"Contracts & Grants Specialist"

Contracts & Grants Specialist

Company:
North Carolina State University

Job Location:

Category:
Sponsored Programs, Grants, and Contracts

Type:
Full-Time

Join the Pack! A community with nearly 8,000 faculty and staff, and 30,000 students. NC State is one of the largest employers in North Carolina, offering a large range of career opportunities. Visit us at https://jobs.hr.ncsu.edu/.

Location: Raleigh, NC

Essential Job Duties:
The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) seeks a highly organized and experienced Pre-Award & Post-Award Contracts and Grants Specialist to manage all aspects of sponsored research administration. In this role you will serve as the primary contact for the Center, which requires a deep understanding of federal, state, and university regulations to ensure compliance and successful project execution.

As the primary contact, you will provide independent and comprehensive financial and administrative management of the Center's sponsored projects (Ledger 5 accounts). This includes supporting proposal submissions, overseeing financial compliance, and advising Principal Investigators and Center staff throughout the lifecycle of sponsored projects. You will apply your knowledge of federal (2 CFR 200), state, and NCSU guidelines to proactively deliver sound financial forecasting, ensure compliance, and support successful sponsored project administration.

Key responsibilities fall within the 4 primary focus areas outlined below:

Pre-Award Support:

• Lead and coordinate proposal submissions from initial concept through final submission
• Support Principal Investigators with budget development, cost proposals, and budget justifications
• Draft and manage receipt-based service contracts and subcontracts; process fee-for-service invoicing
• Review sponsor requirements to ensure proposals align with federal, state, and University guidelines
• Manage pre-award activity in required systems (e.g., PINS, Grants.gov, agency submission platforms)

Post-Award Financial Management & Compliance:

• Manage the financial oversight of active grants and contracts to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Monitor budgets, reconcile accounts, and review expenses in accordance with 2 CFR 200 and NCSU policies
• Prepare financial, variance, and forecasting reports to support project planning and decision-making
• Review expenditures, travel, and reimbursements for allowability and compliance
• Process effort and cost-share reporting and maintain required documentation
• Support award modifications, including re-budgeting, extensions, and funding adjustment

Award Administration & Close-Out:

• Administer sponsored projects from award setup through close-out
• Ensure timely and accurate close-out of awards, including final financial reviews and approvals
• Maintain documentation and internal controls that support compliance and audit readiness.

Collaboration & Advisory Support:

• Serve as a primary administrative resource for Principal Investigators and Center staff
• Act as a liaison with sponsoring agencies, college partners, SPARCS, and central research offices
• Provide guidance on administrative processes, allowable costs, and sponsored project requirements
• Support onboarding and training of Center staff on research administration practices

If you are a highly organized, detail-oriented research administration professional who enjoys supporting faculty, navigating compliance requirements, and delivering strong financial stewardship across sponsored projects, we encourage you to apply.

Other Work/Responsibilities:
In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there will be occasional opportunities to take on additional duties. A few of those are listed below, this list is not exhaustive:

• Assist and serve as back-up to the Center Finance & Business Manager on accounting matters, including as Pcard reconciler.
• May serve as a Pcard holder for sponsored project related expenses and as backup to the Center Finance & Business Manager

These and other additional duties offer an opportunity to build on your skills, explore new areas, and gain a deeper understanding of the department's operations.

Minimum Experience/Education:
Requires post-baccalaureate credentials or a bachelor's degree plus two years of related experience, or equivalent professional training and experience may be substituted for the advanced degree on an exceptional basis.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in contract and grant administration within a university or non-profit research setting
• Solid knowledge of federal and agency regulations, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and FAR
• Proficiency with research administration systems and sponsor submission platforms (e.g., PINS, RED, Grants.gov, Research.gov, PeopleSoft Financials)
• Strong financial and analytical skills to manage complex project budgets, forecasting, and reporting
• Excellent written and verbal communication to effectively convey regulatory and financial guidance to faculty and staff
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, demonstrating initiative, reliability, and sound judgment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., business, finance, public administration, or a STEM discipline)
• 5+ years of experience in research administration or grant/contract management, including interpreting sponsor announcements and preparing budgets or proposals
• Familiarity with clean energy policy, contracts, or renewable energy research projects
• Knowledge of state-funded grants and foundation funding practices
• Experience mentoring or training staff in research administration processes

Required License or Certification:
n/a