Post Award Manager - #000024

Western Carolina University; Cullowhee (NC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Carolina University is seeking a Post Award Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership for the post-award division of ORA, ensuring effective stewardship of sponsored funds and high-quality, service-oriented experience for PIs and research staff.

The role serves as the University’s primary authority on financial post-award administration, driving compliance and process improvements, and supervising the grant specialist in the Office of Research Administration.

Qualifications

• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without the need for employment sponsorship.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field -and-
• 2 years of demonstrated experience in financial management or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily operational oversight for the Post Award Division and service excellence.
• Lead process improvement initiatives, policy development, and reporting enhancements.
• Serve as primary liaison to external sponsors and campus stakeholders on post-award issues.
• Represent the University in interactions with sponsors and regulatory agencies on financial compliance.
• Maintain KPI and prepare reports including annual financial reporting and time-and-effort monitoring.

Skills

Grants & Contracts Administration

Financial & Compliance Knowledge

Communication

Project Management & Organization

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field

Job description

Post Award Manager

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Rights Act (EHRA).

Permanent Full-Time, 40 hours per week, 12 months per year.

Anticipated Hiring Range: Based on qualifications/experience, internal equity, and departmental budget restrictions.

About Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:

• 2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
• 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.

Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.

WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary

The Post Award Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the post-award division of ORA, ensuring effective stewardship of sponsored funds and high-quality, service-orientated experience for principal investigators (PIs) and research staff. This role serves as the University's primary authority on financial post-award administration and leads cross-functional collaboration to strengthen compliance, enhance financial oversight and advance a proactive solutions-oriented grants management culture. The role ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies while driving process improvements in support of the University's mission. The Post Award Manager will supervise the grant specialist position in the Office of Research Administration.

The essential duties of the Post Award Manager include:

Leadership and Collaboration

• Provide daily operational oversight and service excellence for the Post Award Division.
• Lead process improvement initiatives, policy development, and reporting enhancements.
• Serve as primary liaison to external sponsors and campus stakeholders on post award administrative issues.
• Represent the University in interactions with external sponsors and regulatory agencies on financial compliance and reporting.
• Maintain the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and prepare reports.
• Provide monthly and year-end reports to administration, including assisting with annual financial reporting and monitoring time and effort reports.

Award Setup and Execution

• Oversee the setup of new awards, including establishing new funds and project budgets.
• Review and interpret award financial terms and conditions. Monitor spending on all sponsored projects to ensure adherence to award terms and conditions, federal regulations, and University policies.
• Advise the Director ORA on amendments, budget modifications, and supplemental funding.

Financial Management

• Manage cost transfers, prior approval requests, additional compensation requests, academic release requests, and tracking of faculty/staff commitments on sponsored projects.
• Lead subrecipient risk assessment, FFATA reporting, monitoring and closeout activities in accordance with sponsor requirements and university policies.

Financial Operations and Reporting

• Oversee audit requests, reconciliation, internal controls, procurement compliance, billing, drawdowns, and accounts receivable for sponsored projects.
• Manage F&A cost recovery, distribute recovered F&A funds, and prepare F&A cost recovery reports.
• Provide financial monitoring of sponsored projects and recommend corrective actions where needed.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required for This Position

• Grants & Contracts Administration: Knowledge of federal, state, and university regulations governing grants and contracts, including working knowledge of Uniform Guidance.
• Financial & Compliance Knowledge: Understanding of governmental and institutional accounting processes associated with sponsored programs.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with faculty, staff, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
• Project Management & Organization: Proven ability to analyze and perform complex activities, manage competing priorities, and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without the need for employment sponsorship.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field -and-
• 2 years of demonstrated experience in financial management or related field

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with research administration within a higher education or nonprofit environment
• Demonstrated leadership experience including staff supervision and performance management
• Professional certification as a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA)

Background/E-Verify

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

Credential Verification

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call [phone] or email at [e-mail].

University Safety

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.