Grants and Contracts Administrator

Duke Careers

. Work within the School of Medicine Shared Research Administration Resource Group to manage an assigned portfolio of complex grants and contracts .

Posted 9/22/2026full-timeRemote • North Carolina • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $61,026 - $98,838 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in managing complex grants and contracts, including budget development, compliance with federal and university regulations, and effective communication with faculty and stakeholders. Proficient in financial analysis and project management to ensure successful proposal submissions and fiscal performance monitoring.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Grant And Contract ManagementBudget Development And JustificationFederal Regulations KnowledgeSPS And R3 ExperienceResearch Administration Academy Certification

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Budget DevelopmentFinancial AnalysisProposal PreparationCompliance MonitoringData AnalysisProject ManagementCost AssessmentReconciliationReport PreparationContract Negotiation

Soft Skills

Effective CommunicationProject PrioritizationOrganizational SkillsAttention To DetailInterpersonal Skills

Tools & Technologies

MS Office SuiteSPSR3Grants.DukeSES

Certifications & Qualifications

Research Administration Academy CertificationFinancial Services Introduction To R3Introduction To Duke GLIntroduction To AccountingSponsored Research ReportingBasic ComplianceDuke Human Research TrainingBudget Development And Negotiation Training

Industry Keywords

Grants ManagementContract ManagementResearch AdministrationFederal Rules And RegulationsDuke University Policies

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Work within the School of Medicine Shared Research Administration Resource Group to manage an assigned portfolio of complex grants and contracts
Assist departmental faculty/PI with development, preparation, and submission of grant and contract proposals
Ensure applications and contracts meet agency and university guidelines, timelines, and deadlines
Enter and route proposals for further review in a timely manner
Develop budgets and budget justifications, proofing for inconsistencies and accuracy
Prepare and submit grants and contracts through the pre-award process using sponsor and Duke regulations
Advise faculty/PI on administrative requirements for proposal submissions
Assist with internal cost assessments, budget development, and sponsor negotiations
Prepare, coordinate, and review proposal elements including biosketches, justifications, and facilities and resources
Verify financial information and appropriate overhead rates
Review sponsored projects in the Sponsored Projects System for compliance and institutional signatures
Manage assigned projects and financial project portfolios
Monitor fiscal performance, identify concerns, and advise on budget adjustments and revisions
Monitor proposal status and research protection protocol requirements and deadlines
Manage budget, reporting, and compliance timelines throughout the grant or contract lifecycle
Establish sub-recipient financial and reporting requirements and coordinate sub-agreements with ORA
Reconcile monthly budget reports and submit cost transfers and corrections
Prepare requests for re-budgeting or modifying funded projects
Reconcile and close sub-recipient cost objects and obtain sponsor-required reports
Maintain financial records according to institutional retention guidelines
Monitor patient care expense charging and manage overdrafts
Ensure proper recording of project revenue and close funded projects
Develop project management plans for faculty/PI or senior grants administrator review
Make cost-sharing adjustments when necessary
Establish and maintain SOPs for handling and tracking sponsor payments
Interpret departmental policies and procedures and issue operating instructions
Submit reports to grants and contracts leadership when requested

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree program; a bachelor's or master's degree in a field of study directly related to the specific position requires no experience
Successful completion of Financial Services Introduction to R3, Introduction to Duke GL, Introduction to Accounting, Sponsored Research Reporting, Research Administration at Duke, Basic Compliance, Duke Human Research Training, Budget Development and Negotiation Training, and Industry Funded Clinical Research—Process for Contracts within the first six months of hire
Successful completion of the Research Administration Academy (RAA); employees without RAA training must complete it within 12 months of start date
Maintain certification(s) through continuing education requirements
Ability to analyze data and formulate conclusions
Ability to learn changing technologies related to grants and contracts management
Solid working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint)
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with all levels of the organization
Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects/tasks simultaneously
Ability to create verbal and written reports
Knowledge of federal rules and regulations relating to research grant and/or contract activity
Knowledge of Duke University policies and procedures relating to grant and contracts activity
Knowledge of Duke University processes, systems and offices related to grant and contract submission and management
Ability to apply federal and university rules to management of effort allocation for individuals compensated from federal awards
Ability to apply costing rules and regulations to federally funded projects
Experience with or ability to perform required functions in SPS, R3, grants.duke, and SES
Understanding of financial processes and controls, including reconciliation
Advanced tier requires 3 years of relevant experience (2 years for qualifying internal employees)
Senior tier requires 6 years of relevant experience (5 years for qualifying internal employees; CRA certification may reduce this to 5 years)
Lead tier requires 3 years of relevant experience (2 years for qualifying internal employees)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive medical and dental care programs
Generous retirement benefits
Family-friendly and cultural programs