Award Management Specialist
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Please see Special Instructions for more details.
The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor
Vehicle Report
The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying
permission with
the finalist.
Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and
experiences to
support your answers to the supplemental questions.
UNC Charlotte Benefits Information:
https: // hr.charlotte.edu/benefits/benefits-overview/
Position Information
General Information
Position Number 003958
Vacancy Open to All Candidates
Working Title Award Management Specialist
Position Designation EHRA Non-Faculty
Employment Type Permanent - Full-time
Months per Year 12
Work Schedule 8am-5pm; Monday – Friday with occasional evening and weekend hours required, as necessary
Hours per week 40
FLSA Status Exempt
Division Research
Department Div of Research (Adm)
Work Location Cameron Hall
Salary Range $59,000 - $64,000
Primary Purpose of Department The Office of Sponsored Research Administration (SRA) is the central administrative and financial backbone of UNC Charlotte's thriving research enterprise as a premier Carnegie R1 institution. Acting as the university's Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR), SRA manages the institution's externally funded research portfolio and serves as the official liaison between our world-class investigators and global funding sponsors, including federal agencies, state partners, foundations, and industry leaders. SRA supports faculty, staff, and institutional partners through the entire grant lifecycle by ensuring excellence in research stewardship, administrative management, and complete fiscal compliance:
Pre-Award: Facilitates proposal and budget development, ensures adherence
to sponsor guidelines, and manages the official institutional proposal
submission process.
Award Acceptance & Negotiation: Reviews, negotiates, and executes legally
binding contracts, grants, subawards, and related research agreements on
behalf of the university.
Award Management: Oversees non-financial award modifications, no-cost
extensions, personnel actions, scope changes, and award tracking to ensure
sponsor and institutional compliance. In addition, works with PIs and
departments on financial tracking of sponsored projects.
Non-Federal Sponsor Invoicing: Manages the preparation, verification, and
timely submission of invoices and billing milestones to corporate,
foundation, municipal, and state sponsors to ensure steady funding
streams.
Research Accounting & Financial Compliance: Manages financial award setup
and budget entry, monitors transaction allowability and cost-share
reporting, prepares fiscal reports for sponsors, oversees subrecipient
monitoring, and directs the final financial closeout and audit readiness
of sponsored funds.
Primary Purpose of Position Serves as an Award Management Specialist on the Award Management team within the Office of Sponsored Research Administration. Under the direction of the Director for Award Management, this position assists faculty and staff with the efficient and effective management of their funded awards from contract negotiation and award approval to project closeout. The Award Management Specialist provides high-touch administrative and financial oversight throughout the award lifecycle. The Award Management Specialist serves as the primary post-award point of contact for Principal Investigators (PIs) and unit-level staff, driving excellence in research stewardship and fiscal compliance. The Award Management Specialist delivers critical financial analysis (including burn rates and spending projections), coordinates monthly reconciliations, drafts budget revisions, monitors cost-share, collaborates on award closeout, and manages complex financial and administrative compliance tracking.
Summary of Position Responsibilities Professional Knowledge, Investigator Support & Financial Analysis
Provide comprehensive sponsored project oversight and serve as the primary
point of contact for PIs seeking support for post-award management
activities.
Perform financial analysis of award spending, calculate burn rates, and
provide highly accurate spending projections to guide research planning.
Collect and analyze financial data in preparation for monthly spending
reports to PIs, providing relevant expenditure projections and an ongoing
review of post-award activity.
In collaboration with department staff, complete thorough monthly
reconciliations on grant awards and review results directly with Principal
Investigators (PIs).
Work with PIs and campus administrators to solve problems, answer
questions, and give guidance on post-award activities and other grants
management topics.
Project Administration & Lifecycle Management
Assist and provide guidance to faculty and unit-level staff on the
financial management and tracking of awards, including but not limited to
purchasing, travel, hiring of project personnel, reporting, and sub-award
interactions.
Plan and execute award kickoff meetings and quarterly award meetings with
PIs and department staff to review project status and financial health.
Manage overall budgets and reporting timelines throughout the entire
lifecycle of the award, ensuring no deadlines are missed.
Collaboratively design, draft, and develop formal budget revisions and re-
budgeting scenarios for active awards, aligning revised spending plans
with project milestones.
Provide active support and guidance to department staff on institutional
procedures and systems required to process financial transactions on grant
accounts successfully.
Review award transactions, ensuring all charges are allowable, allocable,
and reasonable.
Compliance, Information Analysis & Decision-Making
Provide financial oversight, financial and administrative compliance
guidance on awards, and award management support regarding sponsor and
institutional policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Track and monitor cost-share commitments to ensure the institution meets
its documented obligations.
Review, coordinate, and submit sponsor prior approval requests,
Assumptions of Risk, and other administrative amendments.
Work as the lead mediator when financial non-compliance is identified.
Collaborate with department staff to investigate the root cause, and
partner with the Research Accounting and Financial Compliance Team to
implement corrective action plans.
Oversee monthly expense reporting, projections, and formal closeouts.
Assist faculty and unit-level staff with timely award closeouts, work to
clear remaining encumbrances, and coordinate with the Research Accounting
and Financial Compliance Team to submit final financial reports (FFRs).
Compliance, Information Analysis & Decision-Making
Maintain strong, positive relationships with faculty and staff, all units
within the Division of Research, and sponsor agencies to facilitate the
work of research administration at the University.
Promote and maintain close, effective working relationships between the
teams within the Office of Sponsored Research Administration.
Work with colleagues and team members to jointly solve questions and
challenges in their daily work, responding to inquiries in a timely,
professional manner and providing consistently excellent support.
Monitor changes to sponsor policies and procedures and assist with
communicating key changes to campus research administrators and
investigators.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Education/Experience Bachelor's degree and two+ (2+) years of experience in sponsored research administration and post-award grants management or equivalent combination of education and experience
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Master's Degree
5+ years of experience in post-award and research administration
Experience supporting sponsored research activities within an institution
of higher education
Thorough knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), cost principles,
direct/indirect costing, and sponsor-specific rules regarding re-budgeting
thresholds and prior approvals.
Advanced Excel skills (formulas, pivot tables, data modeling for
financial projections and budget scenarios) and experience with financial
systems and electronic research administration systems.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects,
deadlines, and priorities.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to work
collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders at all levels.
Strong problem-solving, project management, and time management skills.
Necessary Certifications/Licenses
Preferred Certifications/Licenses Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA)
Special Notes to Applicants
The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor
Vehicle Report
The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying
permission with
the finalist.
Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and
experiences to
support your answers to the supplemental questions.
UNC Charlotte Benefits Information:
https: // hr.charlotte.edu/benefits/benefits-overview/
Posting Open Date 09/04/2026
Posting Close Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Proposed Hire Date 09/28/2026
If time-limited please indicate appointment end date
Contact Information
Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk ().
How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
UNC Charlotte Website
HERC Job Board
Inside Higher Education
Mitratech Circa (formerly known as Local JobNetwork)
Another Website
Agency Referral
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Personal Referral
Other
Where did you learn about this posting?
(Open Ended Question)
Do you have a bachelor's degree and two+ (2+) years of experience in sponsored research administration and post-award grants management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience?
Yes, at least a bachelor's degree and two+ (2+) years of experience in sponsored research administration and post-award grants management.
Yes, an associate's degree and four+ (4+) years of experience in sponsored research administration and post-award grants management
Yes, a high school diploma/GED and six+ (6+) years of experience in sponsored research administration and post-award grants management
No
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Resume / Curriculum Vitae
Cover Letter / Letter of Interest
Contact Information for References
Optional Documents
