Grant Specialist - School of Nursing

About the Role

The Grant Specialist serves as a key resource for managing sponsored research activities within the School of Nursing. This position provides comprehensive support for both pre-award and post-award processes, ensuring compliance with sponsor and university requirements. Responsibilities include coordinating proposal development and submission, overseeing award setup, monitoring budgets and expenditures, and preparing required reports. The Specialist acts as a liaison between faculty, internal offices, and external partners to facilitate smooth grant administration and maintain regulatory standards. This role contributes to the success and growth of the School's research portfolio by supporting strategic initiatives, optimizing award management processes, and assisting faculty with project-related needs. Regular on-campus presence is required for this position; however, some remote work may be available in accordance with KUMC policies and departmental needs.

Responsibilities

Post-Award Administration

• Manages post-award activities for an assigned portfolio of School of Nursing faculty.
• Review Notices of Award and communicate conditions, restrictions, and deliverables to faculty.
• Coordinate award setup and agreements (e.g., subawards, consultant/service agreements, data use agreements) with Sponsored Programs Administration, Research Contracts, and Office of General Counsel.
• Monitor grant budgets, expenditures, and personnel effort to ensure compliance with sponsor terms and university policies.
• Prepare and submit required interim and final technical and financial reports.
• Track subawards, contracts, and consultant agreements to ensure timely invoicing and reporting.
• Serve as a liaison between faculty, partners, and Sponsored Programs Administration, ensuring smooth communication and compliance.
• Participate in strategic planning and evaluation of award management processes and funded projects.
• Represent the School at grant funder meetings and conferences to build networks and support sustainability of funded projects.
• Support faculty with project-related meetings, data collection, and basic analysis of program data.
• Assist faculty and stakeholders with implementing outreach and recruitment strategies for funded projects.
• Perform other financial and administrative functions as assigned by the Director of Grants and Research or Associate Dean of Research.
• Identify, evaluate, and resolve financial, compliance, and grant administration issues.

Pre-Award Support

• Collaborate with faculty regarding pre-award activities, including reviewing funding opportunities and communicating requirements.
• Support proposal preparation, including budget development, effort feasibility, formatting, and compliance with sponsor guidelines.
• Coordinate internal routing and ensure proposals meet submission requirements and deadlines.
• Maintain accurate documentation for all pre-award processes and submissions.
• Ensure all pre-award activities are conducted in accordance with KUMC Policies and applicable local, state and federal laws, regulations, and sponsor requirements.
• Ensure coordination of area work with other areas of KUMC to ensure integration and support of KUMC goals and objectives.
• Develop, maintain and expand job-specific knowledge and skills to keep pace with industry changes and support the university's commitment to excellence and innovation.
• Participate in relevant committees, task force, or other similar activities.
• Evaluate complex pre-award information, identify discrepancies, and recommend appropriate solutions to ensure accurate and compliant proposal submissions.

Required Qualifications

Work Experience:

• Three (3) years of experience in any of the following areas: research administration, sponsored projects administration, project coordination/management, program coordination/management, grant administration, or a related field. Relevant education may substitute for experience on a year for year basis.
• Three (3) years of experience in any of the following areas: grant financial management, financial administration, budgeting and forecasting, accounting support, fiscal coordination, or a related field requiring financial analysis, reconciliation, and management of financial resources. Relevant education may substitute for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master's Degree in a relevant discipline such as research administration, business, accounting, social science, health services, or administration.

Work Experience:

• One (1) year of experience interpreting grant requirements, sponsor guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
• One (1) year of experience with grant financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and compliance monitoring.
• One (1) year of experience using electronic research administration, financial, or enterprise systems.
• One (1) year of experience supporting federally funded grant programs and sponsor reporting requirements.

Certifications/Licenses:

• Certification in Research Administration.

Skills

• Time Management
• Communication Skills
• Problem Solving and Decision-Making
• Organization and Process Coordination
• Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Microsoft Office
• Project Coordination and Management
• Financial Analysis and Budget Monitoring

Benefits

• Coverage begins on day one for health, dental, and vision insurance and includes health expense accounts with generous employer contributions if the employee participates in a qualifying health plan.
• Employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and various additional voluntary insurance plans are available.
• Paid time off, including vacation and sick, begins accruing upon hire, plus ten paid holidays.
• One paid discretionary day is available after six months of employment, and paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave is available after 12 months of employment.
• A retirement program with a generous employer contribution and additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b) are available.

Pay

• Rate Type: Hourly
• Pay Range: $29.23 - $43.85