Grants Specialist

Grants Specialist

Position Title
- Grants Specialist

Position Summary
- The Grants Specialist reports directly to the Director of Research Development & Sponsored Programs in the Office of Research, Innovation, and Collaboration (ORIC) and is primarily responsible for working closely with Spelman College faculty and staff to oversee pre- and post-award activities for proposals for external funding and awarded grants from government agencies. This position is primarily responsible for ensuring the compliance of proposals for external funding submitted on behalf of the College and the proper stewardship of sponsored projects as assigned.

The Grants Specialist provides professional support for the administration of externally funded grants and sponsored programs throughout the grant lifecycle, with a primary emphasis on pre-award activities. This position collaborates with faculty, principal investigators, and administrative departments to facilitate proposal development, budget preparation, sponsor submissions, and regulatory compliance. The Grants Specialist also supports post-award administration by assisting with award setup, monitoring compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements, coordinating grant modifications, and maintaining accurate grant documentation.

The incumbent serves as a resource on sponsored programs policies and procedures, ensuring grants are administered in accordance with federal, state, sponsor, and institutional guidelines while supporting the College's research and strategic funding initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities - PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (PRE-AWARD) Provides guidance and expertise to grant-seekers to identify appropriate funding opportunities by conducting electronic and manual searches and disseminating this information to interested individuals;
Guides and supports faculty and staff during the proposal preparation and submission process;
Assists grant-seekers with the preparation of budgets and financial portions of applications ensuring content is accurate and complete;
Gathers institutional data and boilerplate language for proposal narratives in support of selected grant applications;
Develops and maintains a library of reference documentation, including information such as funding agency requirements, forms, checklists (and uploads to Spelman's Faculty Collaboration Hub);
Reviews and interprets guidelines, proposals, and budgets to ensure compliance with college policies, federal regulations, and funder requirements;
Monitors the progress of internal approvals and signatures to ensure timely submission of proposals;
Interprets both funding agency and college policies and procedures and disseminates newly available information on funding regulations;
Assists in planning, developing and conducting training programs to educate faculty and staff in the policies and procedures for proposal development and sponsored project administration. PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (POST-AWARD) Coordinates and facilitates activities related to the establishment, implementation, and close-out of awarded grants;
Prepares awardees for effective management of external funds through orientations, regular meetings/updates, and written guidance;
Interfaces with faculty and staff to:
Maintain compliance with policies and guidelines of funding agencies and College policies;
Ensure that funds are expended at an appropriate rate (monitor burn rates);
Inform/advise on administrative requirements, deadlines, and documents for award management, budget monitoring, and report preparation;
Decide on feasibility of budget modifications, no-cost extensions, and other award modifications;
Submit requests for no-cost extensions, re-budgeting requests, changes in scope, and other changes to the award. Collaborates with the Office of Budget and Contracts, Office of Human Resources, Office of the Controller (Accounts Payable), and Faculty Affairs in the Office of the Provost to ensure the effective management and compliance of externally funded programs and projects;
Works closely with ORIC's Operations Manager and the Grants Support Coordinators to provide…