Post-Award Manager

University of Colorado • Colorado Springs, CO

3d • $73,765 - $93,829 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Post-Award Manager provides financial oversight for a broad portfolio of industry and federal grants, contracts, and investigator-initiated trials. The role leads post-award administration for sponsored research in the Cancer Center, overseeing financial stewardship, compliance, reporting, and closeout activities. The manager supervises post-award specialists and collaborates with faculty investigators, departmental administrative offices, and central research administration to ensure effective and compliant management of grant and contract funding. The position works collaboratively with the direct supervisor while also operating autonomously as circumstances require.

The position is hybrid, with three days per week on campus and additional in-person attendance as needed for meetings. The University of Colorado Cancer Center is the state's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and conducts research and clinical trials alongside prevention, cancer control, and patient care programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, business, finance, accounting, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
• Four to six years of professional experience in finance or accounting related to grants and general financial administration.
• A combination of education and related technical, military, or paraprofessional experience may substitute for a bachelor’s degree on a year-for-year basis.
• An advanced degree (master’s or doctorate) in a field directly related to the work assignment may substitute for experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of application.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring current or future sponsorship or employment authorization.
• Able to work a hybrid schedule, including three days per week on campus.
• Ability to lead and train an accounting team.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Knowledge of standard financial and budgeting principles.
• Knowledge of state and federal guidelines related to grant and gift fund administration.
• Ability to solve problems and multitask under competing deadlines.
• High degree of professionalism and organization.
• Knowledge of University of Colorado policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of State of Colorado procurement policies and procedures.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in business administration, business, finance, accounting, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
• Experience with University of Colorado systems, including PeopleSoft Finance, HCM, Concur, and CU Marketplace.
• Certification such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA).
• One year of supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, mentor, train, and develop post-award specialists, including ensuring timely and accurate performance management and supporting professional growth.
• Maintain existing Smartsheet and Excel tools and develop new tools and process improvements as needed.
• Maintain accurate, current management reports and dashboards for the Post-Award team and CCTO leadership.
• Serve as backup for all post-award duties.
• Ensure industry-funded clinical trial accounts are accurately set up and maintained, including Fund 30 sponsor funds and associated study team Fund 28 and Fund 35 allocations, according to budgets, contract terms, and amendments.
• Ensure comprehensive working files for clinical trial contracts, budgets, and amendments are maintained to support accurate, timely billing, invoicing, and reconciliation.
• Ensure compliance with University fiscal policies, sponsor contract requirements, and UCHealth billing and reimbursement requirements; support internal and external audits.
• Oversee reconciliation, reporting, invoicing, and collections for industry-funded clinical trials, including reconciling patient enrollment earnings to sponsor revenue, investigating deficits, and closing study accounts in accordance with sponsor and institutional policies.
• Act as the primary liaison among principal investigators, CCTO leadership, Pre-Award, Billing, clinical research teams, UCHealth, and industry sponsors to troubleshoot and resolve post-award issues.
• Manage the CCTO accounts receivable portfolio, including tiered collection and escalation for aging or difficult-to-collect sponsor invoices.
• Guide the team in preparing journal entries that distribute trial funds according to clinical trial budgets.
• Monitor Fund 28 and Fund 35 balances and staff workloads, support CCTO budget forecasting and cost-recovery goals, and produce management reports and dashboards for CCTO leadership.

Benefits

• Multiple medical plan options.
• Multiple dental plan options.
• Disability, life, and vision insurance.
• Retirement 401(a) plan with an employer contribution of 10% of gross pay.
• Paid time off accruals.
• 22 vacation days per year, with a maximum accrual of 352 hours.
• 15 sick days per year, with unlimited maximum accrual.
• 15 holiday days per year.
• Tuition benefit available on all CU campuses.
• Reduced-rate RTD bus and light rail service through ECO Pass.
• Additional perks and programs through CU Advantage.

What This Job Offers

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