Post-Award Grant Specialist (Senior or Principal Professional)

University of Colorado Anschutz; Aurora (CO); Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical: Multiple plan options

Dental: Multiple plan options

Disability, Life, Vision insurance

Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer 10%

Paid Time Off: Vacation, Sick, Holiday

Job summary

University of Colorado Anschutz seeks a Post-Award Grant Specialist (Senior or Principal) to oversee sponsored project finances from award setup through closeout. You will monitor budgets, review expenditures for compliance, process financial transactions, and support award actions with PIs and research teams.

Hybrid on-campus schedule (3 days/week) with potential fully remote consideration for highly qualified candidates living >50 miles from campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, healthcare administration, research administration, or a directly related field.
• Two (2) years of professional experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, business operations, grant/research administration, contract management, clinical trial finance, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of sponsored projects from award setup through closeout in collaboration with the Program Manager and PIs.
• Monitor award budgets, expenditures, revenue, commitments, and projected balances; prepare financial reconciliations, forecasts, and budget variance analyses.
• Review expenditures for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and compliance with sponsor requirements, University policies, and applicable federal regulations.
• Process and monitor financial transactions including funding distributions, Journal Entries (JEs), Payroll Expense Transfers (PETs), procurement, travel, invoices, and other award-related expenditures.
• Coordinate award actions including rebudgeting, carryforward, no-cost extensions, amendments, funding changes, and closeout activities.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready award documentation.
• Provide responsive, solutions-oriented support to the Program Manager and research teams regarding sponsored project financial management.
• Extract, analyze, and validate financial and award information using institutional research administration and financial systems.
• Support Pre-Award and other research administration activities as needed, including troubleshooting SciENcv, Biosketch, Other Support, and Just-in-Time documentation, along with other submission requests.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business administration/healthcare administration or related field

Tools

InfoEd

CU Data/m-Fin

A2E

PeopleSoft Finance/HCM

CU Marketplace

Concur

ePERS

Power BI

Smartsheet

Job description

University of Colorado Anschutz

Department: Ophthalmology

Job Title: Post-Award Grant Specialist (Senior or Principal Professional)

Position # 00853835 - Requisition # 41406

Job Summary:

The Department of Ophthalmology is seeking a Post-Award Grant Specialist to support the financial and administrative management of its sponsored research portfolio, including federal, foundation, industry, and other externally funded projects. Reporting to the Program Manager of Research Finance and Administration, this position partners closely with Principal Investigators (PIs), research staff, and university offices to manage awards from award setup through closeout. The position is responsible for budget monitoring and forecasting, financial reconciliation, expenditure review, payroll, and funding transactions, subaward administration, sponsor invoicing and reporting support, award modifications, and maintaining accurate and compliant award records.

Key Responsibilities:

Senior Professional

• Manage a portfolio of sponsored projects from award setup through closeout in collaboration with the Program Manager and PIs.
• Monitor award budgets, expenditures, revenue, commitments, and projected balances; prepare financial reconciliations, forecasts, and budget variance analyses.
• Review expenditures for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and compliance with sponsor requirements, University policies, and applicable federal regulations.
• Process and monitor financial transactions including funding distributions, Journal Entries (JEs), Payroll Expense Transfers (PETs), procurement, travel, invoices, and other award-related expenditures.
• Coordinate award actions including rebudgeting, carryforward, no-cost extensions, amendments, funding changes, and closeout activities.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready award documentation.
• Provide responsive, solutions-oriented support to the Program Manager and research teams regarding sponsored project financial management.
• Extract, analyze, and validate financial and award information using institutional research administration and financial systems.
• Support Pre-Award and other research administration activities as needed, including troubleshooting SciENcv, Biosketch, Other Support, and Just-in-Time documentation, along with other submission requests.

Principal Professional (including all of the above)

• Independently manage complex or higher-risk sponsored project portfolios and resolve financial and compliance issues with limited supervision.
• Provide advanced financial forecasting, budget analysis, and recommendations in consult with the Program Manager of Research Finance and Administration to PIs and research leadership.
• Interpret and apply complex sponsor, University, and federal requirements.
• Develop and improve procedures, reporting tools, and operational workflows.
• Serve as a resource and mentor to colleagues on research administration practices, financial management, compliance, and institutional systems.

Work Location:

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Consideration may be given to a fully remote arrangement for highly qualified candidates who reside more than 50 miles from campus.

Why Join Us:

Our department's home in the UCHealth Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center on the Anschutz Medical Campus. This state-of-the-art facility is one of the largest eye centers in the country and serves patients not only in the Rocky Mountain region but also all over the world.

The technological innovations conceived and developed by departmental faculty have changed the practice of eye care worldwide. Our educational programs train the next generation of leaders in ophthalmology. Our specialists have developed national and international reputations for excellence in routine and complex ophthalmic care. We have invested heavily in tracking our clinical outcomes, and we are proud that our clinicians perform at the highest levels in their respective fields.

For all of you contemplating joining our Colorado organization, whether as a resident, fellow, clinical faculty, research faculty, or staff member, I welcome you to the website. It is a powerful tool to keep us connected to you.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offerexceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
  • Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
  • Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
  • Holiday Days: 15/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Senior Professional:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, healthcare administration, research administration, or a directly related field.
• Two (2) years of professional experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, business operations, grant/research administration, contract management, clinical trial finance, or a related field.

Substitution: A combination of education and related technical, military, or paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year-for-year basis.

Principal Professional:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, healthcare administration, research administration, or a directly related field.
• Three (3) years of professional experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, business operations, grant/research administration, contract management, clinical trial finance, or a related field.

Substitution: A combination of education and related technical, military, or paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year-for-year basis.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications: All Ranks

• Experience with post-award sponsored research administration in an academic, healthcare, or research environment.
• Experience managing federal grants, including NIH-funded awards.
• Experience with award setup, budget monitoring, financial reconciliation, forecasting, sponsor invoicing, progress reporting, award modifications, and closeout.
• Experience with subawards and subrecipient monitoring.
• Experience interpreting sponsor requirements and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
• Experience with University or comparable financial, reporting, and research administration systems such as InfoEd, CU Data/m-Fin, A2E, PeopleSoft Finance/HCM, CU Marketplace, Concur, ePERS, Power BI, or Smartsheet.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential, progress toward certification, or interest in pursuing certification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to independently analyze, reconcile, and validate complex financial data; build PivotTables; formulas such as XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP and SUMIFS; identify variances and discrepancies; and develop clear financial reports, projections, and tracking tools.
• Demonstrated ability to independently interpret financial, administrative, and regulatory requirements and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
• Outstanding customer service skills.

Application Materials Required:

Cover Letter, Resume/CV, List of References

Job Category:

Research Services

Primary Location:

Hybrid

Department:

U0001 -- Anschutz Med Campus or Denver - 20254 - SOM-OP GENERAL OPERATIONS

Schedule:

Full-time

Posting Date:

Oct 14, 2026

Unposting Date:

Ongoing

Posting Contact Name:

Erin Hegel

Posting Contact Email:

[e-mail]

Position Number:

00853835

Anticipated Pay Range:

• Senior Professional: $59,012 - $79,076
• Principal Professional: $67,864 - $90,937

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [e-mail].

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.