Grants & Contracts Specialist II (Pre and Post-Award)

Med-Neurology Department of Neurology | University of Pittsburgh

About the role

This position supports research operations with a primary focus on post-award administration (75%) and pre-award responsibilities (25%). The successful candidate will independently manage significant responsibilities, exercising sound judgment throughout the full grant lifecycle. By the fourth month of employment, the individual is expected to perform both pre-award and post-award duties with a high degree of autonomy.

Responsibilities

• Develop, prepare, revise, and maintain grant and contract budgets using Microsoft Excel.
• Process and manage budget modifications, budget revisions, and no-cost extensions.
• Reconcile federal and non-federal research accounts and prepare financial summaries for faculty and departmental leadership.
• Review project expenditures to ensure costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable, and compliant with sponsor and institutional requirements.
• Monitor grant and contract expenditures throughout the award period.
• Prepare, review, and submit government applications, progress reports, and other sponsor-required documentation.
• Maintain award-related schedules, records, and supporting documentation.
• Interpret and apply sponsor, institutional, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Prepare routine financial reports and resolve standard post-award administrative issues.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and recommend operational enhancements to support research administration activities.
• Use Excel daily to build budgets, applying basic formulas (e.g., add, subtract, multiply, divide, and round functions).
• Independently handle grants and contracts submission, project monitoring/reconciliation, project administration, compliance with grant requirements, managing timelines and deliverables, and preparing financial reports, project narratives, and documents.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of relevant experience.
• Ability to navigate a university setting.

Schedule

Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM

Assignment Category: Full-time regular