Specialist, Grants

University of Rhode Island; Kingston (RI); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI is seeking a Specialist, Grants & Contracts (CELS) to oversee federal, state, and privately funded grants and contracts. This role collaborates with Associate Deans, Directors, Research Faculty, Administrators, and Business Managers to coordinate research support operations and provide data for the Deans and Research Committee.

Responsibilities include post-award activities, compliance monitoring, budget preparation, financial and project reporting,

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to college faculty, staff, and department administrators in the execution of federal, state, and privately funded grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.
• Provide professional support for post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals and funding, including compliance monitoring, payment processing, financial and project reporting, salary allocations, and cost share commitments.
• Provide budgetary guidance to researchers related to award execution by interpreting sponsor and university announcements and guidelines.
• Coordinate with PI and external organizations and institutions on post award documentation requests, such as subcontract requisitions and payment invoices.
• Proactively manage multiple externally funded grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to ensure compliance with university, sponsor, and federal policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Continuously develop and maintain a strong working knowledge of the federal rules and regulations that govern research grants and contracts and stay informed on sponsor terms and conditions for submitting and administering grant awards.
• Work with Business Managers and Principal Investigators to provide support related services for the monitoring of awarded funds.

Job description

Specialist, Grants & Contracts (CELS)

Posting Number: SF02193
Position Type: Professional Staff
Union: PSA/NEA - Professional Staff Assoc
Pay Grade Level: Grade Level: 8
Pay Grade Range: Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $50,000 -$55,000
Department: Dean Environment& Life Science
Campus Location: Kingston

Job Description Summary:

About URI: The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is theState's flagship public research university, as well as the landgrant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. Themain campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and theBay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near majorbeaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutesfrom Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, andNew York City.

THIS POSITION IS IMMEDIATELY ELIGIBLE FOR A REMOTE/HYBRIDWORK SCHEDULE.

BASIC FUNCTION:

Work with the Associate Deans, Director, ResearchFaculty/Administrators, and Business Managers to coordinateresearch support operations and activities. Provide data for use bythe Deans, Director, and the Research Committee.

Duties and Responsibilities:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide administrative support to college faculty, staff, anddepartmental administrators in the execution of federal, state, andprivately funded grants, contracts, and cooperativeagreements.
• Provide professional support for post-award activities relating togrant and contract proposals and funding, including compliancemonitoring, payment processing, financial and project reporting,salary allocations, and cost share commitments.
• Provide budgetary guidance to researchers related to awardexecution by interpreting sponsor and university announcements andguidelines.
• Perform work with moderate guidance and utilize knowledge ofuniversity and business drivers.
• Prepare and monitor budgets and related administrative projectcomponents according to the guidelines established by theapplicable sponsoring entity, and institutional policies andprocedures, contacting program officials directly where anybudgetary questions might arise.
• Coordinate with PI and external organizations and institutions onpost award documentation requests, such as subcontract requisitionsand payment invoices.
• Proactively manage multiple externally funded grants, contracts,and cooperative agreements to ensure compliance with university,sponsor, and federal policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Continuously develop and maintain a strong working knowledge of thefederal rules and regulations that govern research grants andcontracts and stay informed on sponsor terms and conditions forsubmitting and administering grant awards.
• Work with Business Managers and Principal Investigators to providesupport related services for the monitoring of awarded funds.
• Advise and ensure adherence to all federal and universityguidelines, policies and procedures, pre/post award.
• Liaise between department staff, affiliated research faculty andSponsored Projects supporting them in a variety of activitiesrelated to the implementation of their project both pre- andpost-award.
• Monitor the establishment of new awards and sub-projects, withcorrect budgets and documentation.
• Assist in the preparation of financial and progress reports (annualand/or final) as assigned.
• Prepare and maintain Excel spreadsheets for financial reporting andanalysis, when necessary.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform other duties as required.

LICENSES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:

• Personal computers, printers
• word processing, database management,and spreadsheet software
• InfoEd and other grant preparationsoftware
• Enterprise Resource Planning software (i.e.,PeopleSoft)

Posting Date: 08/19/2026