"Grants & Contracts Manager"

Chatham University welcomes your interest in employment opportunities and encourages you to review open positions. Please note that Chatham does not accept unsolicited applications.

Grants & Contracts Manager

Chatham University seeks a detail-oriented and collaborative Grants & Contracts Manager to join the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP). Reporting to the Director of Sponsored Research and Strategic Partnerships, this position plays a key role in managing the full lifecycle of sponsored projects—from proposal development to post-award administration.

The Grants & Contracts Manager will oversee post-award operations, including award processing, financial tracking, invoicing, compliance monitoring, and reporting. The role will also contribute to identifying funding opportunities, preparing proposals, and strengthening institutional capacity for effective grant administration.

Working closely with faculty, researchers, administrators, and finance staff, the Manager will help design and implement policies, training, and systems that promote compliance, transparency, and operational excellence across all sponsored programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage a diverse portfolio of active grants and contracts, ensuring projects remain aligned with approved budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
• Monitor compliance with sponsor terms, federal and state regulations, and institutional policies.
• Collaborate with the Business Office and departments to track grant-funded activities and collect data for reporting and audits.
• Maintain accurate records of all awards, amendments, and communications.
• Oversee post-award activities including budget management, reporting, and financial reconciliation.
• Prepare and submit required invoices, progress reports, and closeout documentation for sponsors.
• Process contract and award modifications, extensions, and terminations.
• Provide guidance to principal investigators and department staff on compliance, budgeting, and regulatory issues.
• Identify and resolve discrepancies in expenditures or reporting in coordination with the Business Office.
• Ensure the accuracy of all financial transactions and adherence to sponsor and institutional policies.
• Maintain comprehensive and organized records for all grant-related documents, including proposals, award letters, reports, and amendments.
• Support internal data management within the ORSP; update databases, tracking tools, and CRM systems (experience with Virtuous or similar preferred).
• Assist faculty and project leads with interim and final performance reports to funding agencies.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of institutional policies, workflows, and templates to enhance efficiency and compliance.
• Monitor emerging funding opportunities and trends in research administration.
• Support proposal development and pre-award activities as needed.
• Participate in process improvement initiatives, system upgrades, and training programs that strengthen grant management capacity.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the Director of Sponsored Research and Strategic Partnerships.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Research Management, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 3–5 years of experience in grants or sponsored programs administration within higher education, research, or nonprofit sectors.
• Demonstrated experience with post-award management, financial oversight, and compliance monitoring.
• Familiarity with federal (e.g., NIH, NSF, DOE), state, and private sponsor regulations and reporting systems.
• Strong understanding of project management principles and budget development.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience with grants management or ERP systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across departments.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of compliance, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Salary Range:

$65,000 - $72,000 annually. 40-hour work week.

Exact compensation based on candidate skills and experience.

How to Apply:

Applications accepted only via Chatham Careers and follow the instructions to complete the application process. To ensure full consideration, please include:

• Cover Letter outlining your qualifications for the position
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Contact information for three professional references

All application materials should be uploaded at the same time at the time of application. The system will not allow applicants to make edits to their applications after submission.

Chatham University strives to promote a campus environment that understands and embraces multiculturalism while increasing individuals' intercultural competence. We actively work to build and sustain a diverse and culturally vibrant campus, which promotes employee and student success and retention.

Chatham University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Chatham University does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, age, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital or family status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.