Grants & Contracts Manager - Post-Award, Office of Programs

Overview

The University of Virginia (UVA) Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) seeks a Post-Award Manager to join the team responsible for the financial management of sponsored awards from inception to closeout. This position is eligible for remote and/or hybrid work.

OSP's mission is to provide leadership in research administration, support the research endeavors of University faculty, ensure the responsible stewardship of research funding, and oversee the sponsored award management according to State, University, and sponsor regulations.

The Post-Award Manager reports to the Assistant Director of Post-Award and will lead a team of Post-Award Accountants, assisting with training, operational activities (including resolution of system errors), reviewing the team's work, and evaluating each team member's performance.

• Leads and manages financial management of sponsored awards from creation to closeout.
• Supervises, trains, and develops Post-Award staff; conducts quarterly performance discussions and annual reviews.
• Approves HR-related Workday tasks (e.g., leave, performance feedback, access requests).
• Determines workload distribution across the team and evaluates portfolio assignments quarterly.
• Monitors quality and timeliness of staff work through quality checks, reconciliation reports, and other tools.
• Identifies ongoing trends and performance issues and communicates findings to leadership.
• Coordinates with Finance, Pre-Award, Contracts, and schools/units to troubleshoot obstacles and support process improvements.
• Creates and maintains standard operating procedures governing financial management of sponsored awards and represents the University with external sponsors and internally to departments, units, and schools.
• Acts as an individual contributor and supports continuous process improvement and documentation in coordination with OSP stakeholders.

• Manages complex award portfolios and provides additional support as needed based on staff coverage, vacancies, PTO, and peak workload periods.
• Maintains Workday-related responsibilities; assists with testing for system updates or new functionality.
• Reviews quality assurance reconciliation reports and contributes to development of resources for quarterly/annual reporting.
• Supports continuous improvement of processes and documentation with other areas of OSP and university stakeholders.
• Engages in effective communication, active listening, and attention to detail in all tasks.

• Extensive knowledge of pre- and post-award financial systems, sponsored program award setups, and financial grant management.
• Experience training, developing, and managing direct reports through complex processes.
• Proficiency in developing and maintaining standard operating procedures and implementing systems improvements.
• Ability to learn quickly, adapt to new concepts, processes, and systems.
• Strong time management, prioritization, and delegation skills.
• Active listening and effective communication with strong attention to detail.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree.
• Experience:
  
  Five years of grant and contract experience. Four additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or similar.
• Experience:
  
  Seven years of experience in research administration with strong financial management of sponsored programs.
• Licensure:
  Certified Research Administrator (CRA).

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. Some travel to attend meetings and programs may be required.

Location:

Charlottesville, VA. This is an exempt, benefited, restricted position with a term limit of two (2) years; continuation depends on department need and funding. Anticipated salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment. Sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.

Please apply online using the UVA Careers site and search for R0080835. Submit the following documents:
Resume, Cover letter. Optional: consolidate into a single PDF. Applications missing required documents may not receive full consideration. Internal applicants should apply via the UVA Internal Careers website.

Five references will be requested via Skill Survey during the final phase of the interview process, with a minimum of three required.

For information about the position or application process, contact Lyndsay Thaxton at enn9zv.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. See UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment for more information.