Senior Grants and Contracts Manager

Senior Grants and Contracts Manager
Teachers College, Columbia University

Job no: 508395
Position type: Staff
Location: New York
Categories: Administrative/Professional, Business/Accounting/Finance

Posting Summary:
The Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University studies community colleges because they provide critical access to postsecondary education and are uniquely positioned to promote equity and social mobility in the United States. Our mission is to conduct research that helps these institutions strengthen opportunities and improve outcomes for their students, particularly those from underserved populations.

CCRC is seeking a full-time Senior Grants and Contracts Manager to support all aspects of grant management to support our mission. The successful candidate will join a highly skilled grants management team that supports over 25 research professionals.

The position may begin immediately. Please find the application link at ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/employment and include a cover letter, resume, and any related work products with your application.
For information about CCRC's current research activities, mission, and values, please visit ccrc.tc.columbia.edu. CCRC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe that our diversity is essential to our success, and we aim to cultivate a respectful and inclusive environment where all employees are empowered to do their best work.

Job Summary/Basic Function:
Responsibilities
Proposal Development and Submission

• Develop and submit proposal budgets, budget justifications, and ancillary materials (including current and pending support, charts, and appendices) to funders, ensuring accuracy and adherence to Teachers College and funder guidelines.
  
• Review and interpret federal and nonfederal funder guidelines, advise senior staff, and work closely with the Office of Sponsored Programs on federal proposal submissions.
  
• Liaise with partners, consultants, and subcontractors to develop and revise statements of work, budgets, and budget narratives for approval and submission to funders.
  
• Respond to federal grant inquiries and clarification questions. Work closely with principal investigators to revise proposal budgets, budget justifications, and additional materials.
  
  Grant Administration
  
• Manage a portfolio of 10–15 grants/contracts estimated at $13M.
  
• Process and approve payments to vendors and consultants, staff and external reimbursements, professional development fund and travel/cash advances, and miscellaneous disbursements.
  
• Update project budgets daily and track payment requests. Ensure that spending corresponds with proposal budgets and grant/contract specifications.
  
• Monitor that the spending of grant funds corresponds with grants' reporting schedules.
  
• Reconcile monthly budget reports from TC with CCRC project spreadsheets, monitor expenses and variances, and prepare year-end reconciliations and project closeouts.
  
• Request funder approval for and administer modifications to project budgets, scopes of work, and timelines.
  
• Meet with principal investigators quarterly to review expenditures to date and plan future expenditures and staffing.
  
• Work with CCRC's director of finance and administration and principal investigators to prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual invoices/financial reports and submit progress reports to funders in accordance with grant/contract guidelines in advance of required deadlines.
  
  Contract Management and Administration
  
• Work with TC's Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of the General Counsel, Purchasing Office, and project directors to develop, prepare, and/or amend agreements and develop contractor scopes of work. Negotiate contract language within established organizational parameters.
  
• Manage and review subcontractor and consultant progress and financial reports/invoices, request revisions, and process and approve payments.
  
• Manage competitive bids and procurements, including requests for proposals.
  
  Management and Leadership Tasks
  
• Participate in TC focus groups and product explorations/pilots.
  
• Provide suggestions and feedback for new financial and administrative systems.
  
• Work closely with CCRC's director of finance and administration to manage labor allocations.
  
• Participate in U.S. Department of Education and foundation webinars.
  
• Track proposal and financial reporting deadlines and clearly communicate them to staff well in advance.
  
• Work closely with CCRC's finance team, senior staff, and Teachers College offices, ensuring clear communication.
  
• Learn, implement, and train staff on new systems adopted by CCRC and Teachers College.
  
• Act on behalf of the director for finance and administration when she is out of the office.
  
• Participate in CCRC events and professional development activities.
  
• As requested, serve on working groups to support CCRC's equity mission.
  
  Minimum Qualifications:
  
• Bachelor's degree
  
• 5 years of financial and grants administration/management and sponsored programs experience, including preparing and submitting budgets, proposals, and invoices/financial reports to funders
  
• Experience or coursework in cost accounting principles and ability to perform related mathematical calculations
  
• Experience in reading, interpreting, and applying foundation guidelines and federal regulations
  
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills
  
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word and Excel, intermediate skills in Microsoft Access and gift/donor relationship databases, and advanced skills in Adobe Acrobat Pro
  
• Demonstrated reliability, responsibility, good judgment, strong organizational skills, and willingness to take initiative
  
• Ability to work with precision, with strong attention to detail
  
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and anticipate and meet strict deadlines
  
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of internal and external contacts
  
• Successful completion of interview task(s)
  
  Preferred Qualifications:
  
• 7 years or more of sponsored programs/grant management experience
  
• Advanced degree in a related field
  
• Experience in bookkeeping, with advanced skills in software
  
• Experience in reviewing/revising contracts
  
• Experience with organizational financial/accounting software systems
  
• Grants experience in a nonprofit organization or academic institution
  
  To apply for the position, please visit:https://employment.tc.columbia.edu/cw/en-us/job/508395/senior-grants-and-contracts-manager
  
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