Grant/Contract Officer II

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Utah is seeking a Post-Award Grant Administrator to provide comprehensive financial management for a portfolio of sponsored awards across the full post-award lifecycle. You will collaborate with Principal Investigators and central research offices to ensure compliance, accurate reporting, and timely closeout, while interpreting sponsor terms and institutional policies.

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, strong analytical skills, and experience in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 8 years of related work experience.
• Ability to interpret sponsor terms and university policies.
• Experience with financial reporting and compliance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial oversight for sponsored awards across the post‑award lifecycle.
• Monitor budgets, expenditures, and financial trends; advise on allowable costs and risk.
• Review general ledger for accuracy and support reporting.
• Oversee post‑award transactions including cost transfers and payroll distributions.
• Support closeout activities and audits with complete documentation.

Skills

Financial oversight

Budget monitoring

Regulatory compliance

Financial reporting

Closeout processes

Auditing support

Payroll funding

Cost transfers

Education

Bachelor’s degree or 8 years related experience

Job description

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time) 08/31/2026

Job Summary

The Post-Award Grant Administrator provides comprehensive operational and financial management for a portfolio of sponsored awards, supporting Principal Investigators throughout the full post-award lifecycle. The role oversees financial monitoring, transactional oversight, compliance, reporting, and closeout activities to ensure sponsor funds are managed effectively and responsibly. This position interprets and applies sponsor and award terms and conditions, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements; monitors budgets and expenditures; prepares and submits required reports; and manages cost transfers and payroll funding. Through proactive financial stewardship and close partnership with stakeholders, including central research offices, the Post-Award Grant Administrator ensures sponsored awards are managed in compliance with applicable requirements and supports responsible financial decision-making.

Responsibilities

Fiscal Oversight

• Provide financial oversight for sponsored awards throughout the post‑award lifecycle, ensuring compliance with sponsor terms, institutional policy, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor award budgets, expenditures, and financial trends; routinely reconcile projects and advise Principal Investigators on allowable costs, spending pace, and financial risk.
• Review the General Ledger for allowability, accuracy, and completeness to support sound financial management and reporting.
• Identify, assess, and elevate compliance issues or financial risks as appropriate.
• Evaluate late, non‑routine, or high‑risk transactions; compile justification materials and route or elevate for additional approvals as required.

Financial Operations & Reporting

• Run, review, and analyze monthly financial reports for all assigned sponsored activities in partnership with Principal Investigators.
• Track grant spending, program income, and accounts receivable to maintain accurate financial positions and timely resolution of issues.
• Support audits and sponsor inquiries by providing accurate, complete financial documentation.

Transaction Support

• Oversee and execute post‑award financial transactions for sponsored awards, including cost transfers, payroll distributions, and effort certification, ensuring allowability, timeliness, and complete documentation.
• Support timely and compliant closeout of sponsored awards by reconciling final financial activity, resolving outstanding transactions, and ensuring required closeout documentation is completed and submitted.

This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically required

Nearly Continuously: Office environment.

Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required

Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.

Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or 8 years of relevant work experience or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience).

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

Requires:

• A bachelor’s degree (or equivalency) 4 years of directly related work experience OR:
• A master’s degree (or equivalency) 2 years of directly related work experience.

Note: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience.

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at [phone] for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at [phone] or [phone] or University Human Resource Management at [phone] if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy‑related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX ( OEO ). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page .

Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security‑related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

As per University of Utah policy 5‑108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members , a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Please indicate if you meet the following minimum qualifications for this position: Bachelor’s degree or 8 years relevant work experience.
  • Yes
  • No
• * Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Can you work legally in the US? Immigration status?

  (Open Ended Question)

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of References

University Human Resource Management
250 East 200 South, Suite 125 Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Contact us: [phone] By Email: [e-mail]