Grants Administrator
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
ID: 7256611
Posted: June 20, 2024
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Job Description
About the Department:
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is responsible for establishing and nurturing a dynamic environment which will maximize external funding for research, scholarly, and creative pursuits while ensuring that the university's financial, contractual, and regulatory exposures are minimized. OSP provides guidance and support to the university community in its research efforts and creates an administrative environment which fosters the creative process and ensures protection of the university's financial and contractual obligations.
About the Position:
The chief objective of the position is to facilitate and coordinate the successful administration of externally sponsored funding with University faculty and departments, including the Office of Research and Innovation Initiatives, Office of Research Integrity and Assurance, and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) management and support staff. OSP is responsible for managing pre-award activities for an assigned portfolio of grants and contracts within one or more units (i.e., school, department, division, institute, or center) using knowledge of grant and contract management rules and regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills. The Grants Administrator manages the day-to-day operations and objectives in support of the assigned portfolio; contributes information and ideas related to areas of responsibility as part of a cross functional team; and ensures effective and efficient workflow and adherence to quality standards for staff/program and self.
Responsibilities:
Facilitates all aspects of proposal preparation and submission process to ensure proposals meet federal, sponsor, and university guidelines. Provides expertise on sponsor and university policies. Monitors the external regulatory environment related to sponsored funding. Provides compliance checks and oversight for the University. Monitors accuracy of data for internal and external reporting. Ensures sponsor requirements and deliverables are met. Maintains a portfolio of active proposals. Makes initial contact with PIs/Departments in a timely manner. Reviews proposal guidelines to identify any concerns and to ensure proposals can be submitted by the due date. Reviews all proposal documents for compliance with external and internal requirements. Reviews and validates budget information. Ensures accuracy of documentation for audit purposes. Reviews and validates sub-recipients and/or consultants documentation. Maintains pre-award file in Research Administration Management Portal (RAMP) for each proposal. Works with team members and Research Administration Manager to facilitate proposal submissions;
Manages post award actions of sponsored projects for assigned university units/centers, including modifications, no-cost extensions, re-budgets, PI changes, allowability questions, and other post-award related actions. Prepares modification requests, no-cost extension requests, PI changes, and other communications to sponsors in a timely and professional manner, following University and office procedures. Assists with other post-award related actions as needed;
Complies with all office pre-award procedures. Effectively utilizes grants management system (RAMP). Serves as a resource at times of high sponsored project activity to assist departments and faculty actions. Is knowledgeable of all University and OSP policies and procedures and/or where to locate them. Implements policies and procedures in daily activities. Inputs all required data into RAMP accurately and in a timely manner to ensure compliance University requirements;
Maintains communication with sponsors and faculty to ensure timely compliance with all requests related to sponsored project activities. Responds promptly and professionally to questions and requests from Department staff, university faculty, or administrators regarding proposal and post award actions. Facilitates communication with sponsors to resolve issues in a timely manner for pre-and post-award questions; and
Performs additional tasks as needed. Remains flexible, positive, and open to assist on special projects as required.
Required Qualifications:
High school diploma or equivalent;
Some experience working on sponsored awards in a university, nonprofit, or private sector setting, especially concentrated work in grants and contracts management. Any appropriate combination of relevant education and/or work experience may be considered;
Knowledge of federal rules and regulations relating to research grant and/or contract activity; of University policies and procedures relating to grant and contracts activity; and of University processes, systems and offices related to and/or involved in grant and contract submission and management;
Ability to interpret and apply Federal, University, departmental and sponsor, policies;
Fundamental interpersonal skills in a professional environment are required;
Proficient use of computers; requires solid working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); and
Demonstrated ability to analyze data and formulate conclusions; to learn changing technologies related to grants and contracts management; to create high-quality written documents; to provide clear and concise oral communications; to proactively resolve issues in a timely manner; to effectively manage high-volume and complex transactions; to bring strong attention to detail and multi-tasking skills to the job; and to work well under pressure.
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in related field;
Significant proven experience in grants and contracts management;
Experience in university sponsored programs administration or related field is preferred;
Extensive previous relevant experience or education will be considered; and
Additionally, the ability to work with the pre-award specialists in Departments and Units, as well as staff in other Research units, to solve problems, answer questions, and give guidance on pre-award activities and other grants management topics on a daily basis, and work with colleagues/team members to jointly solve questions and challenges in their daily work. Excellent customer service orientation and deadline oriented.
