Job Details

Senior Proposal Analyst

Position Number: 9718873
Location: Boulder, United States
Position Type: Sponsored Programs, Grants, and Contracts

Senior Proposal Analyst

Requisition Number: 73673
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 02-Aug-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Office of Contracts and Grants Department at CU Boulder invites applications for a Senior Proposal Analyst! Each Proposal Analyst (PA) supports a specific set of University clients including a variety of institutes, schools, and academic departments. PAs work directly with University faculty, research administrators, and students to ensure proposals reflect sponsor and University requirements. PAs ensure proposals are submitted by the proposal due date.

The Senior Proposal Analyst also collaborates with other campus departments and external sponsors to address issues and solve problems prior to proposal submission and during the sponsor's proposal review and evaluation. Additionally, the Senior Proposal Analyst may develop training materials and educate campus staff about sponsored project policies, procedures, and practices.

The expertise of the Senior Proposal Analyst includes:

Knowledge of federal regulations, state statutes, University policy, best practices and project requirements.
Adherence to Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) requirements.
Navigation of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
Understanding of the administrative processes and procedures for grants, contracts, and other agreements both internal and external to the University.
Assessing the legal, administrative, and financial risks associated with sponsor terms and conditions to guide investigators and other University personnel through business decisions related to potential awards.
Skilled budgeting and adherence to University estimating practices and Cost Accounting Standards.
Excellent organization, attention to detail, and time management, as well as the ability to manage competing priorities.
Strong team-work skills to assure cross-training and collaboration within the Proposal Development Team, OCG and with campus partners.

This position is charged with serving as an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) by facilitating the development and submission of proposals to support sponsored projects on behalf of the University, while also protecting the legal and business interests of the University. The Senior Proposal Analyst will represent the University and work directly with a variety of sponsors: federal and non-federal, state agencies, businesses, foundations, and other universities. The Senior Proposal Analyst is responsible for researching and responding to inquiries from investigators, department administrators, University officers, colleagues and external sponsors.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The mission of the Office of Contracts and Grants ("OCG") is to, throughout the lifecycle of an award, partner with the University of Colorado Boulder ("University") faculty including Principal Investigators ("PIs"), staff including Department Research Administrators ("DRAs"), and students to obtain and manage external support for sponsored activities through our specialized regulatory and organizational expertise. OCG is committed to protecting the University's interests by reviewing and approving the submission of sponsored project proposals; negotiating contract and grant awards; supervising the implementation and administration of sponsored projects; initiating and implementing policies and procedures; providing training to PIs and DRAs; and serving as the University's liaison with Sponsors and regulatory agencies. OCG commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and inclusion in all that we do.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Proposal Preparation and Review:

Advising faculty members on the appropriate response to funding opportunities and possible alternate sources of funding.
Reviewing and interpreting proposal guidelines and sponsor expectations.
Preparing application packages in sponsor systems.
Reviewing and analyzing proposals to ensure compliance with federal, non-federal and state rules and regulations, as well as University policies and procedures.
Validating all proposal requirements have been met in preparation for submission by sponsor's deadline.
Advising University faculty and other personnel on procedures for matters including, but not limited to, allowability of costs, transfer of costs among budget categories, and procedures for effective award management.
Demonstrated ability to independently analyze information to identify proposal specific issues, define problems, and formulate and deliver resolutions for successful proposal submission.
Ability to make independent decisions and enforce policies and regulations as necessary.
Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a larger volume and more complex workload than that required at the Step 2 level.

Budget Creation and Review:

Developing proposal budgets that follow federal, non-federal and state rules and regulations, as well as University policies and procedures.
Use Excel functions for budget creation using OCG's Cost Estimation Tool.
Entering budget details into sponsor formatted budget templates.
Reviewing and editing budget justification narratives to align with budget specifications.
Providing budget support in analyzing cost allowability, allocability, reasonableness and consistency.
Offering budget specific trainings to new hires and campus partners as needed.

Project Analysis:

Addressing compliance issues (e.g. IRB, IACUC, COI) prior to proposal submission or under "just in time" guidelines.
Ensuring University commitments are proper, documented, and approved.
Resolving legal, administrative, and financial problems at proposal preparation and prior to the receipt of an award.
Identifying problematic Terms and Conditions and determining appropriate method of review.
Distinguishing between standard submissions and submissions requiring additional approvals (e.g. Service Activities, Public Outreach, F&A Considerations).
Conducting analysis of project considerations and associated risk.
Offering solutions for risk mitigation.
Advising on policies and procedures to ensure project compliance.

Signature Authority:

Signing and submitting proposals, as an Authorized Organizational Representative, on behalf of the University.
Signing and submitting standard and non-standard Representations and Certifications, as an Authorized Organizational Representative, on behalf of the University.
Determining appropriate signing authority for non-proposal actions.

Special Initiatives:

Establishing additional foundational knowledge as a Proposal Analyst by exploring supplementary trainings and professional development opportunities.
Exploring Research Administration concepts beyond pre-award.
Providing formal and informal training to faculty members and campus partners.
Volunteering for committees, special projects, and working groups.
Participating in Hiring Committees on behalf of OCG.
Representing OCG at campus and off-campus functions.
Participating in trainings offered by Research Administration associations such as NCURA or SRA.
Presenting at and participating in professional association activities.

Project Management:

Procuring and analyzing Sub-recipient documentation.
Setting appropriate timelines for document completion.
Ensuring budget appropriateness to scope of work.
Managing relationships in accordance with appropriate procurement arrangements for anticipated services.
Guiding faculty through vendor vs sub-recipient determination.
Assisting with structure when FFRDCs are involved.
Providing guidance on appropriateness of foreign collaborations and required documentation.

Other Related Duties:

Ensuring accurate and timely proposal entry into the University's electronic research administration system.
Completing budget revisions and negotiations, providing additional documentation and justification, and completing standard Representations and Certifications prior to an award.
Attending professional development trainings to stay current with best practices.
Collaborating independently with campus partners in support of their research and creative goals.
Providing recommendations for process improvement, policy initiation and definition, and solutions to complex problems.
Training of both OCG and other campus personnel.

What You Should Know

The work modality for this position is hybrid or full-time remote based on the selected candidate's needs.
We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

What We Can Offer

The annual hiring range for this full-time position is $74,400-$79,000.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be inspired. Be Boulder.

What We Require

A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
3+ years of pre-award research administration experience, developing and submitting proposals to both federal and non-federal sponsors including budget development for sponsored projects.
Experience with Federal and non-federal proposal guidelines and submission systems.

What You Will Need

Demonstrated proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel and Word.
Proficiency in Electronic Research Administration systems.
Demonstrated use of Excel to create sponsored project budgets.
Ability to understand and communicate the needs, goals, and objectives of clients to sponsors and partners to ensure a successful project.
Ability to understand and communicate policies, procedures, laws and regulations governing sponsored projects.
Customer service skills appropriate for a fast-paced, high-volume, dynamic and intellectually challenging work environment.
Ability to prioritize a variety of projects and their timelines using exceptional time management skills.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by August 2nd, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Senior-Proposal-Analyst/73673