Grants Management Specialist

Axle • Bethesda, MD

1d • $70,000 - $80,000

About The Position

Axle is seeking a Grants Management Specialist to provide independent grants management and administrative support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. The role supports NIH’s operational objectives and the full federal grants lifecycle, including pre-award, award, post-award, financial monitoring, compliance, reporting, records management, and closeout activities.

The specialist reviews grant applications and budgets, prepares funding and cost analyses, tracks Just-In-Time materials, and supports the preparation of award documentation. The position also monitors financial and post-award submissions, reviews administrative and compliance materials, supports award amendments and closeout, and maintains accurate grant records in applicable NIH and federal systems. The specialist prepares status reports and communicates with grants management leadership, program stakeholders, internal staff, and external stakeholders to support timely and accurate grants administration.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least five years of federal grants management or grants administration experience.
• Strong knowledge of federal grants administration and the grants lifecycle.
• Experience with pre-award, award, post-award, and closeout activities.
• Proficiency with SF-424 applications, budget forms, modular budgets, and indirect cost calculations.
• Experience reviewing grant budgets and performing mathematical and consistency checks.
• Knowledge of NIH grants policies and federal grants requirements.
• Familiarity with human subjects, vertebrate animal, IRB, IACUC, audit, and institutional compliance requirements.
• Strong financial analysis and grants monitoring skills.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and time-management skills; strong attention to detail and ability to identify administrative or compliance issues.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet established deadlines, and prepare professional reports, summaries, correspondence, and tracking documents.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products and federal grants management and tracking systems.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• NIH grants management experience preferred.
• Three or more years of finance, accounting, or grants financial management experience preferred.
• Field of study in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Research Administration, or a related field.
• Experience with eRA Commons and IMPAC II.

Responsibilities

• Support the preparation and administrative review of Funding Opportunity Announcements and related documentation.
• Maintain tracking information for Funding Opportunity Announcement publication and review workflows.
• Monitor receipt of grant applications through eRA Commons and other applicable systems.
• Review applications for administrative completeness, required forms, attachments, and submission requirements; prepare completeness reports and identify missing materials.
• Verify SF-424 applications, budget forms, budget justifications, direct and indirect costs, and modular budgets for mathematical accuracy and consistency.
• Prepare budget comparison worksheets, funding summaries, preliminary cost analyses, and cost summaries.
• Review applications for required assurances and documentation concerning human subjects, vertebrate animals, IRB, IACUC, and other applicable compliance requirements.
• Verify institutional registrations and administrative information, including applicable federal registration information.
• Compile applicant award history, audit information, and other due diligence documentation.
• Track Just-In-Time requests, review submitted materials, and prepare tracking reports and summary memoranda.
• Draft routine correspondence, internal memoranda, and administrative communications; maintain tracking logs and shared workflow documentation.
• Assemble draft Notice of Award documentation, funding summaries, obligation worksheets, and award processing checklists.
• Enter and maintain award information in applicable NIH grants management and tracking systems.
• Establish and maintain electronic grantee files and administrative award documentation; reconcile approved budgets against awarded amounts and identify discrepancies.
• Prepare recurring financial status summaries and monitoring reports; track Federal Financial Report submissions and identify delinquent or incomplete reports.
• Review progress reports, no-cost extension requests, prior approval requests, and other post-award submissions for completeness and potential policy issues.
• Prepare issue logs, summaries, and draft recommendation memoranda; support administrative amendments and award modifications.
• Compile documentation required for grant closeout and prepare closeout checklists and memoranda.
• Maintain award records in accordance with NIH and federal records requirements and prepare electronic archive packages for completed awards.
• Ensure grants management documents are accurate, complete, professional, and version controlled; identify and escalate issues affecting processing, financial management, compliance, or closeout.
• Prepare weekly status reports on active activities, outstanding items, risks, and priorities.
• Participate in recurring meetings with grants management leadership and program stakeholders and coordinate with internal staff and external stakeholders.
• Interpret applicable NIH grants policies and federal administrative requirements when reviewing documentation; maintain records of activities, decisions, supporting documents, and follow-up actions.

Benefits

• 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• 401(k) match up to 5%.
• Educational benefits for career growth.
• Employee referral bonus.
• Flexible spending accounts, including healthcare FSA, parking reimbursement account, dependent care assistance program, and transportation reimbursement account.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time