GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR-SPH

University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham (AL); Hybrid; USD 64,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Alabama at Birmingham seeks a Grants Administrator to oversee the department’s sponsored research administration with minimal supervision. The role ensures timely, compliant pre-award and post-award activities, training, and staff development.

In-person is required during a 6-month probationary period. The position involves coordinating complex submissions, communicating requirements to faculty and partners, and serving as the primary resource for research administration within the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business, Public Administration, or related field.
• Seven years of related experience required; degree cannot be substituted.
• Must independently manage complex pre- and post-award activities and ensure compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee proposal and award administration for sponsored programs.
• Prepare, review, submit, and manage federal, nonprofit, industry, and other applications.
• Ensure all components meet deadlines and compliance requirements.
• Communicate requirements, responsibilities, and risks to stakeholders.
• Develop and standardize pre-award and post-award processes and deadlines.
• Provide training and guidance on research administration.
• Supervise program staff and coordinate with other grant managers.
• Lead complex project transfers and large submissions with multiple components.
• Coordinate with faculty, central offices, and external partners; maintain records.

Skills

Independent work

Communication skills

Deadline management

Policy compliance

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business, Public Administration, or related field

Job description

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Position Summary

The Grants Administrator independently oversees the department’s sponsored research administration with minimal supervision. The position establishes consistent processes and deadlines, manages complex pre-award and post-award activities, supports faculty and staff, ensures compliance, and serves as the department’s primary research administration resource and representative. In-person required during 6-month probationary period.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Proposal and Award Administration
• Manage the preparation, review, submission, and administration of federal, nonprofit, industry, and other sponsored funding applications from proposal planning through post-award.
• Ensure administrative components are complete, accurate, compliant, and submitted by departmental, institutional, and sponsor deadlines.
• Clearly communicate requirements, responsibilities, deadlines, missing information, and administrative or compliance risks to the appropriate parties.
• Standardized Processes and Training
• Develop, document, maintain, and consistently apply departmental pre-award and post-award processes and internal deadlines.
• Provide research administration training and guidance to faculty, staff, and graduate students.
• Maintain current knowledge of institutional and sponsor requirements and effective research administration practices.
• Staff Coordination and Development
• Supervise a Program Manager and Program Director and work closely with other grant assigned program managers and grant administration staff.
• Establish clear assignments, priorities, deadlines, and quality standards; monitor progress and address errors or delays promptly.
• Provide guidance, feedback, training, and development opportunities that strengthen staff knowledge and performance.
• Complex and Nonroutine Activities
• Lead project transfers, principal investigator changes, and large or complex submissions involving multiple components, cohorts, sites, investigators, or participating units.
• For each complex activity, identify required documents, responsible parties, dependencies, approvals, and deadlines.
• Coordinate with faculty, departmental staff, central offices, and external partners, and maintain organized records of decisions, submissions, approvals, and outstanding items.
• Institutional Coordination and Issue Resolution
• Serve as the department’s liaison with UAB units on research administration matters.
• Coordinate resolution of conflict-of-interest holds, Office of Sponsored Programs deadline exceptions, IRB delays, and other barriers to submission or award administration.
• Communicate the issue, action needed, owner, deadline, and status; follow up and expedite matters that may affect compliance, deadlines, project activation, or sponsor requirements.
• Reporting and Departmental Representation
• Prepare accurate and timely extramural funding reports, verify information before distribution, and retain supporting documentation when required.
• Represent the department on research administration committees, workgroups, and special projects.
• Communicate relevant decisions, process changes, and action items to departmental leadership, faculty, and staff.
• Compliance, Documentation, and Accountability
• Ensure assigned work complies with institutional policies, sponsor and federal requirements, and applicable IRB policies.
• Maintain complete, accurate, organized, and accessible administrative records in appropriate UAB systems and applications.
• Protect confidential information, follow record-retention and access requirements, and seek clarification or escalat concerns that may create compliance or financial risk.
• Other Assigned Responsibilities
• Complete duties and special assignments related to departmental research administration and operational needs.
• Promptly communicate competing priorities, resource limitations, or unresolved dependencies that may affect completion.

Salary Pay Range

$63,875 – $103.800

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business, Public Administration, or a related field and seven (7) years of related experience required. Work experience may NOT substitute for the education requirement.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Work independently, take ownership, and anticipate deadlines, risks, and next steps without repeated reminders.
• Provide timely, accurate, and professional communication to faculty, staff, leadership, and institutional partners.
• Apply departmental processes consistently and identify matters requiring leadership review or an exception.
• Exercise sound judgment, protect confidential information, act with integrity, and collaborate respectfully.
• Produce work that is accurate, complete, timely, organized, and ready for institutional or sponsor review.

UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.

Job Category

Professional & Managerial

Organization

379300000 Health Policy & Organization

Employee Status

Regular

Shift

Day/1st Shift

Work Arrangement (final schedule to be determined by the department/hiring manager)

Hybrid Eligible