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Lead Grant/Contract Administrator, Division of Research & Innovation

Wayne State University is searching for an experiencedLead Grant/Contract Administrator, Division of Research & Innovationat its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Position Purpose:

Provides comprehensive pre and post award activities within a school/college/division, including assisting division faculty and principal investigators (PI) in the development, preparation, submission, and management of grant and contract proposals and awards. Serves as a key member of the school/college/division, and in partnership with other Grant and Contract Administrators, work with faculty and research groups within the University on the preparation and submission of research proposals. This position ensures compliance with university, sponsor, and regulatory requirements while promoting efficient, strategic, and customer-focused research administration.

Essential Functions:

Award Management & Compliance (Post-Award): Review and interpret grant and contract terms in collaboration with Sponsored Program Administration (SPA). Monitor expenditures for compliance with sponsor guidelines and university policies. Support faculty with financial management, including fund transfers, payroll allocations, and project extensions. Oversee closeout processes to ensure timely and accurate completion. Manage life cycle of the grant.

Faculty Support & Budget Development: Identify funding opportunities and collaborate with faculty on proposal preparation. Develop and review budgets and budget justifications to ensure compliance with sponsor, university, and regulatory requirements. Submit proposals to SPA for final approval.

Proposal Development & Submission (Pre-Award): Ensure all applications meet sponsor and university guidelines, timelines, and submission requirements. Coordinate proposal routing, approvals, and timely submission through institutional systems.

Cost Share & Financial Oversight: Reconcile cost sharing and matching funds to ensure accurate accounting and compliance with sponsor and university commitments.

Process Improvement & Policy Development: Develop, implement, and continuously improve pre- and post-award policies, procedures, and workflows to enhance efficiency and compliance.

Training & Consultation: Provide training and guidance to faculty and staff on grant policies, systems, and best practices. Serve as a subject matter expert on grant administration and compliance requirements.

Institutional Engagement: Represent the division on university committees and contribute to cross-functional initiatives related to research administration.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree in business or related field or an equivalent combination of experience and education. Master's Degree preferred.

Experience Specialist: Intermediate (3 to5 years job-related experience).

Minimum of 3-5 years' experience related to grant and contract pre and/or post award activities and oversight, and preferably in a Dean's Office or large research department.

Experience with research administration systems (e.g., Cayuse, Banner, iLab).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).

Strong financial analysis and budget development skills.

Ability to interpret sponsor guidelines (NIH, NSF, etc.).

Project Management: Ability to independently manage a variety of projects while ensuring appropriate tracking, quality control, follow-up and multiple deadlines are met. Strong time management.

Communication Skills: Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and professionally, both orally and in writing. Strong presentation and training skills.

Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office tools including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Extensive knowledge of Banner FMS, COGNOS, Cayuse Research Suite and WSU Researcher Dashboard preferred.

Planning and Organizational Skills: Demonstrated capacity for multi-tasking, flexibility in face of changing priorities, and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team. Prioritize and plan work activities; adapt to changing conditions and develop strategies to achieve organizational goals.

Management Skills: Outstanding strategic thinking skills and problem-solving abilities. Demonstrating success in training staff in methods and procedures. Strong mentoring and coaching skills. Proven ability to motivate people and foster collaborations and inspire confidence to meet common objectives.

Analytical Skills: Ability to interpret and analyze financial reports or other quantitative reports and compile data if necessary, in clear and concise format for management decision making.

School/College/Division:

Division of Research & Innovation

Primary Department:

H0905 - VP Research

Employment Type:

• Regular Employee

• Job type: Full Time

• Job category: Staff/Administrative

Funding/Salary Information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary

• Salary minimum:$68,586

• Salary hire maximum:$82,305

Working Conditions:

Normal office environment.

This position must be filled pursuant to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement, and as such may be filled by a qualified bargaining unit member, should one apply.

Additional Comments:

This is the leadership level where incumbents are responsible for providing functional direction and leadership for a group of grants and contracts administrators. Incumbents at this level have broad expertise in all aspects of sponsored program administration. They have seasoned skills and serve as a resource to management to identify and evaluate industry trends.

Job Openings:

• Number of openings: 1

• Reposted position: No

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.

The university welcomes applications from persons with disabilities and veterans. Wayne State is an equal opportunity employer.