Grants & Contracts Manager

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Tuition Benefit

Healthcare plans

Wellbeing program

Retirement plans

Job summary

The Grants & Contracts Manager at University of Minnesota's School of Nursing leads pre-award operations, supervises ONRS staff, and aligns strategies with faculty researchers to maximize research opportunities. This hybrid-capacity role focuses on process improvement, cross-training, and effective engagement with sponsors and internal stakeholders.

Reporting to the Interim Associate Deans for Research, the role manages a small grant portfolio, coordinates pre- and post-award activities, and

Qualifications

• BA/BS plus at least 6 years of experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience solving complex problems using technology, resources, process improvement and people's skills.
• Experience effectively supervising and managing a team, including hiring, training, rewarding, promoting, disciplining, suspending, discharging.
• Experience effectively working with faculty researchers to address their research needs regarding research pre‑award activities.
• Experience submitting research proposals to a wide variety of funders.
• Experience with human subjects research as it pertains to grant proposals requirements.
• Willingness and ability to work in a hybrid capacity (flex remote and in-person) on the UMN Twin Cities campus.
• Specific internal (e.g., UMN Grant-in-Aid) and external (e.g., NIH, DOD, HRSA) grants & contracts knowledge as it relates to higher education and nursing.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise grants and contract staff and indirectly manage other ONRS staff.
• Evaluate and optimize internal pre-award processes to improve operational efficiency and implement cross-training protocols among staff.
• Develops and tracks research impact metrics for the School of Nursing used for benchmarking and external reporting.

Skills

BA/BS +6y

Communication

Problem-solving

Team supervision

Faculty collaboration

Grant proposals

Human subjects

Hybrid work

Tools

Grant platforms

Job description

About the Job

Location: Twin Cities

Contract type: Full-Time

Employment Type: Regular

The Grants & Contracts Manager reports to the Interim Associate Deans for Research and serves as the supervisor, operational leader and strategic director for the Office of Nursing Research and Scholarship (ONRS). This position is responsible for staff supervision, high-level faculty engagement, operational optimization, leading a small grant proposal portfolio, and leadership of pre-award strategy. The G & C Manager establishes internal infrastructure, ensures overarching compliance, and acts as the primary liaison between researchers and institutional leadership.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Pre-Award Staff and Operations Oversight (25%)

• Directly supervise grants and contract staff and indirectly manage other ONRS staff. Manage ONRS staff responsibilities, resource loading, and timelines for upcoming grant submissions.


• Evaluate and optimize internal pre-award processes to improve operational efficiency, reduce administrative friction, and implement cross-training protocols among staff.


• Develops and tracks research impact metrics for the School of Nursing (SoN) that are used for benchmarking and external reporting; provides further analysis to identify areas/segments for strategic investment.

Strategic Faculty Advising & Consultation (10%)

• Continuously scan the 'research horizon' and funding agency websites to identify strategic research-related needs and/or changes for SoN faculty, students and staff. Work one-on-one with faculty researchers to advise on project alignment with specific sponsor portfolios, optimal submission timing, multi-investigator project team makeup, and provide expert troubleshooting for unique or complex proposal situations.

Relationship Management (10%)

• Build and maintain strong, productive professional relationships with faculty researchers across the SoN. Cultivate a deep understanding of researchers' academic interests, expertise, and long‑term research objectives to proactively flag future funding opportunities.

Maintain Small Proposal Portfolio (10%)

• Alleviate proposal bottlenecks during peak submission deadlines by leading 2-4 pre-award proposal applications from start to finish.

Post-Award UMN & Sponsor Agency Liaison (10%)

• Host "Kick-off" meetings for newly awarded projects. Walk Faculty/Staff through the Notice of Grant Award (NOGA) to ensure their understanding of the terms, highlighting possible award restrictions etc. Coordinate with post-award staff regarding policies and procedures for funded projects. Serve as the lead in correspond with other UMN units and funding agencies/sponsors to obtain necessary approvals (e.g., Principal Investigator (PI) changes, effort changes, leave of absence, transfers or other items needing sponsor approval, etc.).

Platform Competency & Systems Leadership (10%)

• Continually examine, monitor, and master a wide variety of evolving grant submission platforms. Adapt internal processes to strict funder requirements to ensure successful, compliant applications.


• Serve as a liaison between the SoN and SPA.

Budgets & Reporting (5%)

• Drafts and prepares proposed budgets and budget expenditure reports for the Associate Dean for Research's use for ONRS programming.


• Tracks and reports grant award metrics for the School of Nursing, alongside any other School-level ad hoc grant report requests.

Development & Continuous Improvement (15%)

As part of supervising ONRS pre-award staff, lead weekly team meetings regarding current issues, policy updates, workload balancing, and internal workflow processes. Promote proposal readiness across the SoN, with a dedicated focus on mentoring early-career faculty. Provide leadership in the creation of proposal templates, job aids, and specialized guidance to streamline processes for both new and experienced PIs. Identify staff training needs, provide or oversee training, and provide coverage for staff when they are out of the office.

Professional Representation (5%)

• Represent the ONRS by attending highly relevant courses, workshops, federal webinars, and professional society meetings (both internal and external to the university) to keep the SoN at the forefront of national research administration standards.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS plus at least 6 years of experience.


• Excellent written and oral communication skills.


• Experience solving complex problems using technology, resources, process improvement and people's skills.


• Experience effectively supervising and managing a team, including hiring, training, rewarding, promoting, disciplining, suspending, discharging.


• Experience effectively working with faculty researchers to address their research needs regarding research pre‑award activities.


• Experience submitting research proposals to a wide variety of funders.


• Experience with human subjects research as it pertains to grant proposals requirements.


• Willingness and ability to work in a hybrid capacity (flex remote and in-person) on the UMN Twin Cities campus.


• Specific internal (e.g., UMN Grant-in-Aid) and external (e.g., NIH, DOD, HRSA) grants & contracts knowledge as it relates to higher education and nursing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience selecting/creating, using and maintaining electronic proposal tracking or management systems.

About the Department

Founded in 1909 and recognized as the first nursing program established within a university, the University of Minnesota School of Nursing continues to lead the profession into the future. With a mission to generate knowledge and educate leaders to shape the future of nursing and advance health care to improve the health and wellbeing of all, the school and its research are addressing health issues and improving health. With nearly $6 million in National Institutes of Health awards to the School of Nursing and the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing in 2019, the University of Minnesota rose to 10th in the latest ranking of NIH funding to schools of nursing.

The school is ranked among the top programs in nurse midwifery and nursing informatics, and it is internationally renowned for its efforts to improve health and health care through the use of big data. The School was one of nine nursing schools nationally awarded the Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine in 2020.

The University of Minnesota has one of the largest, more comprehensive academic health centers in the nation. While robust scholarly inquiry is central to the School of Nursing's mission, it is enhanced by interprofessional collaboration with schools and colleges within the University and its health sciences schools comprised of pharmacy, medicine, public health, dentistry and veterinary medicine.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $84,292.60 - $111,687.70; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off


• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree‑seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program


• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans


• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts


• University HSA contributions


• Disability and employer-paid life insurance


• Employee wellbeing program


• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution


• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity


• Financial counseling services


• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.