Research Funding Administrator

Inside Higher Ed; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Athens, GA is seeking a Research Funding Administrator. The role involves managing grant administration from pre-award to termination, assisting faculty with proposal preparation, and liaising with funding agencies. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience in grant management, along with exceptional communication skills. This full-time position offers a responsible managerial role in a collaborative environment, supporting over $20 million in funding.

Qualifications

• 5 years of professional experience in grant management.
• Exceptional communication skills required.
• Certified Decentralized Limited Signature Authority (DLSA) Practitioner designation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage grant administration from pre-award to termination.
• Assist faculty with proposal preparation and processing.
• Liaise with funding agencies and the Office of Sponsored Projects.

Skills

Grant management

Communication

Proposal development

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Job description

About The University Of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full‑time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

Posting Number

S14359P

Working Title

Research Funding Administrator

Department

VPR‑Complex Carbohydrate Research Center

Posting Type

External

Retirement Plan

TRS or ORP

Employment Type

Employee

Benefits Eligibility

Benefits Eligible

Full/Part Time

Full Time

Additional Schedule Information

Normal hours are Monday – Friday – 8am – 5pm but hours could vary based on workload.

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience.

Posting Date

11/10/2025

Open Until Filled

Yes

Proposed Starting Date

01/01/2026

Location of Vacancy

Athens Area

EEO Policy Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([e-mail]).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Classification Title

Grants Professional III

FLSA

Exempt

FTE

1.0

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent and 5 years of professional experience

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelors Degree and 3 years related experience. Certified Decentralized Limited Signature Authority (DLSA) Practitioner designation (Phase III) required.

Position Summary

This is a highly responsible senior managerial/professional position within the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and the Center for Molecular Medicine (Centers) that reports to the Center directors. This position will be one of two in the Centers performing similar duties and will be supported by one or more grants specialists under its supervision. The position is responsible for the Centers’ grant management (financial and administrative) from pre-award stages through termination of project to include tracking the stages of the process and preparing status updates for faculty. This position acts as liaison between the Centers and the Office of Sponsored Projects as well as funding agencies. This also entails assisting the Centers’ faculty with proposal preparation and processing as well as award administration. The Centers receive in excess of $20 million from external funding. Exceptional communication skills (both oral and written) are required in this position as well as the ability to meet deadlines. This position attends meetings and serves on institutional committees to represent the Centers’ research interests.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And/or Competencies

Bachelors Degree and 3 years related experience. Certified Decentralized Limited Signature Authority (DLSA) Practitioner designation (Phase III) required.

Physical Demands

n/a

Is driving a responsibility of this position?

No

Is this a Position of Trust?

Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?

Yes

Does this position require a P-Card?

No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?

No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?

No

Does This Position Have Security Access (e.g., Public Safety, IT Security, Personnel Records, Patient Records, Or Access To Chemicals And Medications):

No

Credit And P-Card Policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Exhibits thorough knowledge of institutional and sponsor policies and procedures pertaining to external funding and finance and administration and advanced research administration.
• DLSA status for submission of all types of proposals to external funding agencies for consideration.
• Assists faculty in proposal development and award administration by independently managing the process of putting information on forms and independently creating proposal sections, or supervising those staff members who do.
• Assists faculty with proposal development by creating highly complex spread sheets, etc., that typically cross multiple variables and summarize complex parameters.
• Provides administration and direct support to Center faculty (as well as faculty in other UGA departments, other universities, or other external organizations who are collaborating with Center faculty) in proposal development and preparation by interpreting agency philosophy, policies, regulations, and guidelines to make sure the proposal conforms to such – to include developing the budget, budget justification, and support pages and submitting the proposal, then manage grant requirements for reporting, progress, etc. when awarded until it terminates.
• Responsible for signing Center proposals as the UGA Institutional Signatory and submitting the proposal directly to the funding agency. These proposals do not pass through OSP for approval.

Percentage Of Time: 40

Duties/Responsibilities

Percentage Of Time: 25

• Advises Center faculty of proposal needs/requirements not yet met and other aspects of submission status.
• Determines how to comply with guidelines and independently follows through.
• Notifies Center faculty of upcoming submission due dates for mandatory progress reports as well as competitive renewals.
• Prepares administration portion of these reports and submits after receiving and inputting research portion from the faculty. These reports may be paper as well as electronic submission and have various hard deadlines.

Duties/Responsibilities

Percentage Of Time: 20

• Writes justifications for special approvals and chartstring account additions
• Adds appropriate documentation in the UGA grants portal for No Cost Extentions and Residual Balances
• Requests pending awards as needed to achieve seamless funding availability

Duties/Responsibilities

Percentage Of Time: 10

• Attends Research Administration Discussion Group (RADG) meetings.
• Serves on and may chair campus-wide research administration task forces/committees, as requested.
• Participates in the development of policies and plans for the activities and management of grants, contracts, and related research requirements for the Centers.
• Maintains current knowledge of UGA and federal, state, and agency guidelines for Sponsored Research administration.
• Identifies funding sources and analyze the specific research areas and interest of faculty members to provide information regarding external funding opportunities; advise faculty regarding grantsmanship.

Duties/Responsibilities

Percentage Of Time: 5

Maintains database for active and pending grant support for assigned Center faculty and senior personnel. The database includes information regarding effort expended on grants, awarded budgets, grant periods, grant numbers, title, etc. This information will be used to prepare the current and pending forms (by specific formats for NIH, DOE, NSF, USDA, etc.) for Center grant application submissions.

Contact Details

For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.

Recruitment Contact Name

Michael Tiemeyer

Recruitment Contact Email

[e-mail]