What are the responsibilities and job description for the Specialist, Post Award position at University of Rhode Island?
Position Information
Posting Number
SF01980
Job Title
Specialist, Post Award
Position Number
108181
FTE
1.00
FLSA
Exempt
Position Type
Professional Staff
Union
PSA/NEA - Professional Staff Assoc
Pay Grade Level
Grade Level: 10
Pay Grade Range
Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $60,000 - $75,000
Status
Calendar Year, Full-time, Limited
Department Information
Department
Research Office
Contact(s)
Please note: Job applications must be submitted directly online only at: (https://jobs.uri.edu)
Contact Phone/Extension
Contact Email
Physical Demands
Campus Location
Kingston
Grant Funded
Extension Contingency Notes
Position is full-time, calendar year, limited to 06/27/2026 with anticipated renewal.
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Job Description Summary
About URI:
The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land- grant and sea-grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI, and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.
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The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by April 9, 2025. Applications received after April 9, 2025 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.
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THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A REMOTE/HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE IS POSSIBLE.
BASIC FUNCTION:
Serve as post-award contact person working directly with Principal Investigators (PI) and staff in a defined subset of departments within the University to facilitate understanding of the administrative terms and conditions of their sponsored award(s), which would include the award set up through the close out of that award(s). Responsible for oversight of post award activity for all sponsored projects from federal, state, Foundation, non-profit and corporate entities according to federal, state and University policies, review and approve all post award grant expenditures, monitor, and prepare reports on cost share activity, and final close-out of awards.
The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land- grant and sea-grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI, and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.
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The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by April 9, 2025. Applications received after April 9, 2025 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A REMOTE/HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE IS POSSIBLE.
BASIC FUNCTION:
Serve as post-award contact person working directly with Principal Investigators (PI) and staff in a defined subset of departments within the University to facilitate understanding of the administrative terms and conditions of their sponsored award(s), which would include the award set up through the close out of that award(s). Responsible for oversight of post award activity for all sponsored projects from federal, state, Foundation, non-profit and corporate entities according to federal, state and University policies, review and approve all post award grant expenditures, monitor, and prepare reports on cost share activity, and final close-out of awards.
Duties and Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Responsible for the setup of awards in the financial system and all the related cost share accounts, if required.
Review and approve purchasing, accounts payable, and travel activity to be charged to sponsored projects in order to ensure expenses are allowable, allocable, and reasonable, and that they are in compliance with sponsor’s requirements.
Review, approve, and process various personnel appointments to sponsored project accounts to ensure expenses are allowable, allocable, and reasonable and that they are in compliance with sponsor’s requirements.
Review, approve, and process budget revision requests to sponsored project accounts to ensure they are allowable, allocable, and reasonable, and that they are in compliance with sponsor’s requirements.
Work with agency sponsors, principal investigators, and administrative staff to troubleshoot grant administration-related issues.
Maintain working knowledge of The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principals and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards) and principles of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.
Monitor cost-sharing activity and prepare monthly cost share reports, or when otherwise required.
Prepare various reports for submission to funding agencies, as well as for internal use.
Process close-out of awards, including pre-closing notice, review projects for open items, encumbrances, advances, deficits, surpluses, adjustments, and final billing.
Monitor technical reporting requirements, ensuring that they are met by the PI.
Interpret award instructions from grant and contract documents, including agency requirements for managing the project, restrictions, billing, and reporting.
Work with other Sponsored Projects personnel to resolve problems. Exhibit a commitment to effective teamwork, flexibility, and a willingness to acquire new skills as needed.
Monitor compliance and adherence to University, federal, and state policies and procedures.
Monitor international accounts for expenditure allowability, accountability, and exchange rate calculations.
Maintain current knowledge of various University financial systems and all related interfaces.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Exhibit sensitivity to and consistently meet the support requirements of a research environment and be committed to customer satisfaction and effective teamwork.
Assist the AVP of Research Administration and the Associate Director of Post Award on other matters as they relate to post award activity when necessary.
Actively participate in the implementation of the post-award grant system module. Provide input on award tracking, review system manuals, and test and provide feedback on modules prior to implementation. Attend regularly scheduled meetings.
Perform other duties as assigned.
LICENSES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:
Personal computers, printers; word processing, database management and spreadsheet software; federal electronic proposal submission systems.
