Grants and Research Administrator

babson; Wellesley (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Babson College is seeking a Grants and Research Administration Officer to support its sponsored research portfolio through post-award administration, financial stewardship, and regulatory compliance.

Reporting to the Manager of the Office of Sponsored Research, the role oversees federal and non-federal awards, including monitoring, reconciliations, and closeout, while partnering with Finance, Payroll, HR, and academic affairs.

Qualifications

• Experience in federal sponsored post-award administration and financial monitoring.
• Ability to review expenditures for allowability and allocability.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance and sponsor requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day post-award administration from award setup to closeout.
• Monitors expenditures, cost sharing, and effort reporting for compliance.
• Prepares sponsor reports and assists with audits.
• Collaborates with Finance, Payroll, HR, and departments to ensure policy compliance.
• Updates procedures to strengthen internal controls.
• Develops training materials for faculty and staff.

Skills

Post-award administration

Grant accounting

Federal research compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Research Administration, or related field

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

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.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• 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, HumanResources, 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.
• Perform
• Perform 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.

WHAT EDUCATION AND SKILLS YOU WILL NEED

• 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 com