Grants & Contracts Administrator

Duke Careers

. Manage and oversee an assigned portfolio of complex grants and contracts .

Posted 9/18/2026full-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 monitoring, and proposal preparation. Proficient in applying federal and university regulations to ensure successful grant management and reporting.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Grant ManagementBudget DevelopmentCompliance MonitoringProposal PreparationData Analysis

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Budget JustificationCost AssessmentFinancial ReconciliationProject ManagementFederal Regulations KnowledgeGrant Proposal DevelopmentContract NegotiationSPS ProficiencyR3 ProficiencyGrants.Duke Proficiency

Soft Skills

Verbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationProject PrioritizationMulti-taskingAnalytical Thinking

Tools & Technologies

MS Office SuiteDuke GLSponsored Projects SystemSES

Certifications & Qualifications

Research Administration Academy (RAA)Financial Services Introduction to R3Introduction to Duke GLIntroduction to AccountingSponsored Research ReportingBasic ComplianceDuke Human Research TrainingBudget Development and Negotiation Training

Industry Keywords

Research AdministrationGrant ComplianceContract ManagementFederal Award ManagementUniversity Policies

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Manage and oversee an assigned portfolio of complex grants and contracts
Assist faculty and principal investigators with developing, preparing, and submitting grant and contract proposals
Ensure applications and contracts meet agency and university guidelines, timelines, and deadlines
Develop budgets and budget justifications, proof budgets for inconsistencies, and ensure accuracy
Prepare and submit grants and contracts through the pre-award process
Advise faculty and principal investigators on administrative proposal requirements
Develop internal cost assessments and negotiate budgets with sponsors
Prepare, coordinate, and review proposal elements including biosketches, justifications, and facilities and resources
Monitor compliance with agency and university submission regulations
Review sponsored projects through the Sponsored Projects System and Office of Research Administration
Manage assigned projects and financial portfolios
Monitor fiscal performance, identify concerns, and advise on budget adjustments
Manage budget, reporting, and compliance timelines throughout grant and contract lifecycles
Establish sub-recipient financial and reporting requirements and coordinate sub-agreements
Reconcile monthly budget reports and submit cost transfers
Prepare requests for re-budgeting or project modifications
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
Close funded projects according to university processes and timelines
Develop project management plans
Manage cost-sharing adjustments and sponsor payment tracking procedures
Apply federal and university rules to manage sponsored-award effort
Submit reports to grants and contracts leadership when requested

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree program required
No experience required for candidates with a Bachelor's or Master's degree directly related to the specific position
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) expected
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
Proficient computer use and solid working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint)
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with all organizational levels
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 contract 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 manage effort allocation for individuals compensated from federal awards
Ability to apply costing rules and regulations to federally funded projects
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
Senior tier requires 6 years of relevant experience
Lead tier requires 3 years of relevant experience

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive medical and dental care programs
Generous retirement benefits
Family-friendly and cultural programs
100% remote work option for eligible approved states