Grants & Contracts Specialist — Remote-Eligible & Budgeting

Lehigh University; Bethlehem (Northampton County); Hybrid; USD 56,030 - 68,190; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania seeks a detail-oriented Contract and Grant Specialist to guide complex federal awards from proposal to closeout. This role focuses on ensuring compliant, on-time submissions and accurate budget development.

You will support faculty and researchers across divisions, manage subcontractor costs and overhead, coordinate cost-sharing, and serve as Lehigh's authorized signatory for awards up to $500,000.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business or other suitable field
• One to three years of work related experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal regulations relating to contract or grant agreements
• Experience in monitoring contract or grant budgets
• Experience managing and maintaining software packages
• Strong working knowledge of both Windows and MAC platforms
• Highly developed oral and written communications skills

Responsibilities

• Guide researchers through the entire proposal lifecycle, from interpreting sponsor guidelines to ensuring compliant, on-time submissions
• Direct budget development for single and multi-institutional projects, manage subcontractor costs, secure cost-sharing commitments, and coordinate overhead rates
• Finalizes and executes subcontracts and serves as Lehigh's authorized signatory for awards up to $500,000
• Interprets university policies, government mandates, and sponsor regulations to counsel faculty and collaborating organizations; coordinates with safety and risk management
• Negotiates final terms, conditions, and revised budgets with sponsors; maintains project records for audits
• Manages funded projects from inception to closeout by establishing accounts, approving expenses, monitoring budgets, and tracking cost-sharing commitments
• Acts as primary representative to external sponsors and partner organizations and liaises with internal departments on IP and compliance

Job description

Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania seeks a detail-oriented Contract and Grant Specialist to guide complex federal awards from proposal to closeout. This role focuses on ensuring compliant, on-time submissions and accurate budget development.

You will support faculty and researchers across divisions, manage subcontractor costs and overhead, coordinate cost-sharing, and serve as Lehigh's authorized signatory for awards up to $500,000.