STAR Post Award Manager

About the role

The STAR Team III Manager provides leadership, oversight, and operational management for a portfolio of complex sponsored awards and research administration activities within the University of New Hampshire. This position supervises STAR staff, supports faculty and departmental partners, and ensures high-quality post-award administration in alignment with sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and compliance expectations.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and leads a team of post-award administrators, ensuring effective coordination and collaboration within the team
• Makes sure workload distribution is monitored and redistributed as necessary
• Mentors, guides, and develops professional skills for team members
• Establishes performance expectations, conducts regular evaluations, and provides constructive feedback
• Provides expertise and support to help navigate complex grant scenarios where guidance and advocacy is needed
• Works with the Director of AFC & Post-Award to implement post-award policies and standard operating procedures in alignment with institutional guidelines and sponsor regulations
• Develops and delivers training programs on post-award processes, policies, and compliance requirements
• Reviews and updates policies to ensure compliance with evolving regulations and best practices
• Identifies opportunities for process improvement and streamlines and optimizes post-award processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
• Maintains oversight of post-award activities related to assigned portfolio of grants and contracts
• Communicates key terms and conditions of Notices of Award to Principal Investigators (PIs)
• Monitors grant accounts, reviews financial reports, resolves financial problems, and prevents overdrafts
• Projects and forecasts trends in spending and potential shortfalls or overdrafts, recommending strategies to effectively manage spending patterns and mitigate business risks
• Prepares labor distributions consistent with PI guidance and approved budgets for grant-funded personnel
• Oversees quarterly financial review process
• Assists with annual effort certification
• Approves grant-related transactions, including journal entries, reimbursement requests, and requisitions
• Responds to internal and external audits of award-related transactions and reports
• Coordinates inter-team meetings with Pre-Award and AFC team lead to facilitate collaboration between the pre-award and post-award teams
• Supports pre-award processes as needed

Requirements

• Master’s degree in field related to finance or business and five years of experience in sponsored programs administration, including grant and contract negotiations in an academic environment, or
• Bachelor’s degree in field related to finance or business and seven years of similar related experience
• Advanced knowledge of federal regulations, sponsor guidelines, and the Federal Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance (2C.F.R. Part 200), as they relate to sponsored program activity
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, and follow-through
• Ability to work effectively within tight timelines and deadline pressure at a high professional level
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team and between teams, as well as constituents external to the centralized research administration office
• Evidence of leadership, with a demonstrated commitment to mentoring, coaching, and developing others
• Critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Excellent computer skills, including spreadsheets and databases
• Ability to develop and deliver technical training

Qualifications

• Designation of Certified Research Administrator (CRA), or similar credential

Skills

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic research environment
• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented team culture
• Interpret policies, and review business processes related to financial compliance, reporting, audit, and/or award closeouts on behalf of the team
• Manage and train a team of post-award administrators
• Implement policies set by the University to meet federal regulations related to sponsored research
• Stay current with existing and upcoming rules and ensure that all researchers are in compliance
• Lead and manage the post-award operations by interpreting policies, and reviewing business processes related to financial compliance, reporting, audit, and/or award closeouts on behalf of the team
• Subject-matter expert in post award administration

Benefits

This position offers hybrid work opportunities with 2-3 days on campus in Durham, NH per week.

Pay

$84,220.00 - $150,920.00