Grants Specialist I — Pre-Award & Awards Support

UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Georgia in Athens is seeking a Grants Specialist I to manage pre-award activities within the Sponsored Projects Administration. You will review, negotiate, and process grant proposals, projects, and amendments while assisting faculty and staff in navigating sponsor requirements.

As part of SPA, you will maintain a caseload across departments, ensure compliance with guidelines, and communicate clearly with principal investigators and collaborators to advance scholarly funding and

Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge of institutional policies and procedures for external funding and finance.
• Awareness of standard methods for proposal preparation, coordination, submission, and implementation.
• Establish and maintain relationships with university personnel, agencies, and sponsors on complex matters.
• Assist in evaluating and updating OSP policies and procedures.
• Communicate effectively with PIs and university staff about research administration topics.
• Work under varying supervision in a deadline-driven environment.
• Demonstrate strong customer service and ability to manage a caseload.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and processes grant awards, cooperative agreements, and MOUs for sponsors; negotiates changes on behalf of UGA.
• Manages awards from setup to close-out, including modifications.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and university regulations and budget accuracy.
• Interprets agency requirements and advises faculty and staff accordingly.
• Negotiates and authorizes agreements; may defer to Legal Affairs on some issues.
• Acts as liaison between funding agencies and faculty on complex questions.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Skills

Policy knowledge

Proposal coordination

Stakeholder communication

Policy evaluation

Written communication

Deadline management

Customer service

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent

Job description

University of Georgia in Athens is seeking a Grants Specialist I to manage pre-award activities within the Sponsored Projects Administration. You will review, negotiate, and process grant proposals, projects, and amendments while assisting faculty and staff in navigating sponsor requirements.

As part of SPA, you will maintain a caseload across departments, ensure compliance with guidelines, and communicate clearly with principal investigators and collaborators to advance scholarly funding and