Pre and Post Award Senior Research Grants Administrator

Summary

Join Vitalief, an innovative consulting company, as a Senior Research Grants Administrator. This full-time, fully benefited position involves managing critical functions related to federal grant terminations, stop work orders, and appeals. You will serve as the primary liaison with federal sponsors, reviewing termination notices, coordinating institutional responses, and assisting in drafting appeals. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in pre-award and post-award functions, a solid understanding of federal regulations, and experience with agencies like NIH and NSF. The role requires strong communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills. Work is 100% remote, with the company located in New Jersey, and candidates must reside in the EST or CST time zones.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred
• At least 5–7 years of progressively responsible research administration experience, including managing pre- and post-award functions
• Demonstrated experience with federal funders including NIH, NSF, DHHS, DoD, DoE (Energy and Education), and others
• Strong knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and sponsor-specific regulations
• Experience responding to grant terminations and navigating the appeals process
• Previous experience working in or with universities or academic medical centers
• Excellent communication, organization, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work independently and under pressure while managing multiple projects and deadlines
• Must be able to thrive in a Fast-paced, collaborative setting
• Occasional extended hours during high-volume periods (e.g., proposal deadlines, report due dates)
• Experience with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and information sharing platforms like Microsoft Teams

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison in the event of grant terminations, stop work orders, or funding suspensions from federal sponsors
• Review termination notices for accuracy and compliance with award terms
• Coordinate institutional response with PI’s, department chairs, legal counsel, and senior leadership
• Assist in drafting and submitting formal appeals or rebuttals, including preparing supporting documentation, justifications, and corrective action plans
• Track deadlines and manage correspondence with sponsors to ensure timely resolution
• Support closeout of terminated awards, including reconciliation of expenditures, reporting, equipment disposition, and subaward finalization
• Maintain detailed records of all communications, submissions, and decisions related to the appeal process
• Provide institutional guidance and training on navigating grant termination scenarios and appeals
• Provide end-to-end proposal development support to faculty and PI’s, including budget creation, justifications, and compliance documentation
• Interpret and apply federal regulations including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and agency-specific requirements
• Ensure timely and compliant submission / re-submission of proposals through sponsor systems
• Coordinate with PI’s and departments to ensure timely and accurate progress reports, financial reports, and closeout documentation
• Work closely with finance, legal, compliance, and departmental staff to resolve issues throughout the grant lifecycle
• Utilize Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams to prepare reports, share information, and collaborate across teams; and work within institution-specific grant management systems

Benefits

• Life/work balance that includes 20 PTO (Paid Time Off) days plus 9 paid Holidays annually
• Company paid life insurance and short / long term disability coverage
• 401K retirement program
• Robust healthcare plans to choose from