Grants and Contracts Administrator Post-Award

Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center; Virginia; Remote; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is seeking a Grants and Contracts Administrator Post-Award to interpret award notices, budgets, negotiate agreements, monitor spending, and prepare required documentation for faculty and sponsors.

This role supports investigators from award inception to closeout, overseeing project setups, closeouts, budget revisions, and ensuring compliance with sponsor and institutional regulations. Strong communication and problem-solving are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience with project lifecycles for externally funded research.
• Proficient Excel skills for financial or data tracking.
• Fundamental budgeting principles and expenditure reconciliation knowledge.
• Strong professional communication and customer service in a research/administrative setting.
• Knowledge of institutional or agency policies related to business operations or research.
• Bachelor’s degree in business/finance/accounting or related field, or equivalent.
• Prior related working experience in research administration or sponsored programs.

Responsibilities

• Interpret award notices and budgets, negotiate agreements, monitor project spending, and prepare required documentation.
• Oversee portfolio of projects from award inception to closeout, including setups, closeouts, budget revisions, and no-cost extensions.
• Provide guidance on project administration, re-budgeting actions, personnel changes, and regulatory compliance (e.g., export controls).
• Maintain accurate project documentation and represent the institution in sponsor and internal meetings.

Skills

Project lifecycle knowledge

Excel for financial tracking

Budgeting principles

Professional communication

Policies knowledge in research

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/finance/accounting or related field

Preferred: degree in research administration/grant management/compliance/contract law

Tools

Banner

Cayuse

Job description

Title: Grants and Contracts Administrator Post-Award

Agency: VP FOR RESEARCH

Location: Remote

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range:

Full Time or Part Time:

Job Description:

The primary purpose of the position is to interpret award notices and budgets, negotiation of 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 setups 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 other 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.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• Prior related working experience in research administration, sponsored programs, contract administration, or a related administrative field.

Additional Considerations:

Education or Training (Major Area of Study):

• Bachelor’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.