Reporting to the Associate Director, Sponsored Programs, Pre-Award Services, the Senior Pre-Award Officer (SPAO) is responsible for overseeing pre award lifecycle aspects of a portfolio. This position serves as the focal point between the Sponsoring Agency and the Department in the administration of externally funded sponsored research. Duties include areas such as the review and approval of proposals and some award activities such as progress reports and re-budgets while meeting service level agreements set by the department.

The SPAO is responsible for providing exceptional customer service to faculty, administrators, and sponsors in managing the pre award aspects of sponsored projects; reinforcing and ensuring both the University's compliance and sponsor requirements; and communicating directly with departments, other central offices, and Faculty as needed. The SPAO keeps abreast of the ever-changing landscape of Federal and non-Federal Sponsors at Boston University, including changes to Sponsor regulations and policies and broader research related landscape.

The SPAO works collaboratively with colleagues and peers, promotes a professional environment at all times, and follows all service standards of the department. The SPAO actively contributes to the overall organizational needs of Sponsored Programs, participating in projects and trainings. The SPAO will manage a more complex portfolio; the SPAO will be expected to work more independently and may be granted more autonomous oversight of their portfolio; the SPAO will be expected to resolve issues independently or present resolutions to their manager for consideration.

If individual is not currently certified, the SPAO is encouraged to sit for the Certification Research Administrator (CRA) Exam.