Grants Administrator (Research Programs Specialist) - Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

City University of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 71,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The CUNY Graduate Center in New York City is seeking a Grants Administrator (Research Programs Specialist) to oversee pre- and post-award administration of sponsored research, coordinate with the Research Foundation, and support faculty, students, and staff.

You will manage reporting, data tracking in Access and Excel, plan workshops, maintain ORSP communications, and ensure compliance with sponsor requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and four years' related experience required.
• Experience in grants, business administration, database creation, and RF policies familiarity preferred.
• Strong computer skills: Excel, Word, and Access.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to meet tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Assist in pre- and post-award administration of sponsored research programs.
• Review RF award accounts and transmit checks; liaise between PIs and RF.
• Plan, design, and deliver workshops to train PIs on grants and guidelines.
• Collect data and track applications/awards; create reports in Access/Excel.
• Maintain ORSP website and post to social media and internal sites.
• Monitor funding announcements and prepare reports for distribution.
• Coordinate orientation sessions for award recipients on RF interfaces.
• Ensure timely narrative and financial reporting to funders.
• Support NSF surveys and data gathering for internal/external reporting.

Skills

Grant administration

Database creation

Excellent written and oral comms

Meet tight deadlines

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Access

Job description

Grants Administrator (Research Programs Specialist) - Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

POSITION DETAILS

The CUNY Graduate Center, a Carnegie R1 institution, is the focal point for advanced teaching and research at The City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's largest urban public university. With over 45 doctoral and master’s programs of the highest caliber, the Graduate Center fosters pioneering research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and prepares students for careers in universities and the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. The Graduate Center’s commitment to research and scholarship for the public good is exemplified by its more than 30 centers, institutes, and initiatives, including its Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), a 200,000 square-foot facility in upper Manhattan, designed to promote collaboration among scientists in five areas of global research and innovation: nanoscience, photonics, structural biology, neuroscience, and environmental sciences.

The Graduate Center (GC) benefits from highly ambitious and diverse students and alumni—who in turn teach hundreds of thousands of undergraduates every year. Through its public programs, the Graduate Center enhances New York City’s intellectual and cultural life.

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) is the Graduate Center’s central administrative unit for overseeing GC-CUNY applications for, and awards of, governmental and foundation funding. The Office handles proposal preparation, submission, and administration for the entire GC Community including faculty, students and staff, research centers and institutes. Operating under the guidance of the Provost's Office, the ORSP offers the following services:

• Assistance identifying appropriate funding opportunities.
• Project development guidance.
• Official institutional review, authorization and submission of proposals.
• Liaison for post-award administration in conjunction with the Research Foundation.
• Coordination with relevant GC-CUNY departments to ensure compliance with GC and sponsor’s requirements and regulations.

The Grants Administrator will report to the Director of Sponsored Research. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Assists in the pre and post award administration of sponsored research programs.
• Reviews CUNY Research Foundation (RF) award accounts/web reports to ensure accuracy, transmits checks and handles RF account set-up.
• Serves as a liaison between GC Principal Investigators (PIs) and the RF.
• Plans, coordinates, designs, and implements workshops to train PIs to find grant opportunities, interpret grant guidelines, and prepare preliminary materials for grant submission.
• Collects data, tracks applications and awards, for internal and external funding, through regular communication with academic departments, Provost’s Office, centers and institutes, and creates and disseminates reports to them; manages database of grant applications and awards in Microsoft Access and Excel.
• Maintains ORSP website and creates student focused posts for ORSP Facebook and CUNY Academic Commons sites.
• Monitors funding announcements, identifies funding sources and coordinates information in reports and announcements for distribution to relevant parties through email, social media, and workshops.
• Plans, designs and coordinates orientation sessions for award recipients on how to interface with the RF (policies, procedures, forms, etc.).
• Researches and secures information on funding opportunities, collaborates in defining and implementing project funding strategies.
• Works with project leads to maintain necessary project and financial documentation to ensure fiscal integrity for grants.
• Works with program leads to ensure timely submission of narrative and financial reporting to funders.
• Serves as a resource for GC faculty and students on grants - providing information, research, analysis, and recommendations as needed.
• Assists with general ORSP functions such as preparing annual NSF surveys and transmittal of grant checks (to the RF), and gathering additional data for internal and external reporting as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

All full-time and part-time CUNY staff are expected to work in-person 80% of their work time. This hybrid work schedule is subject to change.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree and four years' related experience required.

A preferred candidate should have:

• Experience in grants, business administration, database creation, and a familiarity with the policies and procedures of the Research Foundation (RF) of CUNY.
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Excel, Word and Access).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to meet tight deadlines.

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Assists in the administration of College research programs.

• Organizes and manages the requirements of existing funded projects and prepares preliminary materials for grant submission
• Collects information for, and assists in preparing reports, manuscripts for publication, newsletters, web sites, and other communications
• Plans, designs and coordinates interdisciplinary information and research planning sessions and professional development activities for faculty and staff
• May oversee one or more facilities, participating in budgeting, planning, and monitoring, and assuring availability of needed tools and equipment
• Serves as a consultant and resource to faculty and staff on planning and administering research projects
• Performs related activities as assigned.

Job Title Name: Research Programs Specialist

CUNY TITLE

Higher Education Assistant

FLSA

Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$70,756 - $89,777/year. Salary commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

CLOSING DATE

Open until filled with review of applications to begin on November 9, 2026

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID: 32888

Location: Graduate Center

Job Type: Full-Time