Grants and Finance Professional

The Natural Resources Research Institute was established by the Minnesota legislature in 1983 as an applied science and engineering research organization to inform state citizens and decision-makers while leveraging the power of the University of Minnesota. NRRI is guided by the forward-looking charter provided by the Legislature to foster the economic development of Minnesota’s natural resources in an environmentally sound manner to promote private sector employment.

NRRI’s mission is to deliver integrated research solutions that value our resources, environment and economy for a sustainable and resilient future. We are a mission-driven, project-focused team working to create opportunities for natural resource stewardship.

With industrial-scale facilities in Duluth and Coleraine, MN, NRRI works across five strategic research platforms. These platforms address Minnesota’s soil, forest, water and mineral resources:

• Applied Ecology and Resource Management
• Minerals and Metallurgy
• Materials and Bioeconomy
• Data Collection and Delivery

Manage an independent workload of grant activity, including proposal and progress report submissions, compliance monitoring, data and file management, and other administrative tasks. Work closely with Principal Investigators (PIs), research personnel, finance staff, Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) staff, and other partners to facilitate proposal and grant activities. Provide expert guidance to PIs and other staff on the preparation, submission, and non-financial post-award management of external and internal funding.

Job Duties:

Primary responsibilities an employee must perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. List up to six essential functions of the position, indicating the most important first, and the approximate percentage of time spent on each over the course of a year. Only list duties or responsibilities that require 10% or more (equivalent to half of a day per week or 5 weeks per year) of the position’s time.

Grants & Research Development (Pre- and Post-Award) – 50%

Pre-Awards – 40%

• Support development and submission of new, large, and complex sponsored proposals, including coordination with central offices (e.g., SPA/Research Development Office (RDO))
• Consult on sponsored budget development in collaboration with investigators and finance staff
• Review and edit proposal narratives and supporting materials for clarity, compliance, and competitiveness
• Provide proposal strategy support, including interpretation of sponsor solicitations and alignment with institutional priorities

Post-Awards – 10%

• Assist with proposal amendments, revisions, and sponsor-requested changes

Sponsored Projects Finance & Post-Award Support
-30%

• Conduct monthly grant financial reporting and monitoring
• Develop sponsored budget forecasts and analyze variances
• Maintain Sponsored Financial Reporting (SFR) invoicing and billing records
• Serve as liaison between SFR and department staff during billing, closeout, and audit-related activities
• Coordinate award closeout processes and documentation
• Perform departmental effort coordination (depending on experience)
• Facilitate new NOGA meetings and provide onboarding support for new awards

Research Development & Strategic Support (NRRI/Research and Innovation Office (RIO)) –

10%

• Identify and evaluate funding opportunities aligned with NRRI and institutional research priorities
• Conduct targeted funding opportunity analysis and horizon scanning to inform proposal planning
• Support strategy development and project management for large or multi-investigator proposals
• Assist with coordination of proposal teams and timelines across investigators and administrative units
• Support partnership development activities related to sponsored projects, as appropriate

Training, Consultation, and Process Improvement – 10%

• Develop and deliver training related to sponsored projects administration, proposal development, and financial management
• Provide consultation to investigators and research staff on proposal submission strategies and post-award requirements
• Contribute to process documentation and continuous improvement efforts related to grants and sponsored…