or unit. Pre-award activities include research, preparing applications, and editing proposals. Post-award activities include compliance monitoring, payment processing, and salary allocations. Performs work with moderate guidance and utilizes knowledge of University and business drivers. The Pre-Award Administrator will facilitate the development and initiation of research grants and contracts for faculty in the Department of Neurological Surgery. Responsibilities • Works with faculty and staff to identify, prepare, and submit grant applications to federal and private sources and secure sponsored funding from federal and local granting agencies as well as foundations. • Assists in the timely submission of required annual reports and continuation applications. • Serves as a resource to Section administrators and post-award account administrator to ensure that award activities and spending adheres to award terms and conditions. • Attends institutional meetings that focus on grants management and establishes and maintains appropriate working relationships with both internal and external agencies. • Seeks new avenues for funding and grant opportunities and ensures that notices of relevant opportunities are brought to faculty attention. Works with sponsors to draft proposal budgets in accordance with University needs, with a moderate level of guidance and direction. • Prepares summaries of grants and effort allocations for Principal Investigators, meets with them and responds to their questions. Coordinates with other departments/units/divisions regarding multi investigator grants. Serves as department contact for annual audits and agency site visits. • Reviews all applications against University guidelines, in addition to drafting progress reports, non-competing applications, amendments, and budgeting. Responsible for all data entry and preparation of grant reports and trend analysis. • Performs other related work as needed. ​ Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: --- Preferred Qualifications Education: • Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, or science strongly preferred. Experience: • Three years of administrative, accounting, or grant and contract administration experience strongly preferred. • Experience with budgets, ledgers, invoices, and fiscal reporting strongly preferred. • Experience in one or more aspects of sponsored program administration in a research environment strongly preferred. • Experience with accounting systems strongly preferred. Preferred Competencies • Strong computer skills including word processing, database management, and spreadsheet skills. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. • Attention to detail. • Ability to be flexible and adaptable. • Knowledge of general accounting standards and auditing. • Strong organizational skills. • Strong financial and analytic skills. • Ability to research issues and propose solutions to problems. • Demonstrated initiative in improving processes and enhancing systems. • Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion and tact. • Familiarity with federal and non-federal grant and contract policies. • Time management skills and the ability to handle multiple, concurrent tasks within deadlines. • Ability to work with individuals from across the division and university. Working Conditions • Office environment. Application Documents • Resume (required) • Cover Letter (optional) The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Financial Management Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ​ FLSA Status Exempt ​ Pay Range $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook . Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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