Post-Award Senior Specialist

Job Purpose

The Post Award Senior Specialist is responsible for managing post-award activities within Research Services Department in support of an assigned portfolio of grants and contracts using knowledge of grant and contract management rules and regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills.

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

• Provide post-award support to faculty, including assistance with financial management and reconciliation of project accounts.
• Interact regularly with and provides high quality service to faculty members conducting sponsored research, ensure adherence to quality standards and all policies and award regulations.
• Request new account set ups and closeouts.
• Request new fund centers and accounts, track and follow up on open commitments.
• Complete financial reports to be sent to sponsor, as required by the award terms and conditions.
• Monitor compliance with agency and University regulations regarding reporting.
• Meet with External Sponsors regularly to ensure reporting, invoicing, and contracts are up to date and work cross departmentally to solve any issues that may arise with sponsor requests.
• Ensures that correspondence with grantees and institutional officials are documented within grants management system
• Maintain records of external reporting requirements for sponsored programs.
• Assist Principal Investigators with non-financial report submissions, as necessary.
• Coordinate and submit requests for No Cost Extensions, Carryover, rebudgeting requests, changes in scope, and other changes to the award
• Ensure all requests are done in compliance with sponsor guidelines and University policies
• Monitor research performance, ensure progress reports are properly approved submitted on time, and properly filed and stored.
• Manage project changes, including re-budgeting, extensions, supplements and other amendments.
• Creates and maintains tracking mechanism to ensure that annual and final progress and financial reports and change requests are submitted, reviewed, and recorded in a timely fashion
• Track spending & variance monitoring and follow-up
• Advise faculty and management as required on major spending variances.
• Assists with answering inquiries from the campus community that address business, operational, accounting, and reporting needs
• Ensure data is accurately entered into relevant finance and research systems.
• Work with faculty and department administration to ensure accurate allocation and accounting for research staff and students.
• Work with the Associate Director, Post-award specialists to solve problems, answer questions, and give guidance on post-award activities and other grants management topics on a daily basis.
• Manage coordination with support functions to support resourcing, financing, procuring and contract management for all research projects.
• Close out all funded projects consistent with university process and timelines.
• Assists in development of grant policies, procedures, contract templates, form letters and other guiding documents for the operation of the department, and maintains the document repository
• Coordinates with the Manager and other post-award Grants Administrators to ensure consistency of processes and procedures across the Research department, as appropriate.
• Adhere to the University's information security and confidentiality policies and procedures, and report breaches or other security risks accordingly
• Coordinate with other departments to facilitate the accomplishment of tasks and responsibilities, as and when needed
• Demonstrate a strong commitment and practice to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Line Manager

Qualifications & Experience

• A Bachelor’s Degree in related field.
• Ability to interpret and analyze financial data; ability to manage multiple tasks
• A minimum 7 years of relevant experience.