Provides comprehensive pre and post award activities within a school/college/division, including assisting division faculty and principal investigators (PI) in the development, preparation, submission, and management of grant and contract proposals and awards. Serves as a key member of the school/college/division, and in partnership with other Grant and Contract Administrators, work with faculty and research groups within the University on the preparation and submission of research proposals. This position ensures compliance with university, sponsor, and regulatory requirements while promoting efficient, strategic, and customer-focused research administration.
Essential Functions:
Award Management & Compliance (Post-Award): Review and interpret grant and contract terms in collaboration with Sponsored Program Administration (SPA). Monitor expenditures for compliance with sponsor guidelines and university policies. Support faculty with financial management, including fund transfers, payroll allocations, and project extensions. Oversee closeout processes to ensure timely and accurate completion. Manage life cycle of the grant.
Faculty Support & Budget Development: Identify funding opportunities and collaborate with faculty on proposal preparation. Develop and review budgets and budget justifications to ensure compliance with sponsor, university, and regulatory requirements. Submit proposals to SPA for final approval.
Proposal Development & Submission (Pre-Award): Ensure all applications meet sponsor and university guidelines, timelines, and submission requirements. Coordinate proposal routing, approvals, and timely submission through institutional systems.
Cost Share & Financial Oversight: Reconcile cost sharing and matching funds to ensure accurate accounting and compliance with sponsor and university commitments.
Process Improvement & Policy Development: Develop, implement, and continuously improve pre- and post-award policies, procedures, and workflows to enhance efficiency and compliance.
Training & Consultation: Provide training and guidance to faculty and staff on grant policies, systems, and best practices. Serve as a subject matter expert on grant administration and compliance requirements.
Institutional Engagement: Represent the division on university committees and contribute to cross-functional initiatives related to research administration.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.
Wayne State University is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high quality education. Our deep rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities preparing students for success in a diverse, global society.