Manager, Post-Award Research Administration

Department: Office Rsrch Innov and Econ Impact

Classification: Financial Svcs Manager 1

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 05

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI) collaborate with Mason's senior leaders including the President, Provost, and Deans to set the vision and goals for research and innovation for the university. ORIEI serves as a central resource to support and enhance university research, creative activities, innovation, and entrepreneurship functions in cooperation with other campus units and external stakeholders. In doing so, ORIEI advances George Mason University's essential teaching, research, and public service missions.

About the Position:

The Manager, Post-Award Research Administration in the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI) is responsible for managing post-award activities in support of an assigned portfolio of grants and contracts within one or more units (i.e., school, department, division, institute, or center) using knowledge of grant and contract management rules and regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills. Post-award activities include regular review, reconciliation, and projection of award finances, preparing adjustments and corrections to award budgets, preparing financial reports, and at the end of the award, ensuring all financial requirements have been met and closing out the award. This position interacts regularly with and provides high quality customer service to faculty members conducting sponsored research and ensures adherence to quality standards and all policies and award regulations.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for setting goals for performance and deadlines in ways that comply with the university's plans and vision and communicate them to subordinates;
• Organizes workflow and ensuring that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks;
• Monitors employee productivity and providing constructive feedback and coaching;
• Receives complaints and resolving problems;
• Maintains timekeeping and personnel records;
• Passes on information from upper management to employees and vice versa;
• Prepares and submits performance evaluations;
• Hires and trains new employees; 
• Ensures adherence to legal and university policies and procedures and undertaking disciplinary actions if the need arises;
• Manages Provost and ORIEI portfolio of research projects and have primary responsibility for the following roles:
  • Reviews and approves grant personnel labor actions (permanent and temporary positions) initiated by RAs; to include: funding change labor approvals, EPAF approvals and upload review and approvals;
  • Tracks and monitors ORIEI faculty and staff effort charged to grants, reviews and approves GMUF cost transfers, closeout and billing procedures, reviews awarded grants, contracts and cooperative agreements, assisting and advising PIs and research administrators on appropriate post award financial management, approves and monitors more complex research activity payments initiated by PIs or RAs such as Petty Cash/Human Subject gift card incentives, Participant Support payments and Equipment purchases, running ORIEI post audit compliance reviews and ensuring appropriate corrections are made when necessary;
• Monitors Provost and ORIEI Post-Award RA activities that include:
  • Award review and assists set-up with OSP, setting up payroll distributions, subcontract request initiation and monitoring of invoices, monitoring award budgets and expenses, preparing award financial reports, preparing and assisting with award modifications, processing expense corrections (journal vouchers and labor reallocations), reviewing and facilitating payroll certification process for federal awards, reconciling externally sponsored projects, assisting with other post-award research activities as needed;
• Works with the Director, Finance & Administration to ensure compliance with university, state and federal regulations for post award research matters such as cost share, PI effort, payroll certifications, reconciliations, post-audits, RCR training, COI completions and other post award compliance issues;
• Assists the Director, Finance & Administration to hire, train, supervise and evaluate staff performing post-award research administration (including non-direct RA reports assigned to departments);
• Provides guidance to ORIEI Post Award RAs and the department/center RAs as appropriate; 
• Works collaboratively with the ORIEI Pre-Award Director and OSP Team to ensure smooth transitions of proposal submissions to executed awards; and
• Represents ORIEI regarding post award matters with OSP and Fiscal Services. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field or a combination of related education and work experience;
• Significant demonstrated and relevant professional experience in research administration;
• Demonstrated strong fiscal background with experience in financial accounting and reporting;
• Knowledge of federal rules and regulations relating to research grant and/or contract activity;
• Knowledge of policies, processes, and offices related to grant/contract post-award management;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively;
• Ability to analyze data and formulate conclusions, with excellent problem-solving skills;
• Candidates must be:
  • a citizen of the United States;
  • a person who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States (a “Green Card” holder);
  • a person who is a “protected individual” as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3); or
  • a person who is otherwise able to become generally eligible to receive unclassified technical data pursuant to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Experience working in a higher education/university environment in research administration or federal contracting financial management experience;
• Experience with grant related management software systems;
• Research administration certification; and
• Advanced skills and abilities to supervise, manage, and oversee professional development of post-award research and finance staff.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Manager, Post-Award Research Administration at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: March 18, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  April 17, 2026

Open Until Filled:  Yes