(Remote) Grants Administrator - Office of Research and Graduate Education

The Office of Research and Graduate Education at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Remote) Grants Administrator.

About the Opportunity

The primary purpose of this position is to manage and provide centralized grant administrative support to HSC Departments through developing strategies to meet and improve the organization's goals. This position will serve as an assistant to the Associate Director for HSC Pre-Award as an administrative approver (on behalf of executive leadership in the HSC) for grant submissions to extramural sponsors in conjunction with the HSC Director, Pre-/Post-Award. This position will be responsible for providing management and oversight of daily pre- and post-award grants administration to members of the HSC community, with a special emphasis on pre-award support for complex program, center and training award mechanisms (T32s, P20s, P50s, etc.).

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Senior/Executive Lead responsibilities

• Provide leadership and guidance to the Director and Associate Director of HSC Pre-award, and to all members of the pre-award team and staff supporting research administration across the HSC and institution.
• Engage in strategic planning processes and supports executive HSC leadership in developing maintaining a proactive grant management environment.
• Apply organizational policies and procedures to resolve complex matters with little to no supervision. Includes developing creative solutions to manage challenges that arise.
• Monitor daily KC proposal to ensure proposal submissions are completed timely and in partnership with the Office of Sponsored Programs to meet the sponsor-established deadlines.
• Maintain expert knowledge of sponsor guidelines and procedures by reviewing and approving proposals on behalf of the Executive Leadership in the HSC.
• In conjunction with the Associate Director, oversee the review and approval of special request considerations at the HSC level such as special F&A rate requests, Cost Share considerations, institutional support/letters, etc.
• Maintain expertise and advise faculty and staff on regulations including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), FAR, NIH Grants Policy Statement, NSF PAPPG, etc.
• Participate in the management and direction of training processes for new employees supporting research administration in the HSC.
• Establishes effective and efficient standard operating procedures to manage key requirements associated with the financial and programmatic compliance of sponsored projects.
• Provide oversight on the management of pre-award functions for a variety of grants/contracts with varying levels of complexity which include financial reviews, quality assurance, internal and external auditing, accounting and sponsor reporting.
• Will participate in the HSC Pilot/training program for the future submission of proposals to sponsors directly through the Office of Research & Graduate Education on behalf of the institution. This incumbent will serve in a lead role for approving submissions on behalf of proposals in the HSC under this pilot program.

Pre-Award Administration

• Initiates and facilitates the grant proposal preparation and submission process from initiation through assembling of the application package. Reviews materials and educate PI as needed and serve as a direct liaison to the OSP reviewer assigned to submit the proposal.
• Incumbent will monitor and remain knowledgeable of all current agency funding opportunities and advise PI's on searching/selecting appropriate grant opportunities that fit within their research.
• Incumbent will develop the budget for all awards and ensure the budgets are accurate before submission to the funding agency.
• Incumbent will maintain his/her knowledge of grants administration to serve as an advisor to the faculty within the incumbent's primary departments and HSC by creating an effective application process which proves successful for submitting high quality applications.
• Incumbent will assist in the preparation of proposals with a varying level of complexity, including Training Grants (T32), IDeA funded Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (CoBRE P20), Center Program grants (P50), etc.

Post-Award Administration

• Responsible for management of sponsored projects/contracts from award initiation through closeout.
• Performs analysis and evaluation of data and collaborates with PI on project's progress. Makes recommendations as necessary.
• Manages programmatic and financial needs for extramural funded projects with varying levels of complexity in collaboration with the PI.
• Interprets and educates others on all granting laws, regulations, policies and procedures and ensures that institutional and sponsoring agency policies are followed.
• Approves and manages monthly financial reports and provides oversight on research portfolios.
• Provides guidance and initiates necessary actions for all project status change requests.
• Educates PI's on managing budgets and cost accounting principles.
• Advise the PI on necessary research compliance issues such as animals, human subjects, and/or biohazards.
• Advise/troubleshoot solutions that will enhance the efficiency of post-award administration.

Other Administration

• Advises/educates members of the HSC community on area of expertise as it applies to pre- and post-award processes and management.
• Develop and foster effective collaborations among schools and departments within the HSC and university community.
• Coordinates and supports the research and service missions for the Office of Research and Graduate Education. Participates in unit assigned team initiatives and goals to increase efficiency in administrative processes.
• Attends leadership functions to effectively communicate vital information, and to advise/troubleshoot solutions that will enhance the efficiency of pre- and post-award administration at the HSC.
• Attends meetings, trainings, seminars, etc. for professional development and/or on behalf of his/her supervisor to keep current on the vastly changing grant administration processes.

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration or a related field.
• A minimum of six (6) years of direct experience in the following:
  
  
  
  • Grants administration; of which at least three (3) years must include program management experience.
  • Pre- and Post-Award Grants administration including working with proposals and sponsored projects
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• An equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Skills in, or knowledge of, professional principles, legal and/or reporting requirements affecting extramurally sponsored projects.
• Experience and advanced knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe.
• Experience in developing and implementing new policies and strategies
• Experience with managing sponsored projects and contracts administration in a large research university setting such as an academic, healthcare and basic science research setting, service oriented non-profit, or related field required.
• Knowledge of State, Board of Governors, and University policies and procedures.
• Experience interpreting federal documents such as Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), OMB Circulars, and other regulatory documents.
• Experience working with grants/contracts accounting
• Experience with supervising personnel and assigning job duties
• Experience speaking/writing effective, clear & concise reports
  
• Experience researching, collecting data to form reports and make recommendations
• Ability to perform financial calculations, prepare/maintain financial reports, analysis, and summaries for a large customer base.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Incumbent must possess the ability to work independently and carry out assignments with minimal/no supervision.
• Ability to analyze data, solve problems and provide useful reporting tools.
• Ability to prepare, manage and maintain budgets and financial reports and provide reconciliation reports among clustered accounts.
• Ability to learn and implement WVU, State, and Federal policies and procedures relative to budgetary and grant related matters.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting Uniform Guidance and other federal regulations.
• Knowledge of various grant proposal application processes. Must be skilled in working with grants and contracts in a higher educational environment.
• Incumbent must have excellent organizational skills and be able to work with a variety of constituencies and address complex issues in an accurate and timely manner.
• Must be able to develop, examine and/or re-engineer any policies/procedures needed to meet unique or special challenges occurring within the department while remaining within University guidelines.
• Must be able to lead a team and delegate work as necessary.
• Must be able to work effectively under tight schedules and apply good judgement to accomplish work timely and accurately.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.