Senior Grants and Contracts Officer

About the role

The University of Utah’s Office of Research Management & Compliance (RMC) serves as the central post‑award finance and compliance unit for a premier public research university. The Senior Grants & Contracts Officer (GCO) provides first‑line supervisory leadership for sponsored project financial management across an assigned portfolio of colleges, institutes, or departments, supporting the university’s mission of discovery, innovation, and impact.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day financial management activities for sponsored projects, including billing, financial reconciliation, and reporting.
• Provide tactical and operational leadership to a team of 3‑8 staff members.
• Act as liaison with sponsors and ensure compliance with sponsor and university requirements.
• Foster a culture of accountability and service excellence within the post‑award environment.
• Support continuous‑improvement initiatives and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external sponsors.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a bachelor’s degree (or equivalency) plus six years of directly related work experience, or a master’s degree (or equivalency) plus four years of directly related work experience. One year of higher‑education experience may be substituted for one year of directly related work experience.

Preferences

• Supervisory experience or demonstrated leadership and mentorship ability.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a proven ability to foster collaboration across central and college‑level units.
• Proficiency with large‑scale financial systems, data analytics, and reporting tools; ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem‑solving skills in a complex, matrixed environment.
• Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., CRA/CFRA, CGFM).

Pay

Salary range: $71,713 – $88,348 per year.

Schedule

Full‑time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm with flexibility around core hours. Hybrid work option available after the initial training period.

Department & Location

Department: Grants & Contracts Accounting (00359)
Location: Campus, University of Utah