Complex Award Program Manager

SRA International; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Kentucky seeks a Complex Award Program Manager to lead and coordinate large, multi-investigator sponsored research programs within the Fiscal Affairs department.

This role provides project leadership across CGS, OSPA, and RFS, ensuring financial stewardship, compliance, and effective communication throughout the award lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of sponsored research administration and compliance requirements.
• Experience with budget development, financial planning, forecasting, and project-level financial analysis.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and coordination skills.
• Ability to identify risks and support informed decision-making.
• 5 years of related experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate project-level administration for large, multi-investigator, multi-department, and multi-component sponsored research programs.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration among investigators, project leadership, CGS, OSPA, RFS, and departmental administrators.
• Monitor project priorities, timelines, administrative requirements, governance activities, and emerging issues to support successful project execution.
• Assist leadership with interpreting award terms, sponsor expectations, compliance requirements, funding mechanisms, and administrative implications at the program level.
• Develop consolidated project budgets and financial projections by integrating information from multiple awards and project components.
• Monitor financial trends, burn rates, funding alignment, milestones, and long-term funding sustainability, reporting concerns to stakeholders.
• Coordinate financial information for progress reports, budget revisions, continuations, renewals, no-cost extensions, eAccount requests, and closeouts.
• Support payroll allocation reviews, project-level financial oversight, and coordination of complex financial actions with institutional offices.
• Coordinate administrative activities for proposal renewals, continuations, pilot projects, and other sponsored actions.
• Facilitate subaward administration by coordinating communication among subrecipients and project leadership across units.
• Organize governance and oversight activities, including steering committee logistics and reporting timelines.

Skills

Sponsored research administration

Award management

Compliance requirements

Budget development

Forecasting

Project management

Communication

Risk assessment

Documentation management

Prioritization

Job description

Job Title : Complex Award Program Manager

Lead Strategic Coordination of Complex Sponsored Research Programs

The University of Kentucky is seeking aComplex Award Program Managerto join the department ofFiscal Affairs.

This position provides project-level leadership and coordination for large, complex sponsored research programs involving multiple investigators, departments, awards, and administrative units. Serving as a central resource for project leadership and key research administration partners, the role helps ensure effective communication, coordinated project management, financial stewardship, and compliance throughout the lifecycle of complex research awards.

What You’ll Do

• Coordinate project-level administration for large, multi-investigator, multi-department, and multi-component sponsored research programs.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration among principal investigators, project leadership, Collaborative Grant Services (CGS), the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (OSPA), Research Financial Services (RFS), departmental administrators, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor project priorities, timelines, administrative requirements, governance activities, and emerging issues to support successful project execution.
• Assist project leadership with interpreting award terms, sponsor expectations, compliance requirements, funding mechanisms, and administrative implications at the program level.
• Develop consolidated project budgets and financial projections by integrating information from multiple awards, accounts, and project components.
• Monitor financial trends, burn rates, funding alignment, project milestones, and long-term funding sustainability, communicating potential concerns and funding gaps to stakeholders.
• Coordinate financial information and documentation supporting progress reports, budget revisions, continuations, renewals, no-cost extensions, eAccount requests, and award closeout activities.
• Support payroll allocation reviews, project-level financial oversight, and coordination of complex financial actions in collaboration with responsible institutional offices.
• Coordinate administrative activities associated with proposal renewals, continuations, pilot projects, and other sponsored project actions.
• Facilitate subaward administration by coordinating communication among subrecipients, project leadership,CGS,OSPA, and departmental administrators and supporting project-level monitoring activities.
• Organize governance and oversight activities, including steering committee logistics, administrative documentation, reporting timelines, and project management support.

What You’ll Bring

• Strong knowledge of sponsored research administration, award management, and compliance requirements.
• Experience with budget development, financial planning, forecasting, and project-level financial analysis.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and coordination skills.
• Ability to identify risks, evaluate potential issues, and support informed decision-making.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments and administrative units.
• Experience managing complex documentation, records, reporting requirements, and administrative processes.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and strong stewardship of sponsored funds.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and commitment to collaborative outcomes.
• 5 years of related experience

What’s In It for You

• Opportunity to support high-impact, complex research programs that advance the University’s research mission.
• Collaborative work environment with extensive engagement across research leadership, faculty, and key institutional partners.
• Ability to contribute to the successful administration, financial stewardship, and long-term sustainability of large sponsored research initiatives.

Why Now?

As sponsored research programs continue to grow in size, complexity, and collaboration across institutions and disciplines, there is an increasing need for coordinated project-level oversight that brings together multiple stakeholders, funding sources, and administrative processes. This position helps maintain continuity, accountability, and visibility across complex awards while supporting effective communication and informed decision-making.

The Complex Award Program Manager provides critical coordination that strengthens financial oversight, facilitates compliance with sponsor and university requirements, supports collaborative research partnerships, and helps ensure the successful management of large-scale research programs throughout the award lifecycle.