Senior Post Award Admin

University of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 64,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Life Insurance

Retirement Programs

Paid Tuition

Dependent Scholarships

Annual Leave

Sick Leave

13 Paid Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

The University of South Carolina seeks a Senior Post Award Administrator to manage a portfolio of sponsored awards within the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC). The role ensures compliance with sponsor, institutional, and regulatory requirements and supports grant administration processes.

Ideal candidates will hold a bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of related experience, strong analytical and communication skills, and familiarity with federal award regulations.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 3 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of sponsored awards within MCEC, including federal, state, industry, and private awards.
• Track budgets and expenses and prepare projections for all assigned accounts.
• Coordinate with PIs and central offices on reporting requirements to ensure timely submissions.
• Review and approve transactions for assigned departments including travel and reimbursements.
• Communicate policies and procedures to ensure compliance and assist with training as needed.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

3+ years of related experience

CRA certification or equivalent

Job description

Department CEC College of Engineering and Computing

State Pay Range G10

USC Market Range MRH - $63,557 $79,446 $95,336

Anticipated Hiring Range $63,557 - $90,000

Location of Vacancy Part/Full Time Full Time

Hours per Week 37.5

Basis 12 months

Job Search Category Administrative

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Work Schedule

• Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

About USC

About University of South Carolina

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement

The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Benefits for FTE Positions The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time‑limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.

Position Description Advertised Job Summary The Senior Post Award Administrator provide post-award grant management within the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing ( MCEC ), including monitoring financial activities to ensure compliance with award, sponsor, institutional, and regulatory requirements. Uses analytical skills to reconcile assigned accounts. Serve as a resource for all faculty within assigned department(s). Support Grants Administrators and ensure appropriate and consistent application of standardized processes and best practices.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 3 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a higher education or research-intensive university environment.
• Experience administering federal awards (e.g., NSF , NIH , DoD, DOE ).
• Professional certification such as Certified Research Administrator ( CRA ) or equivalent.
• Actively involved in professional development organizations related to the research administration field.
• Examples of these include NCURA , SRA , NORDP , etc.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Working knowledge of federal and state grant regulations, including Uniform Guidance.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to interpret sponsor guidelines and University policies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong customer service orientation and collaborative approach.

Job Duties

• Job Duty Manage a portfolio of sponsored awards within MCEC , including federal, state, industry, and private awards. Ensure compliance with all relevant, federal, state and evaluating grant and contract activities. Ensure regular coordination and communication with grant PIs Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 35
• Job Duty Track budgets and expenses and prepare projections for all assigned accounts. Analyze financial data and transactions to identify potential problems and formulate an action plan to rectify problems in a timely manner. Coordinate with PIs, department, college and central staff to ensure timely processing of financial transactions, salary allocations and cost transfers. Provide guidance to PIs on budget adjustments and extension requests. Monitor cost share budgets and expenditures to ensure commitments are met in a timely manner. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 25
• Job Duty Coordinate and collaborate with PIs on portfolio of sponsored awards to ensure proactive administration of sponsored awards. Coordinate with PIs and central offices on reporting requirements (including programmatic and financial) to ensure reports are submitted timely. Work closely with PIs and GFM on project close-outs. Coordinate time and effort reports ensuring all necessary adjustments are processed timely. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 15
• Job Duty Review and approve transactions for assigned departments including travel, payment requests, requisitions, budget transfers, journal entries, etc. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 15
• Job Duty Communicate institutional and sponsor policies and procedures as appropriate to ensure compliance. Disseminate information of any changes in policies and regulations. Assist with training as needed. Work closely with Director of Post Award Services and other grants administrators to develop procedures and processes that streamline administration and management of sponsored programs. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 10

Position Attributes Employees in Safety‑Sensitive or Security‑Sensitive positions will be subject to pre‑employment and post‑employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing. Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive No Hazardous weather category Non‑Essential

Number of Vacancies 1 Desired Start Date Job Open Date 06/10/2026 Job Close Date 10/11/2026 Open Until Filled No Special Instructions to Applicant

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in a job related field and 3 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• List of References and Contact Information

Optional Documents