Grants Manager

upenn; United States; On-site; USD 66,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Grants Manager at the University of Pennsylvania supports the Research Support Hub by handling pre-award and post-award research administration for a portfolio of faculty and programs. This role collaborates with faculty, departmental admins, and central offices to ensure sponsor requirements are met and funds are stewarded responsibly.

Reporting to the Director, the position drives standardized processes, proposed improvements, and shared service initiatives across schools served by the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in pre- and post-award research administration is required.
• Strong grantsmanship, compliance, and administrative experience essential.
• Exceptional knowledge and experience with spreadsheets, Excel, and MS Office suite of products required.
• Experience enforcing compliance, funding policies, procedures, and regulations essential.
• Experience in university financial and research administration accounting systems preferred (PennERA, ERS, HS-ERA, RIS, PHS-FITS, BEN Financials, Markview/BEN, BO/Data Warehouse, Concur, SharePoint, Secure Share, Workday@Penn).
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to work independently or in a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide pre and post award research and financial administration support for investigators in the department.
• Monitor grant expenditures for compliance and coordinate with payroll, purchasing, and accounts payable.
• Produce and distribute financial reports for investigators and meet monthly to review funds.
• Advise faculty on university policies and procedures.
• Manage post award activity to resolve issues timely per university policy.
• Provide liaison across research departments and guidance on electronic submission of grant activities.
• Assist in preparation and submission of reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Strong grantsmanship

Excel/MS Office

Compliance experience

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

PennERA

ERS

RIS

Concur

Workday@Penn

Job description

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Grants Manager

Job Profile Title

Grants Manager A

Job Description Summary

The Grants Manager plays a key role in supporting the Research Support Hub (RSH), which provides comprehensive pre-award and post-award research administration services to multiple schools across the University. Reporting to the Director of the Research Support Hub, the position serves as the primary research administration contact for an assigned portfolio of faculty, research centers, and programs. The Grants Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of sponsored projects throughout the award lifecycle, including proposal development and submission, award administration, financial management, sponsor compliance, and faculty consultation. The position works collaboratively with faculty, departmental administrators, the Office of Research Services, and other central administrative offices to ensure compliance with University and sponsor requirements while supporting the effective stewardship of sponsored research funds. The Grants Manager also contributes to the development and implementation of standardized business processes, operational improvements, and shared service initiatives that support research administration across the schools served by the RSH.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide pre and post award research and financial administration support for individual investigators in the department


• Monitor grant expenditures for compliance and take or recommend corrective actions as needed. Work with payroll coordinators and purchasing and accounts payable to ensure appropriate expenses are allocated to grant funds


• Produce and distribute specialized research related financial reports for investigators. Meet monthly to review their funds and total research portfolio


• Advise faculty within department on university policies and procedures


• Manage post award activity for department to ensure that issues are resolved in a timely and effective manner in accordance with university policy


• Provide liaison to across research departments


• Provide guidance to faculty and staff concerning electronic submission of grant activities


• Assist in preparation and submission of reports


• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience in pre- and post-award research administration is required.


• Strong grantsmanship, compliance, and administrative experience essential.


• Exceptional knowledge and experience with spreadsheets, Excel, and MS Office suite of products required.


• Experience enforcing compliance, funding policies, procedures, and regulations essential.


• Experience in university financial and research administration accounting systems required.


• Experience in UPenn research and financial systems preferred (PennERA, ERS, HS-ERA, RIS, PHS-FITS, BEN Financials, Markview/BEN, Business Objects/Data Warehouse, Concur, SharePoint, Secure Share, Workday@Penn, etc.).


• Must exhibit the ability and desire to troubleshoot issues, have excellent written and verbal communication skills and outstanding customer service skills, demonstrate exemplary organizational and critical thinking skills, be timely and responsive to deadlines and adept at juggling multiple tasks simultaneously, know how to work independently and as part of a team, and must have a great attitude.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Social Policy and Practice

Pay Range

$65,628.00 - $80,000.00 Annual Rate Salary offers are m