Lead Contract/Grant Coordinator - OCR

Position Introduction:

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center is Oklahoma’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center, and one of only 74 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers in the United States. This highly competitive accreditation ensures that our patients receive the highest standard of care and have access to the most advanced cancer treatment options. At the Stephenson Cancer Center, we have an exciting new job opportunity that could be right for you!

Help Advance the Future of Cancer Research

The Lead Contract/Grant Coordinator - OCR serves as a key member of the Stephenson Cancer Center's Proposal Services Team, providing expert pre-award research administration support to our world-class faculty investigators. This position plays a critical role in helping researchers secure funding that drives innovative cancer research and improves patient outcomes.

Working closely with the Proposal Services Manager and the Director of Cancer Research, you will lead the coordination and management of complex grant proposals from concept through submission. You will serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to faculty, ensuring proposals are competitive, compliant, and submitted successfully.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced research administration professional who enjoys managing multiple high-impact projects, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and contributing to the mission of a nationally recognized cancer center.

What You'll Do

As the Lead Proposal Services Coordinator, you will:

• Serve as a lead pre-award research administration professional supporting sponsored research activities across the Stephenson Cancer Center.
• Coordinate the development and submission of grant proposals, including new applications, renewals, revisions, supplements, and transfer proposals.
• Analyze funding opportunity announcements and identify key proposal requirements, deadlines, and compliance needs.
• Develop comprehensive proposal timelines and milestone plans to ensure successful and timely submission.
• Facilitate proposal planning meetings and maintain ongoing communication among investigators, collaborators, subcontractors, and administrative partners.
• Create and manage shared proposal workspaces while tracking deliverables, action items, and milestones.
• Lead the assembly of all proposal components, including:
• Budgets and budget justifications
• Biosketches
• Letters of support
• Subrecipient documentation
• Training grant data tables
• Compliance documents and other required materials
• Prepare and submit institutional proposal documents in accordance with sponsor, University, and regulatory requirements.
• Advise faculty and research staff on sponsor guidelines, agency requirements, federal regulations, and University policies.
• Prepare proposal budgets that align with sponsor requirements and institutional guidelines.
• Serve as a liaison between faculty investigators and the OU Health Campus’s Office of Research Administration (ORA).
• Provide editorial review and proposal quality assurance support for grant applications.
• Coordinate incoming and outgoing award transfers for faculty moving between institutions.
• Assist with non-financial post-award activities, including RPPRs and sponsor reporting requirements.
• Maintain funding calendars and proactively communicate renewal and resubmission deadlines to principal investigators.
• Support departmental goals and contribute to continuous process improvement initiatives across the Proposal Services Team.

Why Join Stephenson Cancer Center?

At Stephenson Cancer Center, you'll become part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to advancing cancer research, education, prevention, and patient care. You'll work alongside renowned researchers and administrative leaders who are committed to innovation and scientific discovery.

We offer:

• Meaningful work that directly supports life-changing cancer research
• A collaborative and highly respected research environment
• Professional growth and leadership opportunities
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• Flexible hybrid and remote work options for qualified, experienced candidates
• The opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of cancer treatment and research

Make an Impact

If you're ready to leverage your research administration expertise to help secure funding for groundbreaking cancer research, we'd love to hear from you.

Join the Stephenson Cancer Center and help power discoveries that transform lives.

View full job description

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 60 months experience in grant proposal submission and/or research administration.

Equivalent/Substitution: Will accept 48 months experience in grant proposal submissions and/or research administration in lieu of the Bachelor's Degree for a total of 108 months experience.

Department Preferences:

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Pre-award Research Administrator (CPRA)

Skills:

• Excellent customer service and people skills.
• Self-motivated and capable of multi-tasking under deadline pressure.
• Has extensive knowledge of NIH Guidelines, and proficient knowledge of other funding agencies.
• Superior analytical, organizational, communication and time management skills.
• Expert capabilities with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Adobe Pro.
• Ability to adapt to new situations and online grant applications.
• Advanced working knowledge of databases and electronic tools.
• Resourceful and excellent online search engine ability to look up program guidelines and regulation.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple conflicting deadlines.
• Capability to telecommute effectively in a team setting.