Lead Grant and Contract Administrator - College of Nursing
About The Position
Wayne State University is seeking a Lead Grant and Contract Administrator for the College of Nursing at its Detroit campus. The role provides comprehensive pre- and post-award administration, assisting faculty and principal investigators with developing, preparing, submitting, and managing grant and contract proposals and awards. The administrator works with faculty, research groups, and other Grant and Contract Administrators, ensuring compliance with university, sponsor, and regulatory requirements while supporting efficient, strategic, customer-focused research administration. The position manages grant and contract award lifecycles, reviews award terms, monitors expenditures, supports financial management, and oversees closeout. It also identifies funding opportunities; develops and reviews budgets; coordinates proposal approvals and submissions; reconciles cost sharing and matching funds; improves policies, procedures, and workflows; and trains and advises faculty and staff. The administrator represents the division on university committees and contributes to cross-functional research-administration initiatives. Other related duties may be assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of experience related to grant and contract pre- and/or post-award activities and oversight.
- Knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).
- Strong financial analysis and budget development skills.
- Ability to interpret sponsor guidelines, including NIH and NSF guidelines.
- Ability to independently manage multiple projects, track work, maintain quality control, follow up, and meet multiple deadlines.
- Strong time-management skills.
- Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally, orally and in writing.
- Strong presentation and training skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to multitask, adapt to changing priorities, and work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to prioritize and plan work, adapt to changing conditions, and develop strategies to achieve organizational goals.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Demonstrated success training staff in methods and procedures.
- Strong mentoring and coaching skills, with the ability to motivate people, foster collaboration, and inspire confidence.
- Ability to interpret and analyze financial or other quantitative reports and present data clearly for management decision-making.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree.
- Grant and contract experience in a Dean’s Office or large research department.
- Experience with research administration systems such as Cayuse, Banner, or iLab.
- Extensive knowledge of Banner FMS, COGNOS, Cayuse Research Suite, and the WSU Researcher Dashboard.
Responsibilities
- Provide pre- and post-award support for grant and contract proposals and awards, including assisting faculty and principal investigators with development, preparation, submission, and management.
- Collaborate with faculty, research groups, and other Grant and Contract Administrators on research proposal preparation and submission.
- Review and interpret grant and contract terms in collaboration with Sponsored Program Administration.
- Monitor expenditures for compliance with sponsor guidelines and university policies.
- Support faculty with financial management, including fund transfers, payroll allocations, and project extensions.
- Oversee timely and accurate award closeout and manage the grant lifecycle.
- Identify funding opportunities and collaborate with faculty on proposal preparation.
- Develop and review budgets and budget justifications for compliance with sponsor, university, and regulatory requirements.
- Submit proposals to Sponsored Program Administration for final approval.
- Ensure applications meet sponsor and university guidelines, timelines, and submission requirements.
- Coordinate proposal routing, approvals, and timely submission through institutional systems.
- Reconcile cost sharing and matching funds to ensure accurate accounting and compliance with commitments.
- Develop, implement, and improve pre- and post-award policies, procedures, and workflows.
- Train and advise faculty and staff on grant policies, systems, and best practices.
- Serve as a subject matter expert on grant administration and compliance requirements.
- Represent the division on university committees and contribute to cross-functional research-administration initiatives.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
