Complex Award Program Manager

University of Kentucky; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Complex Award Program Manager to join the Fiscal Affairs department in Lexington. This role provides leadership and coordination for large, complex sponsored research programs across multiple investigators and departments.

You will drive communication among principal investigators, CGS, OSPA, and RFS, oversee budgets, projections, and compliance, and ensure financial stewardship throughout the award lifecycle at the program level.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of sponsored research administration, award management, and compliance requirements.
• Experience with budget development, financial planning, forecasting, and project-level analysis.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and coordination skills.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and stewardship of funds.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate project-level administration for large, multi-investigator programs.
• Facilitate communication among investigators, CGS, OSPA, RFS, and admins.
• Monitor timelines, requirements, governance activities, and issues.
• Assist leadership with interpreting award terms and sponsor expectations.
• Develop consolidated budgets and financial projections across awards.
• Support payroll allocation reviews and financial oversight.

Skills

Sponsored research administration

Budget development

Project management

Communication and relationship‑builder

Job description

Required License/Registration/Certification

None

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit for long periods of time. Repetitive motions associated with office work.

Shift

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Job Summary

Lead Strategic Coordination of Complex Sponsored Research Programs

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Complex Award Program Manager to join the department of Fiscal 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.
• This position works on-site at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington, Kentucky.

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.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No

Preferred Education/Experience

Deadline to Apply

Deadline to Apply 11/17/2026

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.