Grants Manager

Columbia University in the City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University in the City of New York is seeking a Grants Manager to lead pre- and post-award grant activities. You will manage budgets, ensure sponsor compliance, and communicate with funding agencies while supporting principal investigators.

The role requires collaboration with the Associate Director of Finance and Administration, strong attention to detail, and experience in research administration. This on-site position sits within the DFA team at Columbia University.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in a research administration environment.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Finance & Administration to implement priorities and track performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review grant proposals, budgets, and supporting documents for submission.
• Ensure compliance with sponsor requirements, university guidelines, and regulatory standards.
• Provide budget monitoring, financial reconciliation, and reporting for sponsored projects.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders for timely proposal submissions and approvals.
• Advise principal investigators and administrators on budget management and reporting.

Skills

Grant management

Budget oversight

Compliance

Stakeholder liaison

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Rascal

SciEnCV

Sponsor portals

Job description

The Herbert and Florence Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics (IICD) transforms how cancer is understood, prevented, and treated through breakthroughs in mathematics, data science, engineering, biology, and medicine. By uniting researchers across disciplines and scales—from molecules and cells to patients and populations—IICD advances a new generation of cancer research grounded in collaboration, quantitative discovery, and technological innovation.

At Columbia University, IICD serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research and education, fostering partnerships across campuses and institutions to accelerate progress in computational biology, tumor evolution, immunology, spatial and single-cell technologies, and more.

Through cutting-edge research, educational programs, and outreach initiatives, IICD is committed to training the next generation of scientists and expanding access to quantitative approaches that can improve cancer outcomes worldwide.

Driven by the belief that the most complex challenges in cancer demand collaborative and creative solutions, IICD bridges disciplines, cultivates scientific community, and translates data-driven discovery into meaningful impact for patient care, the research community, and beyond.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Finance and Administration (DFA), the Grants Manager is the lead administrator for pre- and post-award grant activities, acting as the department’s representative to sponsoring agencies. The Grants Manager is responsible for the entire lifecycle of grants, including proposal preparation, compliance review, budget oversight, financial reconciliation, and reporting. This position ensures adherence to grant and contract regulations while assisting principal investigators and fostering effective communication with funding agencies.

Proposal Preparation & Compliance:

• Review and prepare grant proposal budgets and faculty and application packages in various electronic portals.
• Ensure proposals comply with extramural sponsor requirements, university guidelines, and regulatory standards.
• Facilitate the pre-submission review process, providing guidance on budget revisions and compliance documents.
• Review Current & Pending Support (C&P), biosketches/CVs, review accuracy, and resolve discrepancies.
• Obtain necessary institutional approvals and route proposals to central Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) for submission.
• Ensure compliance with requirements such as Conflict of Interest disclosures and internal forms. Act as a liaison between faculty and sponsors, guiding researchers through the proposal process.
• Manage and resolve issues related to proposal submissions, compliance, and documentation.
• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate and timely submission of proposals.
• Prepare and maintain records of all proposal submissions and revisions.

Training & Technology:

• Promote and provide training on pre-award systems, including Rascal, SciEnCV, and sponsor-specific application systems.
• Develop training materials and offer guidance to researchers and administrators.
• Oversee the entire lifecycle of grants and contracts, ensuring financial activities align with funding guidelines.
• Monitor grant milestones, deadlines, and reporting requirements, ensuring timely completion of deliverables.
• Coordinate the opening and closing of grant accounts, ensuring proper financial reconciliation and adherence to sponsor regulations.
• Process salary distributions, cost transfers, and assist with quarterly/annual budget submissions.
• Prepare and review financial reports, including spending projections and monthly budget analysis of grants.
• Work closely with the DFA and other administrative teams to perform fiscal year-end closing and variance analysis.
• Advise principal investigators and administrators on budget management, grant spending, and reporting compliance.
• Prepare quarterly and annual grant attestations and assist with fiscal reporting for sponsored projects.

Compliance & Risk Management:

• Advise on compliance matters related to sponsored projects, ensuring accurate interpretation and policy adherence.
• Manage purchase requisitions for scientific and technical equipment with sponsored funds.
• Liaise with the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) regarding no-cost extensions, re-budgeting, and carryover requests.

Operational:

• Act as a liaison between faculty, researchers, and external stakeholders, ensuring smooth communication throughout the grant process.
• Address and resolve project activities, funding, and reporting issues.
• Track and evaluate key performance indicators to assess customer satisfaction and operational efficiencies.
• Maintain and update the ARS allowance spreadsheet.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Associate Director of Finance and Administration.

Requirements Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in a research administration environment,
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Finance & Administration to implement operational priorities and track performance metrics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with university financial systems such as Concur, RASCAL, ARC, and FINSYS.
• This comprehensive role requires someone adaptable, organized, and motivated by the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of research administration.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.