Grants Specialist

Grants Specialist

Ampcus Inc. is a certified global provider of a broad range of Technology and Business consulting services. We are in search of a highly motivated candidate to join our talented team.

Location(s): San Francisco, CA (Hybrid: 2 days onsite per week)

Job Summary: The department is seeking an experienced Grants Specialist with strong knowledge of pre-award research administration, budget development, and proposal submission, particularly for National Institutes of Health (NIH) applications.

This position provides analytical, financial, and training support for contract and grant proposal development, grant writing, funding administration, and budget development. Responsibilities may include pre-award proposal activities, post-award fund management, and grant closeout activities involving federal, state, local, and private sponsors.

The role also supports research funding analysis, forecasting, planning, and management of research portfolios. Responsibilities may include:

• Coordinating, developing, and presenting research proposals, contracts, and other agreements.
• Reviewing proposals to ensure institutional compliance and program success.
• Negotiating, administering, and monitoring contract and grant awards.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, sponsor requirements, terms, and conditions.
• Performing financial management and reporting.
• Issuing and administering subawards and subcontracts.
• Providing guidance on sponsored research policies and procedures.
• Supporting faculty and departmental staff throughout the proposal and award lifecycle.

Position Responsibilities: The Research Services Coordinator serves as the institutional representative for faculty on sponsored research activities and acts as a primary point of contact for external sponsors and internal research administration teams.

Working closely with faculty and departmental staff, the position directs and manages the proposal process to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant submissions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and reviewing proposal budgets.
• Interpreting sponsor guidelines and requirements.
• Providing subject matter expertise in grants and contracts.
• Advising faculty and departmental stakeholders on research administration strategies.
• Conducting institutional reviews and coordinating required signatures.
• Ensuring proposals comply with sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and applicable regulations.
• Supporting sponsored projects throughout the award lifecycle.
• Maintaining accurate contract and grant records.
• Reviewing complex proposals and awards involving multiple investigators, task budgets, option years, and multiple subawards.
• Completing and approving transactions for review and signature by authorized institutional officials.
• Providing guidance and mentorship to less experienced research administration staff.
• Supporting compliance, financial management, reporting, and closeout activities.

Upon successful completion of the required certification, the Research Services Coordinator may receive delegated signature authority and become eligible for advancement to a higher-level Research Administrator classification.

Qualifications:

• Strong experience in pre-award research administration.
• Demonstrated experience with grant and contract proposal development.
• Strong knowledge of budget development and financial analysis.
• Experience preparing and submitting NIH grant applications.
• Knowledge of federal, state, local, and private sponsor requirements.
• Understanding of institutional research compliance policies and procedures.
• Experience working with complex proposals involving multiple investigators and/or subawards.
• Ability to independently analyze complex research administration issues and develop appropriate solutions.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced research environment.
• Ability to provide guidance and support to faculty, departmental staff, and less experienced team members.

Additional Information:

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 08:00 AM–05:00 PM.
• Hours: 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week
• Important: Full medical clearance is required for all candidates, regardless of whether the position is onsite, hybrid, or remote.

Generic Scope: Experienced professional who understands how to apply established research administration theory and practices in complex situations. Independently performs the full range of responsibilities within the function, possesses broad job knowledge, analyzes problems and issues of diverse scope, and determines appropriate solutions.

Department Overview: The Research Management Services (RMS) organization provides comprehensive pre-award research administration services and supports a large community of faculty and researchers.

The team consists of multiple shared-service groups, including Research Services Coordinators, Specialists, Associate Coordinators, Award Associates, and Team Managers. The organization is responsible for supporting campus-wide pre-award grant activity and assisting researchers throughout the sponsored research proposal process.

Ampcus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veterans or individuals with disabilities.