We are the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI). We are a leading translational research institute that advances academic and industry science through collaboration to improve patient health outcomes. Building your career at the IBRI in Indianapolis’ 16 Tech Innovation District means being part of a team of renowned scientists, creative thinkers, and innovative leaders.

Today’s research is being driven by significant advances in our abilities to study complex disease processes and propose new ways to improve patients’ lives. To reflect the evolving nature of life sciences research and encourage synergies through collaboration, we’re enhancing our integrated capabilities, adding depth to how we approach patient-informed translational science and pursuing four foundational areas of scientific focus. These four areas will provide us with the core talent and capability to pursue translational science in this new patient-centric framework:

• Disease, Systems, Pathways – We’re working to better understand diabetes and identify new ways to combat the disease. We’re applying this learning to other diseases that share common systems and pathways.
• Molecular Innovation – We’re developing new capabilities for molecular design and drug discovery to investigate disease processes and pursue new therapeutic approaches.
• Integrated Data Sciences – We’re pursuing advanced data sciences to create novel end-user inspired solutions that address complex analysis, simulation, and prediction across the translational sciences.
• Enabling Technologies – We’re building a rich platform of enabling technologies that give our scientists, partners, and collaborators access to the best tools to solve complex scientific problems.

The IBRI’s vision is to build a world-class organization of researchers, innovators and business professionals that catalyze activities across the Indiana (and beyond) life sciences community. To achieve that vision, we look for curious and collaborative team members who are energized by innovation, guided by integrity, and inspired by diversity of thought.

The Opportunity:

The Director of Pre-Award and Contracts oversees the full lifecycle of the pre-award process, including the development, submission, and administration of a diverse portfolio of grant, contract, and fellowship proposals. These proposals span a range of external funding sources, including federal and state agencies, voluntary health organizations, and private foundations.

This leadership role provides strategic guidance and hands-on support to faculty and staff in aligning grant application objectives with institutional goals. The Director ensures all submissions comply with applicable federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and internal policies. The position requires strong cross-functional collaboration to streamline processes, mitigate risk, and enhance funding success.

Responsibilities:

1. Strategic and Planning Management:

• Lead the development and implementation of short- and long-term strategies for grants administration aimed at improving service quality, operational efficiency, and cost containment.
• Collaborate with Finance to inform key business planning activities, including forecasting and the development of the Institute’s five-year strategic plan.

2. Pre-Award Management:

• Oversee and facilitate the full pre-award lifecycle, supporting Scientific Staff and Principal Investigators in securing sponsored research funding.
• Serve as the primary liaison with funding agencies, maintaining strong relationships and open lines of communication.
• Guide research departments in the preparation of grant and contract proposals, ensuring alignment with current sponsor requirements.
• Coordinate and compile all components of grant submissions, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant submissions.
• Negotiate contractual terms and conditions on behalf of Principal Investigators in accordance with institutional policies and sponsor regulations.

3. Cross-Functional Relationship Management:

• Partner with Finance to align grant forecasts with institutional financial planning.
• Collaborate with the Financial Controller to establish cost structures and billing rates; assist in drafting proposal budgets and justifications.
• Work with Project Management to ensure resource availability and integration of forecasted projects into operational plans.
• Coordinate with the Lab Manager to align future research activities with inventory planning and vendor contract management.
• Partner with IT to ensure NetSuite and related systems support grant planning, forecasting, and reporting needs.
• Maintain close collaboration with Post-Award and Compliance teams to ensure seamless transitions and consistent adherence to grant policies and procedures.

4. Technical Support and Operational Excellence:

• Provide expert guidance in grant administration, contract negotiation, and process improvement.
• Leverage technical tools such as databases, spreadsheets, and dashboards to streamline administrative processes and enhance decision-making.
• Develop and report key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics to inform senior leadership and support strategic planning.

5. Leadership and Oversight:

• Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the grant lifecycle.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum of 6+ years of experience in research administration, with a focus on grant and contract management.
• Demonstrated results in contractual negotiation, grant/contract administration, process improvement, computer expertise in networking, databases, and spreadsheets, scientific literacy, problem-solving/decision-making, and client satisfaction.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans for grants administration.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in a non-profit organization is preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The IBRI provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and does not discriminate based on age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.