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is responsible for establishing and nurturing a dynamic environment which will maximize external funding for research, scholarly, and creative pursuits while ensuring that the university's financial, contractual, and regulatory exposures are minimized. OSP provides guidance and support to the university community in its research efforts and creates an administrative environment which fosters the creative process and ensures protection of the university's financial and contractual obligations.
About the Position:
The chief objective of the position is to facilitate and coordinate the successful administration of externally sponsored funding with University faculty and departments, including the Office of Research and Innovation Initiatives, Office of Research Integrity and Assurance, and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) management and support staff. OSP is responsible for managing pre-award activities for an assigned portfolio of grants and contracts within one or more units (i.e., school, department, division, institute, or center) using knowledge of grant and contract management rules and regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills. The Grants Administrator manages the day-to-day operations and objectives in support of the assigned portfolio; contributes information and ideas related to areas of responsibility as part of a cross functional team; and ensures effective and efficient workflow and adherence to quality standards for staff/program and self.
Responsibilities:
Facilitates all aspects of proposal preparation and submission process to ensure proposals meet federal, sponsor, and university guidelines. Provides expertise on sponsor and university policies. Monitors the external regulatory environment related to sponsored funding. Provides compliance checks and oversight for the University. Monitors accuracy of data for internal and external reporting. Ensures sponsor requirements and deliverables are met. Maintains a portfolio of active proposals. Makes initial contact with PIs/Departments in a timely manner. Reviews proposal guidelines to identify any concerns and to ensure proposals can be submitted by the due date. Reviews all proposal documents for compliance with external and internal requirements. Reviews and validates budget information. Ensures accuracy of documentation for audit purposes. Reviews and validates sub-recipients and/or consultants documentation. Maintains pre-award file in Research Administration Management Portal (RAMP) for each proposal. Works with team members and Research Administration Manager to facilitate proposal submissions;
Manages post award actions of sponsored projects for assigned university units/centers, including modifications, no-cost extensions, re-budgets, PI changes, allowability questions, and other post-award related actions. Prepares modification requests, no-cost extension requests, PI changes, and other communications to sponsors in a timely and professional manner, following University and office procedures. Assists with other post-award related actions as needed;
Complies with all office pre-award procedures. Effectively utilizes grants management system (RAMP). Serves as a resource at times of high sponsored project activity to assist departments and faculty actions. Is knowledgeable of all University and OSP policies and procedures and/or where to locate them. Implements policies and procedures in daily activities. Inputs all required data into RAMP accurately and in a timely manner to ensure compliance University requirements;
Maintains communication with sponsors and faculty to ensure timely compliance with all requests related to sponsored project activities. Responds promptly and professionally to questions and requests from Department staff, university faculty, or administrators regarding proposal and post award actions. Facilitates communication with sponsors to resolve issues in a timely manner for pre-and post-award questions; and
Performs additional tasks as needed. Remains flexible, positive, and open to assist on special projects as required.
Required Qualifications:
High school diploma or equivalent;
Some experience working on sponsored awards in a university, nonprofit, or private sector setting, especially concentrated work in grants and contracts management. Any appropriate combination of relevant education and/or work experience may be considered;
Knowledge of federal rules and regulations relating to research grant and/or contract activity; of University policies and procedures relating to grant and contracts activity; and of University processes, systems and offices related to and/or involved in grant and contract submission and management;
Ability to interpret and apply Federal, University, departmental and sponsor, policies;
Fundamental interpersonal skills in a professional environment are required;
Proficient use of computers; requires solid working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); and
Demonstrated ability to analyze data and formulate conclusions; to learn changing technologies related to grants and contracts management; to create high-quality written documents; to provide clear and concise oral communications; to proactively resolve issues in a timely manner; to effectively manage high-volume and complex transactions; to bring strong attention to detail and multi-tasking skills to the job; and to work well under pressure.
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in related field;
Significant proven experience in grants and contracts management;
Experience in university sponsored programs administration or related field is preferred;
Extensive previous relevant experience or education will be considered; and
Additionally, the ability to work with the pre-award specialists in Departments and Units, as well as staff in other Research units, to solve problems, answer questions, and give guidance on pre-award activities and other grants management topics on a daily basis, and work with colleagues/team members to jointly solve questions and challenges in their daily work. Excellent customer service orientation and deadline oriented.