Grants Administrator

Overview

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is seeking a Grants Administrator to join its Research and Strategic Partnerships Department. RISD recognizes that discovery and experimentation are critical for meaningful work in art and design. RISD Research sustains the school’s culture of inquiry by offering a platform for research initiatives, providing opportunities for programming, training, and publication; and encouraging collaboration among students and faculty.

Reporting to the Director of Research, the Grants Administrator is a vital member of the RISD Research Office responsible for lifecycle grant development and management from planning to closeout. The person in this position collaborates internally with members of various departments and externally with partners in higher education, public and private agencies, industry, and the Rhode Island community. The Grants Administrator prepares proposals and budgets, seeking grant opportunities, disseminating progress and outcomes reports, and maintaining accurate records. The person in this position will be expected to work both independently and as part of a team and to develop cordial, supportive, and beneficial relationships with RISD community members. Successful candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively in a diverse and inclusive environment. This opportunity is ideal for the grants professional seeking to grow in leadership and to contribute to a renown art + design organization that is breaking new ground in building an innovative research enterprise.

As an employer, RISD offers a supportive, collegial, and inclusive work environment and a competitive benefits package.

Essential Functions

• Actively engage with faculty and graduate students to identify and consult on grant and fellowship opportunities, which also contribute to and promote interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial, transformative, and decolonial approaches for conducting research.
• Advise faculty on federal and non-federal funding opportunities. Review sponsor agency goals and guidelines to ensure alignment with RISD strategic priorities. Facilitate faculty in establishing teams and in identifying internal and external collaborators.
• Write, and edit proposals and provide support to faculty in their proposal development.  Actively engage faculty in the creation of budgets and budget justifications, and in preparing forms and other proposal-related documents.
• Submit grant and fellowship applications through the internal routing system to external sponsors. 
• Coordinate internal reviews; facilitate interaction with administration; promote practices that incorporate feedback into the development phase.
• Review awards and contracts to ensure compliance with RISD and sponsor agency policies and guidelines.
• Prepare, update, and maintain records and reports, related to pre-and post-award processes; track and monitor grant projects; monitor grant and contract spending.
• Communicate research and funding outcomes to various stakeholders through means e.g., Field Notes newsletter, reports to sponsors, annual reports, et al.
• Provide excellent customer service and take agency in resolving complex issues.

Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum four years of professional experience writing and managing grants, preferably in higher education, arts organizations, or nonprofits.
• Experience with federal and state agency, departmental, program, or nonprofit budgeting. 
• Knowledge of UG, GAAP, PAPPG, OMB, and/or F&A rules and regulations.
• Track record of securing public and private grants.
• Skilled in planning work, ability to analyze, retain knowledge, show initiative, and be resourceful in locating information.

• Strong computer skills specifically Excel.  Familiarity with Google Apps: Docs and Drive, Adobe Acrobat. Ability to learn and acclimate to new technology and tools.
• Experience with electronic grants administration systems such as Fastlane, Grants.gov, eRA Commons.
• Ability to read, interpret and clearly convey information from the Federal Register, sponsor guidelines, solicitations and NOFOs. 
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion.
• Ability to work with faculty members and graduate students from academic disciplines and creative practices throughout RISD to support high-quality research and competitive funding proposals.
• Ability to promote interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial, transformative, and decolonial approaches for conducting research.
• Ability to work in and encourage forming diverse, multicultural, BIPOC research teams, partners, and collaborators.