Lifecycle Grants & Contracts Professional (Open Rank)

University of Colorado; United States; On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Colorado Anschutz's College of Nursing Office of Research and Scholarship seeks an open-rank Lifecycle Grants & Contracts Professional to support the sponsorship lifecycle, with primary focus in either pre-award or post-award administration depending on experience.

You will work with faculty, PIs, and staff to prepare proposals, manage budgets, set up awards, monitor expenditures, and ensure compliance across sponsor programs, systems, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Pre-award lifecycle management for assigned faculty, postdoc fellows, and students, including proposal planning, budgeting, and compliance.
• Post-award grants and contracts management: award setup, budget oversight, reporting, subawards, extensions, and closeout.
• Collaboration with university offices to resolve financial and administrative issues and support sponsor reporting (RPPRs, NCEs, FFRs).
• Training and knowledge sharing on research administration policies, systems, and sponsor requirements.

Job description

University of Colorado Anschutz

Department: College of Nursing

Job Title: Lifecycle Grants & Contracts Professional (Open Rank)

Position #: 00604231 - Requisition #:41376

Job Summary:

CU Nursing's Office of Research and Scholarship is seeking an open-rank Lifecycle Grants & Contracts Professional (Entry Professional through Principal Professional) to support sponsored research administration. This position provides expertise across the research grant and contract lifecycle, with primary responsibility in either pre-award or post-award administration based on organizational needs and the candidate's experience.

Working closely with faculty, Principal Investigators (PIs), Research Service Professionals (RSPs), postdoctoral fellows, students, and administrative partners, the position supports the effective and compliant management of sponsored research. Responsibilities may include proposal preparation and submission, budget development and monitoring, award setup, financial management, reporting, procurement, subaward administration, project closeout, and other research administration activities.

The position collaborates with the Lifecycle Grants and Contracts Program Manager and Office of Research and Scholarship staff to provide coordinated research administration services and contribute to training, knowledge sharing, and process improvement efforts.

Successful candidates will demonstrate sound judgment, attention to detail, accountability, and the ability to identify and address issues proactively.

Examples of Work Performed:

Pre-Award and Proposal Development (30%)

Manage the pre-award lifecycle for an assigned portfolio of CU Nursing faculty, postdoc fellows, and students, including funding opportunity review, proposal planning, budget development, administrative compliance, internal routing, sponsor communication, and timely submission of proposals.

Coordinate with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC), CU Nursing Finance, and other University partners to obtain required approvals and documentation and facilitate timely proposal submission.

Coordinate the transition from funded proposal to award, working with OGC and other University partners to facilitate award acceptance, account setup, subaward execution, requests for pre-award spending, Just in Time (JIT), and other post-submission activities.

Post-Award Grant and Contract Management (30%)

Manage post-award grants and contracts, including award setup, budget oversight, compliance, reporting, subawards, extensions, and closeout.

Monitor expenditures, projections, and compliance; identify risks and advise PIs on award management.

Coordinate with University offices to resolve award, financial, and administrative issues.

Support sponsor reporting (RPPRs, NCEs, FFRs) and reconcile award, subaward, and financial records.

Financial and Operational Management (20%)

Support research financial activities, including funding distributions, effort management, HCM transactions, PETs, procurement, and gift card programs.

Utilize University and sponsor systems, including HCM, InfoEd, CU Marketplace, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, and SAM.gov.

Assist faculty with effort reporting, funding tracking, purchasing, invoicing, and compliance requirements.

Manage procurement card reconciliation and research-funded incentive programs.

Training and Collaboration (10%)

Serve as a resource to faculty and research teams on research administration policies, systems, and sponsor requirements.

Maintain expertise in research administration and communicate regulatory, policy, and process updates.

Collaborate with Finance, HR, Academic Affairs, IT, and other University partners to support research operations and compliance.

Process Improvement, Data, and Support (10%)

Identify opportunities to improve processes within assigned areas and share recommendations with the Program Manager.

Maintain accurate and accessible grant and contract documentation and contribute to the maintenance of CU Nursing research archives.

Contribute to special projects and initiatives assigned by the Lifecycle Grants and Contracts Program Manager and the Associate Dean of Research & Scholarship, which may include the annual research symposium, research committee activities, hiring committees, intramural award administration, and other Office of Research and Scholarship initiatives.

General Responsibilities

Maintain a high level of professionalism, discretion, responsiveness, and accountability in interactions with faculty, staff, students, sponsors, and University partners. Take ownership of assigned portfolios, projects, and issues and follow them through to resolution. Communicate proact