Grants Analyst II, Plant and Soil Sciences

Job No: 503096
Work Type: Staff
Location: Newark, DE
Categories: Grants & Contracts, Full Time

Pay Grade: 30E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

The Grants Analyst II is a critical professional role within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR). The department of Plant and Soil Sciences (PLSC) is a highly multidisciplinary unit within CANR that manages an expansive and diverse research portfolio, ranging from complex federal grants and state contracts to industrial agreements and international collaborations.

The primary objective of this position is to serve as the central post-award authority for the PLSC department. Responsibilities include ensuring that all sponsored research is managed with the highest level of fiscal integrity and compliance. Operating under the direction of CANR’s Grant’s Manager and the Department Business Administrator (BA), the Analyst acts as the vital link between the College’s Pre-Award team, the University Research Office, and other academic departments across campus.

The Grants Analyst II is responsible for the technical "engine room" of grant management—transitioning awards from the proposal stage to active status, providing deep-dive financial analysis, and overseeing the administrative maintenance of award modifications. While the Department BA serves as the primary liaison to faculty, the Grants Analyst II provides the essential data, projections, and subject matter expertise required to guide departmental decision-making related to externally funded projects.

This position will focus on full-cycle post-award management to develop a model process system, identifying and implementing standardized procedures for the complex research portfolio in PLSC. Success in this role requires a mastery of federal OMB Uniform Guidance, sponsor-specific terms, and university policy, combined with a proactive approach to process development in a shifting, multidisciplinary environment.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the day-to-day post-award administration of the department’s sponsored research portfolio, exercising independent judgment to ensure financial and administrative activities comply with federal regulations (including OMB Uniform Guidance), sponsor-specific terms and conditions, and University of Delaware policies. Support the Department Business Administrator (BA) by managing operational grant administration while enabling broader departmental financial oversight and strategic planning.
• Coordinate the transition and lifecycle management of sponsored awards by working closely with the CANR Pre-Award team, College Grants team, and the BA to ensure all award documentation, sponsor requirements, and budget information are received, reviewed, and properly distributed for effective post-award administration. Maintain awareness of proposal submissions, pending awards, and anticipated funding to support monitoring of current and future financial commitments.
• Serve as the primary departmental liaison to the University Research Office and external collaborators for post-award matters, including award setup, interpretation of complex sponsor requirements, contract terms, and coordination of multidisciplinary research activities.
• Manage the department’s Labor Allocation Module (LAM) and Effort Certification processes for sponsored projects, ensuring salary allocations align with approved budgets, federal effort reporting requirements, and mandatory cost-share commitments. Work collaboratively with the Department BA to implement adjustments and maintain accurate effort reporting.
• Oversee subaward administration across the department’s sponsored research portfolio, including coordination with the Research Office on subaward issuance, modifications, and compliance requirements. Ensure all required subrecipient documentation is obtained and maintained, and review subrecipient invoices and financial activity to confirm allowability and consistency with award terms.
• Perform comprehensive financial monitoring and reconciliation of sponsored awards, including monthly statement reviews, identification and resolution of unallowable charges, preparation of journal vouchers and budget adjustments, and preparation and submission of administrative requests to the Research Office, including rebudgets, no-cost extensions, and other sponsor-required approvals, in coordination with the Department BA.
• Provide advanced financial analysis and projections for complex awards, including short- and long-term forecasting for large grants and cooperative agreements to support departmental decision-making regarding personnel commitments, equipment purchases, and research expenditures.
• Support departmental compliance and risk management activities by monitoring adherence to sponsor and institutional requirements, assisting with Technology Control Plans and regulatory certifications (e.g., IRB, Conflict of Interest, Export Control), and coordinating responses to internal and external audit inquiries.
• Collaborate with departmental and college partners—including the BA, Graduate Coordinator, College Grants Manager, and Research Office—to support financial reporting, graduate tuition and stipend monitoring, and faculty grant transfers. Independently manage and submit the compliant closeout of sponsored awards, including completion and submission of all required Automated Closeout Report (ACR) documentation and sponsor-required deliverables.
• Serve as a departmental subject matter expert for sponsored research administration, providing guidance on policies, procedures, and regulatory updates while identifying and implementing process improvements to strengthen compliance, internal controls, and operational efficiency.
• Maintain current knowledge of sponsored research administration practices, federal regulations, and institutional policies by actively engaging in ongoing professional development. Participate in relevant trainings, workshops, and conferences (e.g., NEAROC, University of Delaware Research Office Conference, and similar opportunities) to ensure up-to-date expertise and continuous improvement in grants management.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned in support of the department’s research mission.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field with three years of progressively responsible job-related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience operating in a research-intensive, higher education environment preferred.
• Working knowledge of 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance and the ability to interpret, adapt, and apply complex sponsor guidelines to post-award management.
• Understanding of the pre-award lifecycle and proposal requirements sufficient to facilitate the successful transition and setup of new awards.
• Knowledge of University of Delaware’s PeopleSoft Grants and sponsor grant systems (e.g., FastLane, CAYUSE, NSPIRES) preferred.
• Experience with UD Financials, Cognos, query writing, and report generation using a variety of data sources.
• Demonstrated skill in budget management, account reconciliation, and the application of fund accounting principles.
• Ability to use advanced techniques in spreadsheet and database management (Excel) to quantify and illustrate complex financial projections and impacts.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional, and agile collaborative team environment.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail and independent judgment.
• Effective analytical and critical thinking skills with a proven track record of decision-making.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of constituents on a variety of research and financial management topics.
• Ability to provide a service-oriented approach to sponsored projects management while interacting with diverse backgrounds across a multidisciplinary campus.