Grants & Agreements Manager
Overview
Portland State University is seeking a professional with direct experience reviewing and negotiating contracts, data use agreements (DUAs), memoranda of understanding (MOUs), nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), or sponsored agreements to serve as Grants & Agreements Manager (GAM) within Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA). This position combines research contracting expertise with team leadership and offers an opportunity to strengthen agreement administration, develop staff, and improve processes at an urban research university committed to collaboration and public impact.
SPA is the University’s centralized sponsored projects office, responsible for administering externally funded grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other sponsored agreements across a diverse research portfolio supported by federal, state and local government, private industry, nonprofit, and international sponsors.
The Grants & Agreements Manager leads SPA’s Grants & Agreements team and oversees the timely, consistent, and effective review, negotiation, acceptance, and documentation of sponsored awards and related agreements, including outgoing subawards. The manager establishes operational priorities, manages workload, develops staff, and promotes consistent, service-oriented practices. The manager’s primary responsibility is to lead the team and its operations, with direct involvement in complex or escalated agreements as needed.
We are particularly interested in candidates who have personally reviewed agreement terms, developed proposed revisions, and negotiated with sponsors, customers, or other contracting parties. Successful candidates will bring sound judgment in identifying contractual obligations and institutional risks, explaining their implications, and developing practical solutions in collaboration with investigators, legal counsel, and other institutional partners.
The position serves as an Authorized Organizational Representative and Institutional Signing Official with delegated authority to execute sponsored project agreements and related institutional commitments on behalf of the University.
Experience reviewing and negotiating university research agreements is strongly preferred. Candidates with relevant contracting experience in government, nonprofit, industry, or other settings are also encouraged to apply.
We welcome both established supervisors and experienced contracting professionals ready to move into their first formal management role. Experience training or mentoring colleagues, guiding agreement reviews, coordinating workloads, or leading process improvements can provide a strong foundation for this position. We value collaborative leadership and a commitment to staff development.
The anticipated starting annual salary is $80,000-$94,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
This position is based at Portland State University’s downtown Portland campus and requires on-campus work four days per week. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington within reasonable commuting distance of campus. Limited remote work, typically one day per week, is available consistent with University policy and operational needs.
To apply, please submit an application for Position No. D93038 through PSU’s employment website.
Applications will be reviewed as received. Please review the full position posting for complete qualification requirements and application instructions.