Grants and Contracts Administrator Post-Award

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA seeks a Grants and Contracts Administrator Post-Award to interpret award notices, monitor budgets, and support investigators in sponsored projects from inception to closeout.

You will oversee a portfolio of complex awards, coordinate set-ups, revisions, and no-cost extensions, and ensure compliance with sponsor and institutional regulations while maintaining clear communication with faculty and sponsors.

Qualifications

• Experience with externally funded research project lifecycle including setup/closeout and compliance tracking.
• Strong Excel skills for financial/data tracking and reporting.
• Understanding budgeting principles and expenditure reconciliation.
• Professional communication and customer service in research or administrative settings.
• Knowledge of policies related to business operations or research.
• Master’s degree or a bachelor’s with equivalent experience in the preceding fields.
• Prior experience in research administration, sponsored programs, or contract administration.

Responsibilities

• Interpret award notices and budgets, negotiate agreements, monitor project spending.
• Prepare required documentation and facilitate communication between faculty, sponsors, and internal stakeholders.
• Oversee a portfolio of sponsored projects, including setup and closeouts.
• Process budget revisions and no-cost extensions and ensure sponsor/institution compliance.
• Serve as liaison to faculty and funding agencies, advising on project administration and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain accurate project documentation and represent the institution in sponsor and internal meetings.
• Identify problems and propose solutions in consultation with mentors, using logic to evaluate options.

Skills

Excel for financial or data tracking

Project lifecycle knowledge

Budgeting principles

Professional communication

Policies related to business ops or研究

Research administration experience

Contract administration

Education

Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, or a related field

Bachelor’s degree with related working experience equivalent to a master’s degree

Tools

Banner

Cayuse

Job description

Job Title

Grants and Contracts Administrator Post-Award

Department

SPONSORED PROGRAMS

Position Number

FP118A

Location

Norfolk, VA

Job Summary

The primary purpose of the position is to interpret award notices and budgets, negotiate agreements, monitor project spending, prepare required documentation, and facilitate effective communication between faculty, sponsors, and internal stakeholders. The Grants and Contracts Administrator supports investigators in managing the fiscal and administrative aspects of sponsored projects from award inception to closeout. This role is responsible for independently overseeing a portfolio of projects of varying complexity, including initiating project set-ups and closeouts, processing budget revisions and no-cost extensions, and ensuring compliance with sponsor and institutional regulations. The Administrator serves as a primary liaison to faculty and funding agencies, providing guidance on project administration, re-budgeting actions, personnel changes, and regulatory compliance (e.g., export control, IRB, IACUC). This position emphasizes proactive customer service, timely processing of transactions, and clear communication to support investigators in meeting reporting and deliverable obligations. The Administrator also maintains accurate project documentation and represents the institution in sponsor and internal meetings. Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. Resolving, or proposing solutions toward resolving problems in consultation with mentor or more experienced colleagues. Additionally, using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Working knowledge of project lifecycle activities related to externally funded research (e.g., project setup, closeout, reporting, or compliance tracking).
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, with considerable skill using Excel for financial or data tracking purposes.
• Basic knowledge of budgeting principles and expenditure reconciliation.
• Working knowledge of effective professional communication and customer service in a research or administrative setting.
• Basic knowledge of institutional or agency policies related to business operations or research.
• Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, or a related field. Or a bachelor’s degree with related working experience equivalent to a master’s degree in the preceding fields of study.
• Prior related working experience in research administration, sponsored programs, contract administration, or a related administrative field.

Preferred Qualifications

Education or Training (Major Area of Study)

Master’s degree in research administration, grant management, compliance, or contract law is preferred.

Level and Type of Experience

• Considerable experience supporting sponsored research projects or grants administration, including budget tracking or compliance reporting.
• Considerable knowledge of university or nonprofit research operations is desirable.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of federal regulations governing sponsored programs (e.g., Uniform Guidance, FAR, DFAR, export controls).
• Experience with enterprise research or financial systems (e.g., Banner, Cayuse, or similar) is desirable.
• Working knowledge of proposal development and sponsor submission requirements.

Criminal Background Check

The final candidate is required to complete a criminal history check.

Equity Statement

It is the policy of Old Dominion University to provide equal employment, educational and social opportunities for all persons, without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or genetic information. Individuals from minoritized communities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Reasonable Accommodation Request

If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact the Division of Talent Management and Culture at [phone].

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

ODU Statement

Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, is Virginia’s forward-focused public doctoral research university with more than 23,000 students, a top R1 research ranking, rigorous academics, an energetic residential community and initiatives that contribute $2.6 billion annually to Virginia’s economy.