Grants Administrator (Post-Award)

Research Foundation Cuny; United States; Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

The Grants Administrator (Post Award) at RFCUNY supports post-award grant and contract management within the GSP Office at CCNY. You will work with PIs, project staff, and administrative departments to ensure fiscal accountability and compliance with sponsor guidelines from award setup through closeout.

You will focus on budget management, fiscal reporting, and coordination with internal teams to ensure timely processing and audit readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience with post-award grant administration and sponsored program management.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and private sponsor regulations.
• Strong budgeting, cost analysis, and compliance knowledge.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Post-Award Administration: Serve as a key liaison between PIs, RFCUNY, and sponsor agencies to ensure accurate and compliant award management.
• Review award documentation and establish project accounts in coordination with RFCUNY.
• Monitor project budgets and expenditures to ensure compliance with sponsor and institutional guidelines.
• Assist PIs with budget revisions, cost transfers, no-cost extensions, and other post-award modifications.
• Prepare and maintain fiscal documentation, including financial reports, effort certifications, and cost-share documentation.
• Review and reconcile financial statements and assist with project closeout procedures.
• Facilitate communication among internal departments to ensure timely processing of project-related transactions.
• Provide guidance and training to faculty and staff on post-award compliance, financial management, and reporting procedures.
• Maintain accurate and organized records of post-award activities in accordance with audit and retention requirements.

Skills

Grant administration

Budgeting & cost analysis

Regulatory compliance

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Time management

Data management tools

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Cayuse

MS Excel

Job description

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY)! We are thrilled that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join our team.

Primary Location: The CITY COLLEGE of NEW YORK Bargaining Unit: No The Grants and Sponsored Programs (GSP) Office at The City College of New York (CCNY), under the Office of the Provost, provides professional guidance and administrative support for all sponsored research activities.

Our mission is to enhance the management of sponsored projects, ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies, and streamline post-award processes for faculty and staff.

The Grants Administrator (Post Award) is a mid-level professional responsible for supporting all aspects of post-award grant and contract management within the GSP. Reporting to the Director of GSP, the incumbent works closely with Principal Investigators (PIs), project staff, and administrative departments to ensure fiscal accountability, compliance with sponsor regulations, and effective management of sponsored projects from award setup through closeout. This role focuses on budget management, fiscal reporting, compliance oversight, and communication with sponsoring agencies. The Grants Administrator also ensures that project expenditures align with sponsor guidelines and institutional policies. This is a hybrid position. Remote work arrangements are not a right or entitlement of employment and are subject to operational needs and the CUNY Flexible Work Guidelines.

Primary Responsibilities

• Post-Award Administration Serve as a key liaison between PIs, RFCUNY, and sponsor agencies to ensure accurate and compliant award management
• Review award documentation and establish project accounts in coordination with RFCUNY
• Monitor project budgets and expenditures to ensure compliance with sponsor and institutional guidelines
• Assist PIs with budget revisions, cost transfers, no-cost extensions, and other post-award modifications
• Prepare and maintain fiscal documentation, including financial reports, effort certifications, and cost-share documentation
• Review and reconcile financial statements and assist with project closeout procedures
• Facilitate communication among internal departments (e.g., procurement, HR, accounting) to ensure timely processing of project-related transactions
• Provide guidance and training to faculty and staff on post-award compliance, financial management, and reporting procedures
• Maintain accurate and organized records of post-award activities in accordance with audit and retention requirements

Other Duties

• Prepare periodic reports for internal stakeholders and leadership
• Assist with internal audits, compliance reviews, and sponsor inquiries
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance post-award administrative processes
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of post-award grant administration and sponsored program management
• Familiarity with federal, state, and private sponsor regulations (e.g., Uniform Guidance, NSF, NIH)
• Strong understanding of budgeting principles, cost analysis, and compliance policies
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, and other data management tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education or research administration
• Knowledge of RFCUNY systems and processes
• Experience with Cayuse or other sponsored programs management systems
• Understanding of CUNY and CCNY policies governing sponsored projects

Pay Range: $60,000 - $106,090

RFCUNY Benefits

RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York (RFCUNY) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Background

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges. RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.