Grants and Contracts Manager

University of Maine; Farmington (ME); On-site; USD 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition waiver programs

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Job summary

The University of Maine at Farmington seeks a Grants and Contracts Manager to provide financial leadership, compliance oversight, and stewardship for UMF’s sponsored programs portfolio.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, the role manages the financial lifecycle of about $14 million in externally funded grants and contracts, from proposal development and award setup through administration, reporting, audits, and closeout.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, economics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible professional experience in grants administration, sponsored programs, accounting, finance, or a related financial field.
• Experience administering grants or contracts, including post‑award financial management and compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Working knowledge of budgeting, accounting, internal controls, and financial reporting within a complex organization.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets and financial reporting tools, including formulas, queries, pivot tables, data validation, reconciliations, and financial modeling.

Responsibilities

• Direct the financial administration of UMF’s grants and contracts through the full award lifecycle, including proposal budgets, award setup, amendments, invoicing, reporting, audits, and closeout.
• Partner with principal investigators, project leaders, department budget managers, sponsors, auditors, and University System offices to guide and support successful project outcomes.
• Provide guidance on Uniform Guidance, allowable costs, sponsor requirements, University policies, procurement, payroll, subawards, record retention, and related compliance matters.
• Analyze proposals and risk indicators and develop actionable recommendations for University leadership, principal investigators, and budget managers.
• Evaluate grants management processes and financial systems and lead improvements that strengthen controls, improve data quality, reduce manual work, and increase efficiency.
• Develop training, tools, and guidance to strengthen grants management practices and help faculty and staff administer sponsored funding.

Skills

Grant administration

Financial leadership

Compliance oversight

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, economics, or related field

Tools

PeopleSoft Financials

Concur

Grants management systems

Job description

Are you a skilled financial professional who enjoys turning complex grant requirements into clear, practical solutions? The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) is seeking a Grants and Contracts Manager to provide financial leadership, compliance oversight, and stewardship for UMF’s sponsored programs portfolio.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, this position manages the financial lifecycle of approximately $14 million in externally funded grants and contracts, from proposal development and award setup through ongoing administration, reporting, audit, and final closeout.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who combines strong financial and analytical skills with a collaborative approach and enjoys helping faculty, staff, and project leaders successfully navigate the world of sponsored funding.

What You’ll Do

• Manage Sponsored Funding: Direct the financial administration of UMF’s grants and contracts throughout the full award lifecycle, including proposal budgets, award setup, amendments, invoicing, reporting, audits, and closeout.
• Be a Trusted Resource: Partner with principal investigators, project leaders, department budget managers, sponsors, auditors, and University System offices to provide guidance and support successful project outcomes.
• Strengthen Compliance: Provide guidance on Uniform Guidance, allowable costs, sponsor requirements, University policies, procurement, payroll, subawards, record retention, and related compliance matters.
• Turn Data into Action: Analyze proposals and risk indicators and develop actionable recommendations for University leadership, principal investigators, and budget managers.
• Improve How We Work: Evaluate grants management processes and financial systems and lead improvements that strengthen controls, improve data quality, reduce manual work, and increase efficiency.
• Build Knowledge Across Campus: Develop training, tools, and guidance to strengthen grants management practices and help faculty and staff successfully administer sponsored funding.

Job Description

Based on the qualifications and experience of the successful applicant, the annual salary range for this position is $54,000 - $58,000 plus a 10% employer contribution to the UMS retirement plan. Additional benefits include medical, dental, vision, and tuition waiver programs for employees and dependents.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, economics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible professional experience in grants administration, sponsored programs, accounting, finance, or a related financial field.
• Experience administering grants or contracts, including post‑award financial management and compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Working knowledge of budgeting, accounting, internal controls, and financial reporting within a complex organization.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets and financial reporting tools, including formulas, queries, pivot tables, data validation, reconciliations, and financial modeling.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or other relevant professional credentials.
• Experience in higher education, governmental accounting, or public sector financial management.
• Experience with PeopleSoft Financials, Concur, grants management systems, or comparable enterprise financial systems.

Why UMF?

At UMF, the Grants and Contracts Manager is more than a financial administrator. You’ll serve as a trusted advisor and collaborative partner, helping ensure sponsored funds are managed accurately and responsibly while developing practices and processes that support the University’s academic and institutional mission.

We are not able to consider applicants who require any visa sponsorship support

• Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.
• For full consideration, materials must be submitted 4:30 pm EST Tuesday, October 27, 2026
• The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening and post-offer physical as applicable.

The University of Maine at Farmington employees are Mandatory Reporters with the exception of UMF’s licensed, clinical medical providers (including athletic trainers) and mental health providers and their clinical interns when working in their capacity as providers.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at .

Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, such as the University, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report, (ASR) and provide notice of the availability of the ASR to all prospective employees. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three calendar years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. You may view University’s Annual Security Report. If you have any questions, contact UMF Dept. of Public, Safety / Campus Police, University of Maine at Farmington, 149 Quebec Street, Farmington, Maine 04938-1994 tel [phone]UMF