Manager of Grants and Contracts - BRIDGES Engine

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology•Huntsville, AL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Manager of Grants and Contracts, BRIDGES Engine Power Innovation Through Strategic Funding & Compliance Location: Huntsville, Alabama Employment Type: Full-time | Exempt The Opportunity Every breakthrough innovation needs expert stewardship. As Manager, Grants and Contracts for the BRIDGES NSF Engine, you'll be the operational backbone of one of the most ambitious regional innovation initiatives in America, ensuring that federal funding flows smoothly, compliance is flawless, and every dollar drives measurable impact toward a sustainable bio-based economy. This isn't just grant management. You'll be a strategic problem-solver and trusted partner to researchers, industry collaborators, and federal sponsors, often translating complex regulations into clear action, solving multifaceted challenges, and ensuring that the administrative excellence behind groundbreaking discoveries never goes unnoticed. You'll work at the intersection of compliance, finance, and innovation, making it possible for visionary leaders and researchers to focus on what they do best. The position is shared with HudsonAlpha's Research Administration and Development (RAD) Team and requires the use of existing grants management systems and processes to ensure compliance. Based on funding for this role, some non-BRIDGES grant administration will be assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in pre- and post-award grants administration
Significant experience with federal grant programs and multi-institutional awards
Proven track record in submitting and administering awards from NSF, USDA, DOE, and private foundations
Ability to operate effectively in complex, highly regulated, multi-partner environments
Collaborative mindset with the ability to unify diverse stakeholders toward shared goals
Exceptional attention to detail with strong organizational and time-management abilities
Advanced knowledge of sponsor rules, formats, guidelines, compliance requirements, and federal regulations
Proficiency with electronic research administration systems (Grants.gov, NIH eRA Commons, NSF Research.gov, etc.)
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel (including budget formulas and data management), and Mac OS platforms
Outstanding problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities
Proven leadership and communication skills, both verbal and written
Ability to effectively balance competing priorities in a deadline-driven environment
Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
Tact, diplomacy, and professionalism in interactions with researchers, sponsors, and regulatory agencies
Ability to work with confidential data and demonstrated discretion in all interactions
High business acumen and continuous improvement mindset

Responsibilities

Assist in the development and execution of funding strategies supporting BRIDGES and related large-scale research initiatives
Coordinate with partners across academia, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors to strengthen proposals
Review funding opportunities for eligibility and administrative requirements
Communicate with funding agencies to clarify requirements and ensure proper proposal submission
Develop, review, and finalize budgets with accuracy and attention to detail
Coordinate, assemble, and submit complete grant proposals on time and in full compliance with sponsor requirements
Communicate with subaward institutions to collect required documents and ensure timely submissions
Manage timelines, approvals, and submission of grant proposals, reports, and prior approval requests across multiple stakeholders
Oversee award setup, financial tracking, reporting, and closeout processes
Ensure timely and accurate processing of payments and financial transactions
Review and approve subawardee invoices for compliance and alignment with budgets
Negotiate and manage contracts, subawards, and partnership agreements that protect institutional interests
Monitor grant activity to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and sponsor regulations, including NSF, OMB, and grant-specific requirements
Maintain accurate metrics, records, and archives on research and funding activity to enable assessment of program growth and impact
Serve as the primary point of contact and daily manager for assigned grants and sponsored projects
Provide award information to principal investigators and relevant staff and departments
Manage award modifications, including prior approvals, carryover requests, rebudgeting, and changes in scope
Ensure all requests are done in compliance with sponsor guidelines and institutional policies
Coordinate and submit requests for award changes; ensure all requests are compliant with sponsor guidelines
Assist researchers with non-financial report submissions as necessary
Interact regularly with and provide high-quality customer service to faculty, researchers, and external collaborators
Support effective project closeout and transfer processes
Coordinates with HudsonAlpha Accounting to set up awards in the financial system
Demonstrate proficiency and knowledge of applicable grant regulations (NSF, DOE, USDA, OMB, etc.)
Monitor compliance and regulation oversight for awards and recommend or implement corrective actions
In coordination with the Compliance Office, monitor training requirements and ensure award personnel compliance with grant regulations
Communicate sponsor requirements and federal training obligations to PIs, administrative staff, and leadership
Attend meetings of professional research administrators and maintain a working knowledge of current HudsonAlpha and federal guidelines
Stay informed of federal application and award guidelines, trends, and requirements
Contribute to the development and revision of templates, guidelines, and research-related processes