Grants and Contracts Manager

University of Chicago • Austin, TX

18h • $90,000 - $115,000

About The Position

The University of Chicago is an intellectual community and a globally renowned research institution dedicated to fostering innovative and impactful research in various domains, including the Biological Sciences. The Biological Sciences Division is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and Research Administration Office (RAO) plays a pivotal role in supporting and facilitating the faculty who conduct research. The job works independently to administer pre-award and/or post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals/funding within a department or unit. The Grants & Contracts Manager ensures that agreements, grants, and contracts are developed, reviewed, and managed in alignment with organizational priorities and institutional requirements. Coordinates pre-award and/or post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals/funding within a department or unit. Pre-award activities may include researching funding opportunities, preparing applications, and editing administrative sections of proposals. Post-award activities include monthly expenditure review, payment processing, salary allocations, and providing account projections. This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

• College or university degree in related field.
• Knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related field.
• Experience in grant or contract management, including budget preparation.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with staff, partners, and institutional offices.
• Familiarity with compliance, reporting, and budget requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and document management systems.
• Fluency in 3+ languages to support a growing international portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and manage contracts, subcontracts, and grant agreements.
• Prepare and finalize budget justifications and narrative components in collaboration with the Finance Analyst.
• Serve as a point of contact for staff, partners, and funders regarding contract and grant processes.
• Track deadlines, deliverables, and compliance requirements for all agreements.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation of agreements, budgets, and related correspondence.
• Support cross-team initiatives by ensuring contracts align with program and operational needs.
• Handles straightforward post-award activities including account creations, regulatory and compliance monitoring, salary allocations, effort reporting, grant projections, cost allocations, cost center charges, equipment inventory, invoice preparation, grant closing process, and account closing.
• Prepares summaries of grants and effort allocations for Principal Investigators, meets with them and responds to their questions.
• Coordinates with other departments/units/divisions regarding multi investigator grants.
• Serves as department contact for annual audits and agency site visits.
• Manage an international grant portfolio by using multilingual communication skills to support collaboration, relationship management, and coordination with global partners.
• Ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate engagement in support of international program growth.
• Lead the development and implementation of a nutrition module within the CANS assessment tool, applying expertise as a Registered Dietitian to incorporate food security, access, and nutrition-related behaviors into the TCOM framework.
• Provides specialized support for the research enterprise within a department or unit, including pre- and/ or post-award administration for all sponsored activity.
• Serves as liaison between PIs, University administrative offices, and external agencies.
• Ensures service and communication to PIs, standardized information, best practices development, and that all faculty and research staff are aware of any new grant policies and changes.
• Analyzes industry trends and remains current with agency and regulatory changes.
• Monitors department/ unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager