Post-Award Services Associate

East Carolina University; Greenville (NC); On-site; USD 35,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

East Carolina University seeks a Post-Award Services Associate in the Office of Research Administration to provide transactional, administrative, and record management support for sponsored projects. The role includes assisting with award setup, financial management, billing, and ensuring audit-ready documentation.

Reporting to the Financial Analyst, the role requires maintaining organized records, supporting effort reporting, and ensuring compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent plus one year of related office experience, or any equivalent combination.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience in higher education research administration, accounting, or business administration is preferred.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Familiarity with complex institutional, state, federal and sponsor regulations.

Responsibilities

• Initiating and processing financial and administrative transactions and journal entries (60%).
• Assists with initial award setup at project initiation (10%).
• Serves as primary resource for processing personnel and effort administration (20%).
• Maintain accurate documentation for all transactions (5%).
• Special projects and other duties as assigned (5%).

Skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Advertising Department RESEARCH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT

Division

Division Academic Affairs

Classification Title

Classification Title 10422 Administrative Support Specialist

Competency Level 2 - Journey

Working Title

Working Title Post-Award Services Associate

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 1.0

Full Time or Part Time

Full Time or Part Time Full Time

Recruitment Range

Recruitment Range $34,602 - $49,406

Anticipated Hiring Range. Salary offered may be outside of this range as impacted by budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications.

Anticipated Hiring Range. Salary offered may be outside of this range as impacted by budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications. $39,625 - $44,028

Salary Grade Equivalency

Salary Grade Equivalency NC09

Work Schedule

Work Schedule Monday - Friday

Work Hours

Position Location (City)

Job Category

Job Category Staff

Be a Pirate!

East Carolina University ( ECU ) is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public universities for its commitment to research, innovation, social mobility, and public service. Classified as a R1 institution by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, ECU is among the top 5% of research universities in the United States, an elite designation reflecting the highest levels of research activity, funding, and doctoral output.

Founded in 1907, ECU is a public, four-year university located in Greenville, N.C. , which is widely regarded as the cultural, educational, economic, and medical hub of eastern North Carolina. Through education, research, healthcare, community engagement, athletics, cultural enrichment, and service, ECU enhances the quality of life for its students, the state and communities around the world. It is a great place to work, teach, and learn.

ECU’s commitment to impactful scholarship is further demonstrated through its repeated Carnegie Community Engagement Classification (2010, 2015, 2024), as well as its 2024 designation as a Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose institution. These distinctions recognize the university’s leadership in translating research into meaningful community partnerships and measurable societal benefits.

Academic Affairs , led by the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, comprises the university’s colleges, schools and libraries, along with other academic support and administrative units. Academic Affairs works collaboratively to strengthen ECU’s culture of academic excellence in line with our mission to be a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation.

Research, Economic Development and Engagement ( REDE ), led by the Senior Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, provides strategic leadership for East Carolina University’s research, innovation, economic development, and community engagement enterprise. REDE advances discovery, workforce development, and societal impact through research administration and development, industry engagement, technology transfer and commercialization, economic development initiatives, community-engaged partnerships, continuing education, and collaborations with federal agencies and national security partners. REDE also oversees research integrity, compliance, and responsible research practices.

Post-Award Services, part of the Office of Research Administration ( ORA ), advances the effective stewardship of sponsored projects through coordinated financial, administrative, and compliance support. The team oversees award setup, financial management, billing and revenue, and compliance monitoring; strengthening accountability, operational excellence, and institutional impact aligned with ECU’s mission of public service and research integrity.

Primary Purpose of Position

The primary purpose of the ORA Post-Award Services Associate ( PSA ) is to provide transactional, administrative, and record management support for sponsored projects. Reporting to the Financial Analyst, this position initiates financial transactions; maintains organized, audit-ready project documentation; and supports effort reporting and billing activities. Administrative and documentation support includes preparing and routing routine post-award actions, ensuring required sponsor and institutional documents are complete and accurate, and maintaining orderly records that support compliance and audit needs. The role ensures timely and accurate completion of post-award processes in accordance with sponsor, federal, and institutional requirements.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Initiating and processing financial and administrative transactions and journal entries (60%)
• Assists with initial award setup at project initiation (10%)
• Serves as primary resource for processing personnel and effort administration (20%)
• Maintain accurate documentation for all transactions (5%)
• Special projects and other duties as assigned (5%)

Minimum Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

High school diploma or equivalency and one year of related office experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

License or Certification required by statute or regulation

None

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Demonstrated organizational skills, attention to detail
• Experience in higher education research administration, accounting, or business administration experience preferred
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Familiarity with complex institutional, state, federal and sponsor regulations.

License or Certification required by the Department

None

Additional Instructions to Applicant

Job Open Date

Job Open Date 11/02/2026

Job Close Date - Positions will be posted until 11:59 p.m. EST on this date; If no closing date is indicated, the position will be posted until filled and may close at any time after the recruitment has been completed.

If no applicants apply who meet the required competency level and training & experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants. Salary would be determined based on budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications.

East Carolina University is committed to workforce success and cultivating a culture of care for our employees. ECU prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment based on race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status or disability.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act ( ADAAA ) should contact the ADA Coordinator at [phone] (Voice/ TTY ) or ADA [e-mail] .

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. If highest degree earned is from an institution outside of the U.S. and its territories, final candidates are required to have their degree validated as equivalent to the degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S.

Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity at [phone] or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to [e-mail]. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST .