Partner Management Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

• The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor Vehicle Report
• The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying permission with
  the finalist.
• Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences to
• support your answers to the supplemental questions.

8am-5pm; Monday - Friday with occasional evening and weekend hours required, as necessary

Hours per week 40

FLSA Status

FLSA Status Exempt

Division

Division Research

Department

Department Div of Research (Adm)

Work Location

Salary Range

Salary Range $59,000 - $64,000

Primary Purpose of Department

The Office of Sponsored Research Administration ( SRA ) is the central administrative and financial backbone of UNC Charlotte’s thriving research enterprise as a premier Carnegie R1 institution. Acting as the university’s Authorized Organizational Representative ( AOR ), SRA manages the institution’s externally funded research portfolio and serves as the official liaison between our world‑class investigators and global funding sponsors, including federal agencies, state partners, foundations, and industry leaders.

SRA supports faculty, staff, and institutional partners through the entire grant lifecycle by ensuring excellence in research stewardship, administrative management, and complete fiscal compliance:

• Pre-Award: Facilitates proposal and budget development, ensures adherence to sponsor guidelines, and manages the official institutional proposal submission process.
• Award Acceptance & Negotiation: Reviews, negotiates, and executes legally binding contracts, grants, subawards, and related research agreements on behalf of the university.
• Award Management: Oversees non-financial award modifications, no-cost extensions, personnel actions, scope changes, and award tracking to ensure sponsor and institutional compliance. In addition, works with PIs and departments on financial tracking of sponsored projects.
• Non-Federal Sponsor Invoicing: Manages the preparation, verification, and timely submission of invoices and billing milestones to corporate, foundation, municipal, and state sponsors to ensure steady funding streams.
• Research Accounting & Financial Compliance: Manages financial award setup and budget entry, monitors transaction allowability and cost-share reporting, prepares fiscal reports for sponsors, oversees subrecipient monitoring, and directs the final financial closeout and audit readiness of sponsored funds.

Primary Purpose of Position

Serves as an Award Management Specialist on the Award Management team within the Office of Sponsored Research Administration. Under the direction of the Director for Award Management, this position assists faculty and staff with the efficient and effective management of their funded awards from contract negotiation and award approval to project closeout. The Award Management Specialist provides high-touch administrative and financial oversight throughout the award lifecycle. The Award Management Specialist serves as the primary post-award point of contact for Principal Investigators (PIs) and unit-level staff, driving excellence in research stewardship and fiscal compliance. The Award Management Specialist delivers critical financial analysis (including burn rates and spending projections), coordinates monthly reconciliations, drafts budget revisions, monitors cost-share, collaborates on award closeout, and manages complex financial and administrative compliance tracking.

Summary of Position Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive sponsored project oversight and serve as the primary point of contact for PIs seeking support for post-award management activities.
• Perform financial analysis of award spending, calculate burn rates, and provide highly accurate spending projections to guide research planning.
• Collect and analyze financial data in preparation for monthly spending reports to PIs, providing relevant expenditure projections and an ongoing review of post-award activity.
• In collaboration with department staff, complete thorough monthly reconciliations on grant awards and review results directly with Principal Investigators (PIs).
• Work with PIs and campus administrators to solve problems, answer questions, and give guidance on post-award activities and other grants management topics.

• Assist and provide guidance to faculty and unit-level staff on the financial management and tracking of awards, including but not limited to purchasing, travel, hiring of project personnel, reporting, and sub-award interactions.
• Plan and execute award kickoff meetings and quarterly award meetings with PIs and department staff to review project status and financial health.
• Manage overall budgets and reporting timelines throughout the entire lifecycle of the award, ensuring no deadlines are missed.
• Collaboratively design, draft, and develop formal budget revisions and re-budgeting scenarios for active awards, aligning revised spending plans with project milestones.
• Provide active support and guidance to department staff on institutional procedures and systems required to process financial transactions on grant accounts successfully.
• Review award transactions, ensuring all charges are allowable, allocable, and reasonable.

• Provide financial oversight, financial and administrative compliance guidance on awards, and award management support regarding sponsor and institutional policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Track and monitor cost-share commitments to ensure the institution meets its documented obligations.
• Review, coordinate, and submit sponsor prior approval requests, Assumptions of Risk, and other administrative amendments.
• Work as the lead mediator when financial non-compliance is identified. Collaborate with department staff to investigate the root cause, and partner with the Research Accounting and Financial Compliance Team to implement corrective action plans.
• Oversee monthly expense reporting, projections, and formal closeouts. Assist faculty and unit-level staff with timely award closeouts, work to clear remaining encumbrances, and coordinate with the Research Accounting and Financial Compliance Team to submit final financial reports (FFRs).

• Maintain strong, positive relationships with faculty and staff, all units within the Division of Research, and sponsor agencies to facilitate the work of research administration at the University.
• Promote and maintain close, effective working relationships between the teams within the Office of Sponsored Research Administration.
• Work with colleagues and team members to jointly solve questions and challenges in their daily work, responding to inquiries in a timely, professional manner and providing consistently excellent support.
• Monitor changes to sponsor policies and procedures and assist with communicating key changes to campus research administrators and investigators.

Other duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s degree and two+ (2+) years of experience in sponsored research administration and post-award grants management or equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Master’s Degree
• 5+ years of experience in post-award and research administration
• Experience supporting sponsored research activities within an institution of higher education
• Thorough knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), cost principles, direct/indirect costing, and sponsor-specific rules regarding re-budgeting thresholds and prior approvals.
• Advanced Excel skills (formulas, pivot tables, data modeling for financial projections and budget scenarios) and experience with financial systems and electronic research administration systems.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong problem-solving, project management, and time management skills.

Necessary Certifications/Licenses

Preferred Certifications/Licenses

Certified Research Administrator ( CRA ) or Certified Financial Research Administrator ( CFRA )

Special Notes to Applicants

• The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor Vehicle Report
• The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying permission with
  the finalist.
• Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences to
• support your answers to the supplemental questions.

If time-limited please indicate appointment end date