Award Operations Manager

Award Operations Manager

The position leads the pre-award operations for incoming sponsored awards and institutional account establishment.

About the Job

• Structure: The role ensures that awards, contracts, and modifications are negotiated, accepted, and entered into institutional systems with accuracy, timeliness, and compliance to federal, sponsor, and university policies.
• Responsibilities:

The manager provides strategic and hands-on leadership to a team responsible for contract negotiation, award intake, amendments, prior approvals, and account establishment. Key responsibilities include:

Award Setup & Negotiation:

• Negotiate, review, and accept incoming sponsored agreements (federal, industry, foundation, and subawards).
• Process sponsor-driven modifications, including amendments, PI/budget/scope changes, JITs, and no-cost extensions.
• Evaluate high-risk terms in coordination with Legal and university leadership.

Leadership & Team Development:

• Oversight, training, and mentorship for staff handling award intake, negotiation, and setup.
• Structured performance check-ins, professional development plans, and skill-building opportunities.
• Cultivate a culture of accountability, organization, and professional communication within the team.

Compliance & Risk Oversight:

• Ensure incoming award and setup activities comply with 2 CFR 200, FAR/DFARS, and sponsor-specific policies.
• Monitor documentation standards, version control, and adherence to SOPs to ensure audit readiness.
• Address audit findings and documentation gaps through process improvements and staff training.

Systems & Process Optimization:

• Consistent use of Cayuse SP, Workday Grants, the OOR ticketing system, and SharePoint for documentation and workflows.
• SOPs for award negotiation, intake, setup, and modifications.
• Resolve system gaps and improve data integrity across platforms.

Faculty & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Communicate award negotiation timelines, account setup requirements, and compliance expectations clearly to faculty and department administrators.
• Serve as a professional, responsive representative of the university in sponsor and subrecipient communications.
• Emphasize Pre-Award's role as a strategic partner to researchers, not just a processing unit.

Strategic & Institutional Leadership:

• Data-driven insights on award volume, negotiation timelines, and setup performance.
• Contribute to university-wide policy development and compliance initiatives related to sponsored programs.
• Cohesive leadership across the Pre-Award Office.
• Advance institutional research growth and compliance objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is essential, with a Master's degree preferred, supplemented by extensive experience in grant and contract administration.
• 10+ years of experience in research administration, with at least 5 years in leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success in managing the full pre-award lifecycle, including award negotiation, intake, amendments, and account setup in research administration systems.
• Comprehensive understanding of federal regulations governing sponsored programs, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), FAR/DFARS, and sponsor-specific guidelines.
• Proven ability to review, interpret, and negotiate complex research agreements and identify risks requiring escalation.
• Experience with electronic research administration platforms (e.g., Cayuse SP, Workday Grants, Kuali Research) and comfort with process automation and workflow tracking tools.
• Exceptional ability to manage multiple, concurrent priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and compliance.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage faculty, sponsors, legal counsel, and internal partners.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor staff, build high-performing teams, and implement structured training and SOPs.

Compensation Information

• Expected Pay Range: $163,636 - $180,000

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