Senior Grants Manager (Hybrid Eligible)

Overview

Job Summary

The Annenberg School for Communication (ASC) at the University of Pennsylvania is a unique place at Penn. Our students receive an education that encourages them to redefine what communication studies can do — and what media expertise entails in the real world. Our faculty, scholars, and students produce rigorous multidisciplinary research that challenges and changes people's understanding of media institutions and their effects. Our staff support this work as part of an intimate work environment, wherein faculty, students, staff, and scholars are one interactive community. As the smallest of Penn’s 12 schools, Annenberg staff enjoy a small-school environment along with the benefits of working for the larger institution. This makes us a truly distinctive employer at Penn.

Under the broad managerial direction of the Annenberg School’s Director of Finance, the Senior Grants Manager will undertake all financial and administrative tasks related to providing life-cycle grant management for federal and non-federal sponsored research at the Annenberg School for Communication (ASC), from pre-award submission planning through post-award management and close-out.

Job Description

  • Provide premier customer service by serving as the initial point of contact for the grants office of ASC, displaying a positive attitude and high level of willingness and good nature while doing so; field inquiries from and serve as the grants financial policy and process resource for all school constituents.

  • Pre-award grant administration: Assist ASC faculty and others with the preparation of proposals for sponsored research to external and internal sponsors (federal, non-federal, corporate, foundation, intra-university) in accordance with funder, school, and university policies and procedures; review proposals for administrative requirements; provide guidance; assist with the preparation of standard to complex budgets and budget justifications; gather required documents for submission according to sponsor guidelines; prepare PennERA record for submission to the sponsor, review application for completeness, track proposal through the signature process to ensure deadlines are met.

  • Post-award administration: Review AIS information and award notices for accuracy and submit corrections for inaccuracies, budget awards internally and in BEN Financials, prepare and monitor ICR budgets, prepare and enter journals and cost transfers, prepare monthly account reconciliations; ensure regulatory and administrative compliance with sponsor, school, and university policies and procedures; exercise overall management and operational responsibility for issues of finance and reporting, compliance, and procurement services (approve and receipt grant invoices for payment, process and reconcile purchase orders, payments to vendors, ProCard receipts, and revenue deposits); work proactively with vendors and appropriate central university offices to investigate and/or correct issues as necessary; develop and distribute comprehensive monthly financial reports to investigators and meet with PIs regularly to review project and/or portfolio spending actuals, projections, trends, etc. Work closely with school’s payroll coordinator to ensure accurate salary distribution and other payroll related issues; prepare and process travel reimbursements related to grant travel activity; plan reporting schedules and ensure compliance with same, providing reports or templates as needed; Participate in all other activities required to support sponsored research projects. Manage grants through close-out, including overseeing the finally close PO process for sponsored research purchase orders.

  • Liaise with funding agencies, subcontractors, university sponsored project offices, and others.

  • Assist the Director of Finance by preparing ad-hoc grant projections, working with school’s business administrator as appropriate, for the school’s multi-year budget submission and periodic budget forecasts. May also support the Director by providing and/or analyzing ad-hoc data for dean or other senior management for long-range decision-making as needed.

  • Continually monitor risks associated with research administration to ensure full compliance with all regulations and applicable standards; provide recommendations for improved control and/or operation procedures.

  • Work on special projects as needed.

  • Perform other duties as assigned.

A resume and cover letter should be submitted to be considered for candidacy.

Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s Degree and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience in pre- and post-award research administration is required.  Strong grantsmanship, compliance, and administrative experience essential. Exceptional knowledge and experience with spreadsheets, Excel, and MS Office suite of products required. Experience enforcing compliance, funding policies, procedures, and regulations essential. Experience in university financial and research administration accounting systems required. Experience in UPenn research and financial systems preferred (PennERA, Penn GFM Research Portal/Cayuse, Research Other Support App, ERS, HS-ERA, RIS, PHS-FITS, BEN Financials, Markview/BEN, Business Objects/Data Warehouse, Concur, Penn + Box, Secure Share, Workday@Penn, etc.).

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Contact Information

Company
The Annenberg School/UPenn
First Name
Donna
Last Name
Burdumy
Address
Phone
2158987053
Contact Email
dburdumy@asc.upenn.edu
Contact URL

Background Information

Education
4-Year Degree
Years of Experience
3 to 5
Industries
  • College/University
Categories
  • Sponsored Projects/Programs
  • Grants and Contracts
  • Administrator or Administrative
Work Authorization
Authorized to work in the US
Security Clearance
None

Target Job Information

Salary
$61,046.00
Job Type
  • Full Time