Senior Grants and Finance Manager

New York Genome Center•New York, NY

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Grants & Finance Manager is integral to fostering an environment and culture conducive to advancing genomics-related research excellence at the New York Genome Center (NYGC). This role oversees the administration of grants and sponsored research, serving as a key resource for Principal Investigators (PIs) and scientific staff. The incumbent manages a diverse portfolio of funding sources, including government and foundation grants, restricted gifts, fellowships, and startup packages, and advises PIs and program management, helping to set up spending plans that maximize restricted fund usage. This role may also oversee NYGC programs and large initiative funds. Acting as an expert on complex sponsored fiscal policies and procedures, the Senior Grants & Finance Manager interprets guidelines and policies, advises faculty and staff on available options or alternatives, and effectively recommends courses of action. This role liaises with departmental counterparts at faculty members' home institutions to streamline effort, spending, and other financial planning. Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for PI-related deliverables, including effort reporting, quarterly expense validations, annual and quarterly fiscal reports, project closeout, and expense monitoring. The position includes direct supervision of the Pre- and Post-Award Specialist, providing guidance, training, and support. As a subject matter expert and central resource for the Grants team, the Senior Grants & Finance Manager will also participate in ERP implementation (e.g., Cayuse) and ensure compliance with grant-related policies. This position reports to the Director of Research Administration. Key Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): Pre-award Activities: Prepare and submit grant and contract proposals according to sponsor guidelines on behalf of NYGC as the Signing Official. Review Funding Opportunity (FOA) guidelines thoroughly and communicate key details with PIs and research staff. Provide summaries and checklists of required documents based on FOA requirements. Develop proposal budgets and compile necessary documents for prime and subawards following sponsor and institutional requirements. Maintain updated records of current and pending awards, biosketches, and other support documents for PIs. Review and submit Just-in-Time documents per sponsor requirements. Award Setup and Management: Coordinate new award account setup and modifications, ensure database records are up to date. Review and communicate the award terms and conditions, including effort commitment, deliverable requirements, and scientific overlap. Meticulously review terms and conditions outlined in agreements, and negotiate with sponsors in close collaboration with the legal team as needed. Provide official sign-off to ensure compliance and alignment with organizational policies and objectives. Manage reduction in budget and re-budgeting processes as necessary. Review and submit prior approval requests to sponsors as needed. Review and submit timely non-competing progress reports in accordance with sponsor terms. Manage subaward agreements for Principal Investigators (PIs). Oversee subrecipient monitoring and support PIs in effectively communicating with prime and/or subaward organizations, collaborators, and other stakeholders regarding the execution and management of subawards. Financial Management: Maintain accurate budget vs. actual reports for all funding sources available to PIs. Monitor and review expenditures; review and update financials and projections in portfolio workbooks monthly; and provide monthly reporting and continuous PI communication. Collaborate with PIs on budget forecasting and spending projections. Monitor subaward progress and invoicing to subrecipients where NYGC is the prime recipient institution. Review purchase orders, Concur reimbursement requests, and invoices for compliance with grant/funding terms, and NYGC’s internal expense policies. Closely monitor effort reporting, including facilitating PI sign-off for effort reporting cards for grant-funded personnel. Perform annual, quarterly, and closeout programmatic and financial reporting for the funding sponsor, as required. Administration and Project Management: Track, manage, and report on specific funding sources, including sequencing-related contracts. Develop and maintain financial master workbooks for each faculty and funding source. Implement and maintain an effort reporting process and quarterly PI expense validations. Stay updated on compliance requirements associated with federal, state, and private funding. Directly supervise the Pre- and Post-Award Specialist, providing guidance, training, and support. Review proposals, deliverables and requests to sponsors. Lead the orientation of new staff by providing training on internal and external systems and processes. Manage the onboarding of new staff by creating institutional accounts on internal and external systems. Be actively involved in ERP Implementation (e.g., Cayuse) as a subject matter expert to review, test, and improve processes. The highly qualified candidate will have senior-level responsibilities that require independent management of pre-award and post-award financial management. The successful candidate will play a vital role in our team, contributing expertise in both areas while demonstrating strong leadership and organizational skills.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in a business-related field (e.g., accounting, finance, economics) is required.
Seven or more years of related pre- and post-award or budgeting financial experience required.
3+ years of recent experience with financial administration of NIH grants.
Proficiency with general and non-profit accounting principles.
Experience with internal and external audits.
Strong understanding of research compliance issues, federal agency practices, regulations, and policies, including the Uniform Guidance.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with PIs, research staff, and funding agencies.
Demonstrated experience working effectively, collaboratively, and diplomatically with PIs and senior administrators required.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with meticulous attention to detail.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; demonstrated proficiency in Excel and web-based tools.
Excellent time management and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree is preferred.
Research Administrator (CRA) certification is preferred.
Experience with NSF, US DOE, and US DOD preferred.
Supervisory experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare and submit grant and contract proposals according to sponsor guidelines on behalf of NYGC as the Signing Official.
Review Funding Opportunity (FOA) guidelines thoroughly and communicate key details with PIs and research staff.
Provide summaries and checklists of required documents based on FOA requirements.
Develop proposal budgets and compile necessary documents for prime and subawards following sponsor and institutional requirements.
Maintain updated records of current and pending awards, biosketches, and other support documents for PIs.
Review and submit Just-in-Time documents per sponsor requirements.
Coordinate new award account setup and modifications, ensure database records are up to date.
Review and communicate the award terms and conditions, including effort commitment, deliverable requirements, and scientific overlap.
Meticulously review terms and conditions outlined in agreements, and negotiate with sponsors in close collaboration with the legal team as needed.
Provide official sign-off to ensure compliance and alignment with organizational policies and objectives.
Manage reduction in budget and re-budgeting processes as necessary.
Review and submit prior approval requests to sponsors as needed.
Review and submit timely non-competing progress reports in accordance with sponsor terms.
Manage subaward agreements for Principal Investigators (PIs).
Oversee subrecipient monitoring and support PIs in effectively communicating with prime and/or subaward organizations, collaborators, and other stakeholders regarding the execution and management of subawards.
Maintain accurate budget vs. actual reports for all funding sources available to PIs.
Monitor and review expenditures; review and update financials and projections in portfolio workbooks monthly; and provide monthly reporting and continuous PI communication.
Collaborate with PIs on budget forecasting and spending projections.
Monitor subaward progress and invoicing to subrecipients where NYGC is the prime recipient institution.
Review purchase orders, Concur reimbursement requests, and invoices for compliance with grant/funding terms, and NYGC’s internal expense policies.
Closely monitor effort reporting, including facilitating PI sign-off for effort reporting cards for grant-funded personnel.
Perform annual, quarterly, and closeout programmatic and financial reporting for the funding sponsor, as required.
Track, manage, and report on specific funding sources, including sequencing-related contracts.
Develop and maintain financial master workbooks for each faculty and funding source.
Implement and maintain an effort reporting process and quarterly PI expense validations.
Stay updated on compliance requirements associated with federal, state, and private funding.
Directly supervise the Pre- and Post-Award Specialist, providing guidance, training, and support.
Review proposals, deliverables and requests to sponsors.
Lead the orientation of new staff by providing training on internal and external systems and processes.
Manage the onboarding of new staff by creating institutional accounts on internal and external systems.
Be actively involved in ERP Implementation (e.g., Cayuse) as a subject matter expert to review, test, and improve processes.