Grants Business Manager: College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies - UTK

Grants Business Manager

The Grants Business Manager serves as the college's primary business professional for sponsored projects, financial operations, and business administration within the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS). Reporting directly to the Director of Finance, Administration, and Operations (DFAO), this highly visible position provides leadership and oversight for grants and contracts administration while supporting college-wide unit-budgeting, financial planning, reporting, and operational excellence.

The role extends well beyond traditional grants management by serving as a strategic financial partner to the DFAO that is responsible for maintaining the fiscal integrity of the college, improving business processes, and ensuring sound stewardship of university and sponsored funds.

As a trusted partner to the DFAO, the Grants Business Manager plays a critical role in supporting one of the university's fastest growing and most innovative colleges. The position exercises independent judgment in managing the full lifecycle of sponsored projects, gift administration, financial reporting, budget development, forecasting, financial dashboards, and compliance activities while providing quality assurance over college financial operations. The successful candidate will proactively identify financial risks, resolve complex issues, strengthen internal controls, and develop efficient business processes that support the college's continued growth and strategic priorities.

This position collaborates extensively with faculty, staff, university leadership, ORIED, sponsors, and external partners to ensure exceptional customer service, operational effectiveness, and compliance with university, state, federal, and sponsor requirements.

The ideal candidate is an experienced business manager with strong expertise in grants administration, financial management, budgeting, and higher education business operations. This individual possesses exceptional analytical and organizational skills, sound financial judgment, and the ability to manage multiple complex priorities with accuracy and professionalism. The successful candidate thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, anticipates challenges before they arise, continuously seeks opportunities to improve operations, and is committed to providing outstanding financial stewardship, operational excellence, and strategic support that advances the mission and long-term success of CECS.

Grants & Sponsored Projects Administration

• Manage the full lifecycle of sponsored projects from proposal development through post-award administration and closeout.
• Coordinate with faculty, principal investigators, ORIED, sponsors, and external partners to ensure compliant and successful grant administration.
• Monitor sponsored project budgets, labor distributions, reporting, compliance, and allowable expense tracking.

Financial Planning & Business Operations

• Support college budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and expense management and tracking.
• Maintain financial data, budgets, positions, and reporting in DASH (HCM and EPM).
• Develop and maintain financial dashboards, Chart of Accounts (COA), activity codes, and other financial management tools.

Financial Compliance & Internal Controls

• Ensure financial accuracy, compliance, and fiscal integrity through quality assurance reviews, reconciliations, internal controls, and fiscal year-end activities.
• Investigate and resolve financial discrepancies while ensuring compliance with university, state, federal, and sponsor requirements.

Contracts, Gifts & Financial Partnerships

• Administer contracts, gifts, sponsor ships, and other externally funded agreements from initiation through financial closeout.
• Coordinate contract preparation, financial reporting, invoicing, expense tracking, and stewardship with university and external partners.

Operational Leadership & Process Improvement

• Serve as the primary business operations resource for CECS financial and administrative functions.
• Provide functional guidance for procurement, financial operations, assets, inventory, and administrative processes.
• Develop and improve financial procedures, operational workflows, and business processes that support college growth and operational excellence.

Reporting, Analytics & Strategic Support

• Prepare financial reports, dashboards, and data analyses that support leadership decision-making and strategic planning.
• Assist the DFAO with special projects, financial initiatives, and other strategic priorities.

Professional Development

• Maintain expertise in university policies, sponsored projects administration, and financial management through ongoing professional development and required training.
• Perform other duties and special assignments as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of experience in sponsored projects administration or a related financial management role.
• Demonstrated experience in sponsored…