Grants Account Manager

Case Western Reserve University - Cleveland, OH

Full-time - Mid Level

Cleveland, OH

Educational Services

About the position

The Grants Account Manager at Case Western Reserve University will play a pivotal role in the financial and administrative management of sponsored funds for principal investigators within the Strategic Partnerships and Research Collaborative. This position requires a high degree of independence and is responsible for managing a research portfolio that includes multiple, center-level interdisciplinary grants and contracts, each exceeding $10 million, across various research departments. The Grants Account Manager will support proposal submissions by utilizing the university's funding proposal software, SPARTA, and government submission software such as ASSIST. In this role, the Grants Account Manager will function as the financial and business manager for their assigned portfolio, collaborating directly with faculty and staff on grant submissions, financial reporting, expense tracking, and compliance with pre-award management for various funding agencies, including NIH institutes, federal and state agencies, and non-profit organizations. The manager will also develop and implement strategies to optimize resource management, exercising discretion and independent judgment in managing revenues and expenses while working closely with university administrators. The essential functions of this position include providing complex proposal development for collaborative research and clinical trials, serving as the financial and business operations director for a portfolio of funded projects, managing the submission process through federal platforms, and ensuring compliance with grant-related policies. The Grants Account Manager will also be responsible for monitoring project budgets and expenditures, preparing financial analyses, and maintaining communication with project sponsors to ensure timely reporting and compliance. This position is critical in ensuring that the university's research initiatives are financially sound and compliant with all regulations, ultimately supporting the advancement of research and innovation within the institution.

Responsibilities

• Provide multi-institution, complex proposal development for collaborative research, industry, and clinical-trials grants and contracts.
• Manage contract and grant proposal preparation processes for demanding sponsors with varying policies and deliverables.
• Collaborate with principal investigators and research administration teams to build budgets and budget justifications for grants and contracts.
• Advise faculty on complex contract and grant terms impacting project administration.
• Facilitate terms and conditions of awards, budget augmentation, and project periods with principals.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal agency regulations and university procedures.
• Serve as the financial and business operations director for a portfolio of $10 million+ funded projects.
• Extract data from multiple university sources and perform continuous financial modeling.
• Review spending patterns to project future trends and prepare long-range operational forecasts.
• Develop monthly forecasts for principal investigators and meet with them to review trends.
• Review and monitor spending levels and commitments, and be the main contact for budget-related inquiries.
• Input assigned proposals into federal submission platforms and manage the internal routing process through SPARTA.
• Communicate with the Office of Sponsored Projects and funder program officers to complete submissions.
• Monitor project budgets, expenditures, and overall financial performance and reporting requirements.
• Execute grant reports and budget revisions as needed, ensuring compliance with grant-related policies.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Finance or related field.
• 5 years of experience in financial management or grants administration.
• Strong cash flow analysis skills.
• Proficiency in Oracle and PeopleSoft management systems.
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Excel.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in strategic planning and compliance management.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with NIH and federal grant submissions.
• Familiarity with SPARTA and ASSIST software.
• Knowledge of public health funding sources.
• Experience in managing interdisciplinary research projects.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Dental insurance coverage.
• 401k retirement savings plan.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Professional development opportunities.