Grants Specialist - Lead

University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Lincoln (NE); Hybrid; USD 51,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Nebraska–Lincoln, located in Lincoln, NE, is seeking a Grants Specialist - Lead to partner with faculty and departments to develop and submit sponsored research proposals. You will provide consultative guidance on grants administration policies, coordinate budgets, and ensure compliant, accurate records.

Following an initial onsite training period of up to six months, this role may become eligible for a hybrid schedule with up to one remote day per week, subject to supervisor

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of related experience in grants administration, proposal development, finance, or related field.
• Experience with SAP or another large integrated financial system.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Excel for data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Strong communication and collaborative relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Partner with faculty and departments to develop and submit sponsored research proposals.
• Provide consultative guidance on grants administration policies and best practices.
• Coordinate proposal budgets, documentation, submissions, and grant startup activities.
• Collaborate with university partners to deliver excellent service and compliant research administration.
• Maintain records according to policy.
• Supervise staff with coaching, training, and mentoring.
• Support post-award grant financial management and administration.
• Assist with training new staff members.
• Review and coordinate complex financial activities including travel, contracts, journal entries, and accounts receivable.
• Support unit leadership with budget analysis and reporting.

Skills

Grants administration

Budget coordination

SAP

Excel

Office suite

Communication

Confidentiality

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

SAP

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description Of Work

As a

Working Title

Grants Specialist - Lead

Department

College of Engineering-0907

Responsibilities include:

• Partnering with faculty and departments to support the successful development and submission of sponsored research proposals.
• Providing consultative guidance on grants administration policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Coordinating proposal budgets, documentation, submissions, and grant startup activities.
• Collaborating with university partners to deliver exceptional service and promote effective, compliant research administration.
• Ensuring that records are maintained according to policy.
• Supervising employees by providing work direction, coaching, training, and mentoring to support employee development and ensure consistent, accurate, and timely completion of responsibilities.
• Supporting sponsored research through post-award grant financial management and administration.
• Assisting with training new staff members.
• Reviewing and coordinating complex financial activities, including travel, contracts, journal entries, accounts receivable, capital assets, and other financial transactions.
• Supporting unit leadership in budget analysis, preparing reports and identifying potential areas of concern.

Following an initial onsite training period of up to six months, this position may becomeeligible for a hybrid work schedule with up to 1 remote day(s) per week. All hybrid arrangements are subject to supervisor approval and are determined based on operational needs.

Note: Sponsorship will not be offered for this position.

About Us

At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, we’re proud to be consistently recognized by Forbes as a top employer and recently earned the Lincoln Family Friendly Workplace certification. We are known for our welcoming, supportive environment, commitment to professional growth, and outstanding benefits. UNL isn’t just a workplace; it’s a place to build your career and make a meaningful impact in Nebraska.

When you join our team as a full-time, regular staff member, you’ll enjoy:

• Generous paid time off including vacation, sick leave, parental leave, and holidays
• Comprehensive insurance options including medical, dental, vision, and life coverage
• Employee and dependent scholarship programs to pursue higher education
• Robust retirement plans with university match

Learn more about working at UNL : https://go.unl.edu/aboutus

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://go.unl.edu/nondiscrimination

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus (4) years of related experience in grants administration, proposal development, finance, or a related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Experience working with SAP or another large integrated financial system.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite or similar software, including Excel for data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive information in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and university policies.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build positive, collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work, manage multiple deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

We seek an experienced professional with strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach. The ideal candidate builds strong relationships, provides excellent service, and confidently communicates difficult decisions when needed.

Posted Salary $56,118/year minimum