Grant and Contract Manager II

The Engineering Business Center-North (EBC-N), within the College of engineering at the University of Arizona, is seeking an experienced and strategic Grant and Contract Manager to lead post-award research administration and financial oversight for assigned departments. EBC-N operates in a collaborative, complex, fast-paced, and high-volume environment, providing comprehensive financial and administrative support to the following departments: Academic Affairs, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Intelligence Operations, and Systems and Industrial Engineering.

The Grant and Contract manager provides leadership and oversight for the management of all faculty financial portfolios, including externally and internally funded research projects, discretionary accounts, gift funds, and University of Arizona Foundation accounts. This position is responsible for ensuring compliance with sponsor regulations, university policies, and federal guidelines while maintaining the highest standards of financial stewardship, accountability, and internal controls.

This role requires strong leadership experience and demonstrate ability to supervise, mentor, and develop professional staff in a complex research administration environment. The Grant and Contract Manager establishes consistent post-award processes, monitor financial performance across sponsored projects, and partners closely with Principal Investigators, department leadership, Sponsored Projects & Contracting Services, and other central administrative units. The position proactively identifies financial risks, develops mitigation strategies, and ensures timely reporting, accurate forecasting, and effective resource management.

The successful candidate will foster a culture of excellent customer service, accountability, financial integrity, and continuous process improvement. This position reports directly to the Director of Finance and Administration and serves as a strategic partner in advancing the research mission and operation priorities of the College of Engineering.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Leadership & Personnel Management:

• Provide strategic leadership and direct supervision to a team of four Grant and Contract Administrators responsible for post-award management.
• Manage all personnel-related activities including recruitment, hiring, on-boarding, training, workload distribution, performance management, coaching, evaluations, compensation recommendations, and disciplinary actions in accordance with university policy.
• Establish service standards, performance expectations, and accountability measures to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant financial management.
• Mentor and develop staff to strengthen technical expertise in sponsored research administration, compliance, financial analysis, and customer service.
• Promote a collaborative, solutions-oriented work environment focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate review and approval of funding sources for personnel hires and collaborate with the Engineering Human Resources support team to ensure compliance and timely processing.

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement:

• Evaluate operational workflows, identify strengths and gaps, and implement strategic improvements to streamline processes and enhance productivity.
• Develop, implement, and maintain unit policies, procedures, internal controls, and operational standards to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Create and update training materials, operations manuals, and reference documentation to support staff development and knowledge continuity.
• Lead continuous process improvement initiatives to mitigate risk, improve reporting accuracy, and enhance service delivery.
• Leverage enterprise systems such as UAccess Analytics and other reporting tools to develop value-added financial dashboards and decision-support tools.
• Monitor changes in sponsor and institutional policies and update internal procedures accordingly.

Grant & Contract Administration:

• Serve as primary post-award liaison with Engineering Research Administration Services (ERAS) and Sponsored Projects Services (SPS) to ensure coordinated and compliant award administration.
• Lead implementation of new awards and cost-share commitments, ensuring proper account setup and alignment with sponsor terms and conditions.
• Review award agreements, contracts, and amendments for compliance with federal regulations, sponsor guidelines, and university policies.
• Act as the Fiscal Officer, reviewing and approving financial transactions to ensure allowability, allocability, and compliance.
• Oversee sub-award administration, including monitoring subcontract payments and compliance requirements.
• Manage and ensure completion of the biannual effort certification process.
• Coordinate timely and compliant award closeout activities.
• Provide expert guidance to faculty and staff regarding sponsor regulations and fiscal management requirements.

Financial Management, Reporting & Strategic Planning:

• Administer comprehensive faculty financial portfolios including externally and internally funded research, discretionary, gift, and University of Arizona Foundation accounts.
• Perform ongoing account reconciliation and financial oversight to ensure fiscal integrity and compliance.
• Provide monthly financial reporting to Principal Investigators, including projections, burn rate analysis, and funding sustainability assessments.
• Develop and monitor strategic spending plans in partnership with faculty.
• Support multi-year, all-funds financial planning and provide revenue and expense forecasting.
• Identify financial risks, potential deficits, or compliance concerns and implement mitigation strategies.
• Provide complex ad hoc financial analysis and reporting to support staffing, funding, and strategic initiatives.
• Implement and maintain strong internal controls to mitigate audit risk and prevent deficit spending.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's)

• Advanced Knowledge of sponsored research regulations and compliance
• Skills in financial management and analytical expertise
• Leadership abilities in supervision and operational management
• Problem-solving skills in strategic planning and risk mitigation
• Communication abilities and relationship management skills
• Skills in process improvement and internal control development
• Abilities in risk assessment and regulatory interpretation knowledge

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum
  of 5 years of related work experience, including 2 years of managerial
  experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.