Grant Management Specialist

About the Role

The Grant Management Specialist (GMS) reports to the Director, Sponsored Projects and Contracts, and provides customer-focused support to faculty and administrators for pre-award and award management (non-financial) oversight of sponsored projects. This role advances research at SMU by partnering collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure accurate proposal development, submission, and compliance with sponsor and institutional policies.

Responsibilities

• Assist with proposal development, including budget creation and justification, ensuring completeness and accuracy before submission.
• Advise investigators on pre-award administration, interpreting and applying granting agency policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Prepare and submit proposals through various portals (ASSIST, Research.gov, Grants.gov, Proposal Central, etc.), ensuring internal approvals are completed.
• Review and correct errors, ensuring successful proposal submission to sponsors.
• Assist investigators in responding to sponsor requests for additional information (JIT stage).
• Review, negotiate, and process incoming awards, ensuring seamless workflow from pre-award to grant accounting.
• Advise on progress reports, carryforward, prior approval, and no-cost extension requests, ensuring compliance with sponsor deadlines.
• Submit progress reports, carryforward, prior approval, budget change requests, and no-cost extensions.
• Liaison with sponsor agencies, universities, contractors, and consultants.
• Develop and provide training to researchers, faculty, and administrators on grant submissions, research processes, and regulatory compliance.
• Assist in training team members under the direction of the Associate Director/Director.
• Participate in professional development and required training in research administration.
• Assist with special projects and other duties as directed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three (3) years of professional work experience, or a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience.
• Experience in general accounting, project budgeting, and/or cost accounting is preferred.
• Experience in higher education is strongly preferred.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification is a plus.

Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build relationships in a diverse community.
• Customer service orientation.
• Time management, organizational, and planning skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and excel in a deadline-driven environment.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Familiarity with eRA systems is preferred.
• Understanding of Uniform Guidance and federal regulatory compliance (conflict of interest, export control, research involving animals and human subjects).
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.

Benefits

SMU offers a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits, including health, dental, and vision plans, wellness programs, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Schedule

This is a full-time, on-campus, in-person position with occasional travel to professional conferences.

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by October 14, 2026. The position is open until filled.