Responsible for the setup of awards in the financial system and all the related cost share accounts, if required.
Review and approve purchasing, accounts payable, and travel activity to be charged to sponsored projects in order to ensure expenses are allowable, allocable, and reasonable, and that they are in compliance with sponsor’s requirements.
Review, approve, and process various personnel appointments to sponsored project accounts to ensure expenses are allowable, allocable, and reasonable and that they are in compliance with sponsor’s requirements.
Review, approve, and process budget revision requests to sponsored project accounts to ensure they are allowable, allocable, and reasonable, and that they are in compliance with sponsor’s requirements.
Work with agency sponsors, principal investigators, and administrative staff to troubleshoot grant administration-related issues.
Maintain working knowledge of The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principals and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards) and principles of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.
Monitor cost-sharing activity and prepare monthly cost share reports, or when otherwise required.
Prepare various reports for submission to funding agencies, as well as for internal use.
Process close-out of awards, including pre-closing notice, review projects for open items, encumbrances, advances, deficits, surpluses, adjustments, and final billing.
Monitor technical reporting requirements, ensuring that they are met by the PI.
Interpret award instructions from grant and contract documents, including agency requirements for managing the project, restrictions, billing, and reporting.
Work with other Sponsored Projects personnel to resolve problems. Exhibit a commitment to effective teamwork, flexibility, and a willingness to acquire new skills as needed.
Monitor compliance and adherence to University, federal, and state policies and procedures.
Monitor international accounts for expenditure allowability, accountability, and exchange rate calculations.
Maintain current knowledge of various University financial systems and all related interfaces.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Exhibit sensitivity to and consistently meet the support requirements of a research environment and be committed to customer satisfaction and effective teamwork.
Assist the AVP of Research Administration and the Associate Director of Post Award on other matters as they relate to post award activity when necessary.
Actively participate in the implementation of the post-award grant system module. Provide input on award tracking, review system manuals, and test and provide feedback on modules prior to implementation. Attend regularly scheduled meetings.
Perform other duties as assigned.
LICENSES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:
Personal computers, printers; word processing, database management and spreadsheet software; federal electronic proposal submission systems.
Required Qualifications
REQUIRED:
1. Bachelor’s degree.
2. Minimum of three years of financial experience.
3. Demonstrated working knowledge of Office of Management and Budget (0MB) Uniform Guidance, and principles of allowability, allocability and reasonableness.
4. Demonstrated familiarity with federal, state, university, and sponsor-level requirements for sponsored projects.
5. Demonstrated experience with word processing and spreadsheet and database management software.
6. Demonstrated attention to detail.
7. Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
8. Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills.
9. Demonstrated ability to be a team member.
10. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations.
1. Bachelor’s degree.
2. Minimum of three years of financial experience.
3. Demonstrated working knowledge of Office of Management and Budget (0MB) Uniform Guidance, and principles of allowability, allocability and reasonableness.
4. Demonstrated familiarity with federal, state, university, and sponsor-level requirements for sponsored projects.
5. Demonstrated experience with word processing and spreadsheet and database management software.
6. Demonstrated attention to detail.
7. Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
8. Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills.
9. Demonstrated ability to be a team member.
10. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations.
Preferred Qualifications
PREFERRED:
1. Demonstrated financial experience in a research administration role in higher education.
2. Demonstrated working knowledge of higher education organization and activities.
3. Demonstrated experience with PeopleSoft, Oracle, and/or other ERP system.
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The University of Rhode Island is an equal-opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. It is the policy of the University of Rhode Island to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability.
1. Demonstrated financial experience in a research administration role in higher education.
2. Demonstrated working knowledge of higher education organization and activities.
3. Demonstrated experience with PeopleSoft, Oracle, and/or other ERP system.
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The University of Rhode Island is an equal-opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. It is the policy of the University of Rhode Island to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability.
Environmental Conditions
This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
Posting Date
03/20/2025
Closing Date
Special Instructions to Applicants
Please attach the following 3 (PDF) documents to your online Employment Application:
(#1) Cover letter.
(#2) Resume.
(#3) Other Document – References – the names and contact information of three professional references. (Note: this document is required even though references may be listed on the application).
Quicklink for Posting
https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/14963
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Optional Documents
- Cover Letter/Letter of Application
- Resume
- Other Document - References
Salary : $60,000 - $75,000
