Grants and Research Administrator

Babson College; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 49,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Babson College seeks a Grants and Research Administration Officer to support post-award administration and financial stewardship for the College's sponsored research portfolio. The role reports to the Manager of the Office of Sponsored Research and collaborates with Finance, Payroll, HR, and Academic Affairs to enhance internal controls and policy adherence.

The position is non-exempt with an hourly rate of $43.50, offering paid sick leave and hybrid/remote options in Massachusetts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in federal sponsored research administration or higher education finance.
• Strong accounting, reconciliation, financial analysis, and reporting skills.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance, federal cost principles, and award closeout requirements.
• Ability to develop procedures, improve business processes, and strengthen internal controls.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day post-award administration for federal and non-federal awards.
• Collaborates with investigators and campus partners to ensure sponsor compliance.
• Reviews expenditures for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and budget alignment.
• Performs financial monitoring, reconciliations, and timely corrections with faculty.
• Develops post-award procedures and training materials; supports audits and closeouts.

Skills

Accounting

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Project management

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Admin

Related field acceptable

Tools

Workday

Sponsor/enterprise financial systems

Job description

Introduction

Babson College is a world-class business school, empowering entrepreneurial leaders to create great economic & social value. It's an exciting launch pad for anyone who wants to make a real impact in higher education. We provide everything you need to achieve your goals, including learning opportunities, outstanding benefits, rich rewards, wellness programs, & a genuine dedication to creating a diverse, multicultural & inclusive community.

To view all open staff positions, click here.

Overview

The Grants and Research Administration Officer plays a critical role in supporting the College’s sponsored research portfolio through effective post-award administration, financial stewardship, and regulatory compliance.

Reporting to the Manager of the Office of Sponsored Research, this position oversees operational activities associated with federal and non-federal awards, including financial monitoring, grant reconciliations, effort reporting support, sponsor reporting coordination, award modifications, and closeout processes.

As Babson continues to strengthen its research enterprise, this role will help develop and enhance the infrastructure necessary to support sustainable growth in sponsored research. The position collaborates closely with faculty, Finance, Payroll, Human Resources, and other campus partners to improve business processes, strengthen internal controls, review and update policies and procedures, and develop faculty training and guidance materials. The successful candidate will bring strong accounting and analytical expertise, knowledge of federal grant administration, and a commitment to supporting institutional compliance and research excellence.

This is a non-exempt position with an hourly rate of $43.50. This position includes paid sick leave where required by law. Eligibility, accrual, and usage will follow applicable state and local regulations.

All questions or concerns about this posting should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at [e-mail].

This position can be hybrid or remote.

Responsibilities

• Develops, documents, and continuously improves federal and non-federal post-award operations, procedures, workflows, and internal controls in collaboration with key campus stakeholders and in alignment with Uniform Guidance, sponsor requirements, and College policies.
• Supports the operational functions of the Office of Sponsored Research by providing tools, guidance, and training to principal investigators and campus partners responsible for federally sponsored projects.
• Partners with Finance, Payroll, Human Resources, Academic Affairs, and department administrators to define roles and responsibilities, coordinate award administration, and strengthen institutional research administration capacity.
• Reviews and recommends updates to sponsored research policies, procedures, templates, and guidance materials to support compliance and operational effectiveness.
• With the Manger of OSR, develops and delivers faculty and staff training related to post-award financial management, effort reporting, federal cost principles, sponsor requirements, and award administration.
• Supports audit readiness and institutional reviews by maintaining award documentation and assisting with responses related to federal sponsored projects.
• Monitors changes in federal regulations, sponsor policies, and the broader research administration landscape and communicates relevant updates to campus stakeholders.
• Under the direction of the Manager, collaborates with General Counsel, the Director of Compliance & Enterprise Risk, and the Provost office to ensure relevant training and ongoing compliance with federal and local regulations on sponsored research.
• Works with the Manager of the Office of Sponsored Research to assist in ongoing programs.
• Assumes additional responsibilities as required.

Post-Award

• Manages day-to-day post-award administration for the College's federally sponsored portfolio from award setup through closeout.
• Collaborates with principal investigators, Finance, Payroll, Human Resources, and department administrators to ensure compliance with sponsor requirements and institutional policies.
• Reviews expenditures for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, consistent treatment, and alignment with approved award budgets.
• Performs regular financial monitoring and reconciliation of sponsored projects and identifies potential compliance or budget concerns. Works with faculty to make necessary adjustments.
• Reviews salary allocations, labor distributions, and effort reporting documentation and supports timely corrections when required.
• Monitors cost sharing, sub recipient monitoring, reporting deadlines, award modifications, no-cost extensions, carryforward requests, rebudgeting actions, and other post-award administrative requirements Prepares or coordinates periodic and final financial reports and assists with sponsor reporting requirements.
• Completes financial and administrative closeout activities and maintains documentation supporting the official award record
• Develops and implements post-award procedures and business processes to support the College's growing sponsored research portfolio.
• Keeps abreast of changes in federal regulations and sponsor requirements and incorporates those changes into institutional practices and procedures.
• Assumes additional responsibilities as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Research Administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five years of experience in federal sponsored research administration, grant accounting, or higher education finance, with substantial post-award experience preferred. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Strong accounting, reconciliation, financial analysis, and reporting skills.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance, federal cost principles, effort reporting, grant monitoring, financial reporting, and award closeout requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to develop procedures, improve business processes,
• strengthen internal controls, and build sustainable post-award infrastructure.
• Excellent project management, written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and collaborate effectively with academic and administrative stakeholders.
• Proficiency with financial systems, spreadsheets, databases, and sponsor systems.
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, manage diverse responsibilities simultaneously and ability to work with all constituencies.
• Demonstrated ability to improve processes and enhance systems.
• Ability to envision and propose new methods to perform tasks that support ET&A; take thoughtful risks; and accept new and ongoing initiatives, objectives, and solutions to gain sought-after results.
• Ability to anticipate and embrace change; demonstrate willingness to achieve, acquire, and utilize new skills and challenging tasks; and is flexible in changing conditions.

Additional Skills You May Have

• Experience with Workday or a comparable enterprise financial system.
• Experience developing faculty and staff training materials.
• CRA, CPRA, or other research administration certifications preferred.