Overview

Job Location:
Brandeis – Waltham Campus

Brandeis University is delighted to announce a career opportunity for a Sr. Grants Administrator. If you are looking for an opportunity to work at a beautiful university campus with lots of perks including free parking and access to a top of the line athletic facility, look no further! At Brandeis we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package which includes medical, dental and life insurances.  We also offer a generous paid time off benefit including 15+ holidays.  If you hope to advance your career through educational opportunities, Brandeis offers tuition benefits for employees, dependents and spouses.  Our 403b retirement savings plan includes a generous match.

The Heller School drives positive social change through 7 graduate degree programs, 10 research centers and institutes, and school-wide commitment to public engagement. Heller is for people who want to find sustainable solutions to social inequities and are committed to careers that advance social justice. The Heller School was once again named a top 10 graduate school. For its 2023 rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Heller School among the top 10 public affairs graduate schools in two specialty categories: social policy (where Heller has been top-ranked for over a decade) and health policy and management. Heller's research institutes and centers maintain a portfolio of over $21 million in sponsored research projects and specialize in a variety of social policy fields and disciplines including healthcare systems; behavioral health and development; child, youth and family policies; economic and racial equity, disability disparities; and global health policy, development and sustainability. The Heller School is committed to building a community of faculty, staff and researchers that is diverse, inclusive, and representative of the students and communities it serves.

The Senior Grants Administrator will provide financial and grant management expertise and is responsible for the post-award management of a large and diverse portfolio of federal and non-federal grants, contracts and sub-awards for several major research centers and institutes. This person will serve as the primary liaison between the University and principal investigators to ensure compliance with sponsor regulations and University requirements. Works closely with principal investigators and researchers to provide financial information as well as advising on fiscal matters when needed.

Our Grants Administration team follows a hybrid schedule with time in-office to be discussed/determined with management upon hire.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Manages post-award requirements for designated departments, programs, centers or organizations. Requires working closely with the principal investigator and Brandeis’ Sponsored Programs Accounting Department to ensure all sponsor and institution policies and deadlines are met.
  • Manages the administrative and fiscal aspects of a large and diverse portfolio of both federal and non-federal grants and contacts. Successful management requires sensitivity to the needs of individual investigators, knowledge of sponsor, institutional and department requirements. Display competency interpreting sponsor requirements while addressing all of the in-house systems and departments (Sponsored Programs Accounting, Accounts Payable, Procurement and Human Resources).
  • Monitors budgeting and spending on grant budgets throughout the duration of the award.
  • Reviews and approves all expenditures against awarded projects to ensure compliance with the OMB Uniform Guidance and individual sponsor requirements, as well as institutional policies and procedures.
  • Assists principal investigators and research staff to properly allocate salary costs to sponsored awards consistent with research effort as new awards are received and throughout the life of the award as staff activities change. Responsible for preparing prospective and retroactive payroll adjustments as needed.
  • Works closely with Sponsored Programs Accounting in preparation of invoices and financial reporting as required by sponsors.
  • Assists principal investigators in the preparation of Just-in-Time reports, RPPRs, grant/contract continuation applications, including clarification of policies with funding agencies, preparing and editing budgets and budget narratives; ensuring all application directives are met and responded to appropriately under strict deadlines.

Job Requirements: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred. At least 5-8 years’ relevant work experience. Grant/contract administration strongly preferred; however, we will consider candidates with various credentials and experience.

To be successful, the ideal candidate should possess strong organizational and time management skills; have a basic understanding of accounting and finance; excellent communication skills – both oral and written; interpersonal and communication skills to interact professionally with staff & faculty, colleagues, campus departments and other outside agencies; the ability to work independently as well as with others and be self-motivated; ability to maintain independent judgement, customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas and the ability to research and interpret policy for others.

Computer skills and experience in, but not limited to, Access, Word, Excel and the skills to manipulate and extract data and work from a variety of sources (databases, Word files, plaint text files, PDF, email, etc.). Workday experience a plus but not necessary.

Solid computer skills crucial with experience in, but not limited to, Access, Word, Excel and the skills to manipulate and extract data and work from a variety of sources (databases, Word files, plaint text files, PDF, email, etc.).

Closing Statement

Brandeis University is committed to providing its students, faculty and staff with an environment conducive to learning and working and where all people are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, caste, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, including transgender identity, religion, disability, age, genetics, active military or veteran status and any other characteristics protected under applicable federal or Massachusetts law.