Job Details

Proposal Analyst I Temporary Appointment

Position Number: 6969704
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Sponsored Programs, Grants, and Contracts

Proposal Analyst I Temporary Appointment

Requisition Number: 70397
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Temporary Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 08-Mar-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

CIRES is encouraging applications for a Temporary Proposal Analyst I to join our pre-award team in the CIRES Proposals Office! The objective of the pre-award team is to facilitate research by providing high-quality proposal submission services to CIRES faculty and research personnel. We collaborate with multiple CIRES, University of Colorado, and central offices to coordinate our research administration services, which encompass all financial aspects of pre-award sponsored and non-sponsored funding for the institute. As one of our proposal analysts, you will provide professional pre-award support services to CIRES Principal Investigators and research personnel. This position is expected to last for approximately six months, with the possibility of an extension based on needs.
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

At CIRES, the Cooperative Institute for Research In Environmental Sciences, more than 900 people work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. An institute at the University of Colorado Boulder, we have partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since 1967. Our areas of expertise include weather and climate, wildfire and water, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our researchers work in 10 CU Boulder departments and eight NOAA laboratories and centers.

Our mission: Conduct innovative research that advances our understanding of the global, regional, and local environments and the human relationship with those environments, for the benefit of society.

Our vision: CIRES is an international leader in conducting cross-cutting environmental research of the highest quality while bridging fundamental science and service to society. We build leaders, scientists, communicators, and teams dedicated to developing sound and trusted information to address environmental challenges. We embrace a positive and inclusive culture, recognizing that CIRES thrives when our people do.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Proposal Management:

Work with PIs to capture required information.
Respond to the PI's initial request of an upcoming proposal submission in a timely manner.
Review and request (via the appropriate channels) the required various internal approvals for each application (PI eligibility, IDC reductions, high impact, early start dates, off-campus projects, cost share, etc.)
Complete CU internal forms and acquire appropriate signatures.
Drive the document compilation schedule and effectively liaise with all parties (PIs, Co-PIs, Co-Is, OCG, collaborators, subawardees, etc.)
Coordinate with non-CIRES collaborators on proposals including other CU departments and outside agencies, whether CIRES is the primary or secondary unit.
For our subawardees, establish and coordinate appropriate timelines and the collection of their institution's proposals, reviewing for complete and accurate information and documentation that change depending on solicitation and submission. Request modifications and corrections from the subawardee as necessary.

Proposal Budget and Packet Preparation:

Prepare the proposal budget using the university format, maintaining multiple budgets as needed for internal CU processes, and integrate these into appropriate full proposal budgets for submission.
Interpret the needs articulated by the PI and other research personnel in order to build the appropriate budget for the proposal.
Track information and inputs received from the PI and translate them into the budget. Apply historical knowledge, our standard rates, and CIRES and CU policies that govern budgeting practices like ICR spilt agreements, cost-share agreements, salary limitations, cost categorization, and allowability.
Provide the PIs with appropriate budget justification templates specific to their submission. Review their entries, suggesting corrections so the document is fully compliant.
Assist the PI to understand how to complete the Proposal Submission Request appropriately. Assist them with information as needed throughout so that they understand each section. Ask the PI to correct and modify as appropriate.
Add to the Proposal Submission Request the appropriate comments for the proposal, specifically detailing the CU projects and CU budgets needed for each if funded, clearly indicating the splits for each budget (project).
Complete funding agency budget forms and other submission documents.
Review the completed proposal package for compliance with the relevant guidelines, working with and advising the PI on meeting those specific requirements.
Convert and upload files (and information) to websites used by agencies requiring electronic submission.
Forward the completed Budget, Budget Justification, and PSR to the CIRES proposal reviewer for approvals and checks. Make corrections as requested, and obtain approval from the reviewer on those corrections.
Forward completed and fully-compliant proposal packages to the CIRES proposal reviewer for final check and to obtain CIRES approval for submission. Make the necessary corrections as advised by the CIRES reviewer, and once approved, submit to the sponsor.

Other General Proposal Analyst duties and responsibilities:

Most work is under the supervision of a Senior Proposal Analyst and will gradually work toward more independent work.
Most processes are written out, but learning directly by watching a Senior Proposal Analyst might be required to better demonstrate work norms.
Responsiveness is a job requirement. Our norm is to reply to an email-where you are the main contact assigned-within one business day. Even if you don't know the answer, our norm is to reply, telling the person that you'll get back to them soon. Responsiveness will equal success in this job.

What You Should Know

After the initial training period which will be fully on-site, this position offers the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule including the possibility of up to three days of remote work per week.
This appointment is anticipated to last approximately six months.

What We Can Offer

The hourly rate for this temporary position is $29.00-$35.00.

Benefits

Temporary positions at the University of Colorado are not benefits-eligible, however, all positions are eligible for paid sick leave.

Be Statements

Be fun. Be supportive. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's Degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

What You Will Need

Ability to provide strong customer service to research personnel under potentially stressful conditions including communicating in a courteous, constructive, solution oriented and timely manner.
Ability to interpret accurately and apply correctly the funding agency standards for proposals specified in the solicitation.
Ability to exercise good judgment when evaluating and planning costs for CU budgets.
Ability to work in a high-volume, timeline-driven environment while maintaining a high standard of customer service, responsiveness and openness.
Ability to collaborate and cooperate with each other as a team as well as with other members of the administrative team and campus community.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word).

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 March 8, 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/Proposal-Analyst-I-Temporary-Appointment/70397