Grants & Agreements Manager

Portland State University; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Retirement plan

Tuition discounts

Flexible scheduling

Job summary

Portland State University is seeking a Grants & Agreements Manager to lead the review, negotiation, and acceptance of sponsored projects contracts and related agreements. The role includes supervising a team, developing negotiation strategies, and ensuring compliance with sponsor requirements and university policies.

You will act as a primary point of contact for external parties, draft subaward agreements, and collaborate with SPA leadership, legal counsel, and campus partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and four or more years of progressively responsible experience directly reviewing, redlining, and negotiating complex contracts and agreements, and demonstrated experience supervising and managing staff.
• A master’s degree may substitute for part of the experience requirements, but some contract review and staff supervisory experience are required.
• Experience interpreting provisions affecting organizational rights, obligations, and risk, including IP, publication rights, indemnification, liability, and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Review, redline, negotiate, and accept sponsored research contracts and related agreements.
• Supervise and coach Grants & Agreements Specialists; draft and execute subaward agreements.
• Provide technical guidance on contract interpretation and negotiation strategies; ensure compliance with sponsor requirements and university policy.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Team supervision

Legal writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (substitute)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Tracked Changes

Spreadsheets

Google Workspace

Job description

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Portland State University

Position Details

• Proposed Start Date: 12/16/2026
• Classification Title: Legal and Compliance
• Rank: N - No Rank
• Working Title: Grants & Agreements Manager
• Department: 400401 - SPA Sponsored Projects Office
• Position Number: D93038
• Representation: UU - Unclassified Unrepresented
• Renewable: Renewable
• Position FTE: 1.0
• Tenure Status: N - not applicable

Position Summary

Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands‑on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners. More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree‑lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state‑of‑the‑art science labs. We are proud of our world‑class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

The Grants & Agreements Manager provides technical expertise and operational leadership for Sponsored Projects Administration’s (SPA) Award Acceptance function at Portland State University. The position serves as the University’s technical resource for research agreements, conducting and overseeing the review, redlining, negotiation, acceptance, and documentation of sponsored research contracts, grants, and related agreements. The manager independently analyzes complex agreements, develops alternative contract language, negotiates acceptable solutions with external parties, and resolves contractual issues that affect the University’s rights, obligations, and risk. The Manager supervises a team of Grants & Agreements Specialists responsible for reviewing, negotiating, and accepting sponsored awards and research agreements; drafting and executing outgoing subaward agreements; and documenting award information necessary to support institutional stewardship, compliance, and financial management. The Manager builds and hones team expertise in the operational and legal implications of research contract clauses and partners with them to develop effective negotiation strategies and counter‑proposals, establishes operational priorities, assigns and monitors work, manages service delivery, evaluates performance, and provides technical guidance and feedback on agreement review and negotiation. Working collaboratively with SPA leadership, legal counsel, and campus partners, the manager promotes consistent application of university policy, sponsor requirements, and applicable regulations; recognizes issues requiring consultation or escalation; and improves agreement review processes, tools, and resources. The Manager serves as an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) and Institutional Signing Official for sponsored projects, authorized to execute sponsor‑required certifications, assurances, representations, and other institutional approvals related to sponsored projects. In accordance with PSU’s Delegated Signature Authority Policy, the incumbent also has delegated authority to execute sponsored project agreements and other authorized documents that legally bind the University to financial and administrative commitments. This position is based at Portland State University’s vibrant urban campus in downtown Portland, where you’ll be part of a welcoming and collaborative community. We offer flexible scheduling options and, when operational needs allow, the possibility of limited remote work (typically up to one day per week) under an approved remote work agreement in accordance with University policy.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and four or more years of progressively responsible experience directly reviewing, redlining, and negotiating complex contracts and agreements, and demonstrated experience supervising and managing staff.*

*A master’s degree may substitute for a portion of the experience requirements, however some direct contract review and negotiation experience and staff supervisory experience are required.

Related experience includes:

• Direct experience independently reviewing, analyzing, redlining, and negotiating complex contracts and agreements, including identifying problematic provisions, developing alternative contractual language, assessing organizational risk, and negotiating acceptable resolutions with external parties.
• Experience interpreting and negotiating provisions affecting organizational rights, obligations, and risk, such as intellectual property, publication rights, indemnification, liability, insurance, confidentiality, payment, and termination.
• Experience supervising and managing staff, including assigning and prioritizing work, evaluating performance, providing feedback, addressing performance concerns, coaching, and supporting employee development.
• Experience providing technical guidance to others on contract interpretation, proposed redlines, negotiation strategies, and resolution of complex contractual issues.
• Experience interpreting and applying laws, regulations, and organizational policies relevant to contract review, negotiation, and acceptance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required to Perform the Duties of the Position

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly and diplomatically explain complex contractual issues to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Strong knowledge of contract principles, negotiation practices, and provisions affecting organizational rights, obligations, and risk.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with faculty, research administrators, institutional leadership, legal counsel, sponsors, and external partners, and provide responsive service while exercising sound judgment.
• Ability to independently analyze complex agreements, identify legal, financial, operational, and compliance concerns, and develop appropriate alternative language and negotiation strategies.
• Ability to assess the significance of contractual risks, identify workable compromises, and recognize when consultation with legal counsel or other institutional partners is needed.
• Ability to provide sound technical guidance, evaluate the work of others, and explain the rationale for negotiation positions and acceptance decisions.
• Supervisory and coaching skills, including the ability to establish expectations, provide constructive feedback, address performance concerns, support employee development, and promote accountability.
• Ability to establish operational priorities for the team, distribute and monitor workloads, communicate project status, manage competing deadlines, and maintain timely and consistent service delivery.
• Ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and implement practical tools, procedures, and operational changes that improve consistency, efficiency, and service quality.
• Proficiency with common business applications, including Microsoft Word and tracked changes, spreadsheets, Google Workspace, scheduling and email tools, and the ability to learn research administration or contract management systems.
• Ability to learn and apply unfamiliar sponsor requirements, regulations, and institutional processes, and make timely, well‑reasoned decisions within university policy and delegated authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant knowledge of and direct experience in sponsored research administration, preferably at an institution of higher education or another research organization, including familiarity with sponsor requirements, applicable regulations, and institutional compliance and financial management obligations.
• Direct experience reviewing, redlining, negotiating, and accepting sponsored research contracts and related agreements, including agreements with government, nonprofit, or commercial sponsors.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and issuing outgoing subaward agreements.
• Experience developing and delivering technical training or structured learning programs that build staff expertise in contract review and negotiation.
• Experience developing or improving contract templates, negotiation guidance, clause libraries, checklists, standard operating procedures, or other agreement review resources.
• Experience improving contract intake, workload management, negotiation workflows, service delivery, or quality assurance.

Key Cultural Competencies

• Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental Stewardship

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long‑term sustainability goals.

Work Days/Hours

Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, schedule to be determined.

Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement

Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.

The starting annual salary range for this position will be $74,232 to $94,000 but may be negotiated above this range dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.

An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.

Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.

Search Details

Projected Close Date for Posting: Open Until Finalists Identified.

Application screening begins: 11/02/2026.

Quick Link: https://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/50959

Supplemental Questions

1. * What is your highest degree earned? Please state the specific field in which you earned your degree.

   (Open Ended Question)

2. * How did you first find out about this position?
   • PSU Website
   • Indeed.com
   • HERCJobs
   • Urban League of Portland
   • Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber
   • Oregon Employment Department
   • Social Media
   • Person Referral
   • Career Builder
   • Glass Door
   • Other - Please describe in the next Question
3. If you selected Other, please describe.

   (Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Professional References

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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