Post Award Manager - #000024
Listed on 2026-08-14
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Finance & Banking
Financial Manager, Financial Compliance -
Management
Financial Manager
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Anticipated Hiring Range Based on qualifications/experience, internal equity, and departmental budget restrictions.
About WCU
Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:
- 2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
- 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
- 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
- 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan.
Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year.
Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.
Position Summary
The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act ( EHRA ).
The Post Award Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the post-award division of ORA , ensuring effective stewardship of sponsored funds and high-quality, service-orientated experience for principal investigators (PIs) and research staff. This role serves as the University’s primary authority on financial post-award administration and leads cross-functional collaboration to strengthen compliance, enhance financial oversight and advance a proactive solutions-oriented grants management culture.
The role ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies while driving process improvements in support of the University’s mission. The Post Award Manager will supervise the grant specialist position in the Office of Research Administration.
The essential duties of the Post Award Manager include:
Leadership and Collaboration- Provide daily operational oversight and service excellence for the Post Award Division.
- Lead process improvement initiatives, policy development, and reporting enhancements.
- Serve as primary liaison to external sponsors and campus stakeholders on post award administrative issues.
- Represent the University in interactions with external sponsors and regulatory agencies on financial compliance and reporting.
- Maintain the Key Performance Indicators ( KPI ) and prepare reports.
- Provide monthly and year-end reports to administration, including assisting with annual financial reporting and monitoring time and effort reports.
- Oversee the setup of new awards, including establishing new funds and project budgets.
- Review and interpret award financial terms…
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