Grants Manager

Job Description: The Grants Manager supports FIT's strategic priorities, serving as a lead grants officer responsible for the development, submission, and stewardship of external grant funding within the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs (OGSP). This role partners closely with faculty, staff, and external sponsors to manage a diverse portfolio of proposals and awards, with a primary focus on Science, Technology, and Business disciplines. The Grants Manager provides end-to-end grants administration, including funding identification, support for proposal development, budget oversight and reconciliations, post-award compliance monitoring, reporting and close-out. The role contributes to institutional research growth, faculty development, and cross-institutional partnerships while helping advance OGSP policies, processes, and annual performance targets. Location: New York, NY Category: Staff Job Type: Full-time Posted On: Thu Aug 13 2026 Essential Functions: Grants Portfolio Management & Strategy Independently manage a robust grants portfolio across multiple funding sources, including federal, state, city, foundation, and corporate sponsors. Proactively identify funding opportunities aligned with FIT's academic, research, and institutional priorities. Maintain an active, year-round grants pipeline in support of OGSP and College goals. Faculty & Staff Engagement / Proposal Development Partner with faculty and staff grant-seekers to assess project ideas, identify appropriate funding opportunities, and develop competitive, policy-compliant proposals. Provide hands‑on pre-award guidance throughout the proposal lifecycle, including support for narrative development and editing, and conduct compliance review. Conduct technical submission of proposals and reports (narrative and financial) using sponsor and government online electronic systems. Budget Development & Financial Stewardship Develop accurate, policy-compliant project budgets in collaboration with grant-seekers, FIT Finance and Administration, Academic Affairs, and other campus stakeholders. Ensure budgets reflect institutional priorities, sponsor requirements (including Federal and NYS policies), and applicable FIT/SUNY policies. Monitor awarded budgets throughout the grant lifecycle to ensure appropriate financial oversight. Post-Award Administration & Compliance Steward awarded grants throughout the post-award period, to ensure timely submission of reports, reimbursement requests, and other sponsor requirements. Collaborate with Finance and Administration and other offices to support and prepare narrative and financial reports and conduct budget reconciliations. Ensure compliance with FIT, SUNY, and sponsor policies through grant close-out. External Partnerships & Sponsor Relations Serve as the primary liaison, as required and as assigned, with funders and external partners. Manage and support grants administration for multi‑institutional research partnerships, including collaborations with R1 universities, nationally. Review and assess Funding Agreements and multi‑institutional partner agreements, in collaboration with Executive Director and FIT Office of General Counsel. Maintain clear, professional communication with sponsors, partners and grantees throughout the grant lifecycle. Program Development, Policy & Campus Engagement Collaborate with the Executive Director to set objectives, evaluate grants performance, and support the development and implementation of OGSP policies and procedures. Contribute to OGSP team efforts, including support for the planning and presenting of campus programs, workshops, and events that build grants expertise and engagement across FIT. The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position. Job Requirements: Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree required. Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in grants administration within a higher‑education environment. Demonstrated experience managing the full grants lifecycle, including proposal development, budgeting, compliance, reporting, and close‑out. Experience with electronic grants submission platforms, including federal systems. Preferred Qualifications: 5+ years of grants administration experience in higher education. Experience with grants in Science, Health, Technology, and/or Business disciplines. Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential. Experience supporting multi‑institutional or federally funded research partnerships. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: In-depth knowledge of federal and state funding mechanisms, grants compliance requirements, and sponsor guidelines. Strong skills in proposal development, writing, editing, and technical submission. Advanced ability to develop, manage, and reconcile complex grant budgets. Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and inflexible deadlines. Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and strategic‑planning skills. Ability to communicate complex grants information clearly to non‑specialist audiences. Demonstrated ability to work effectively across a complex academic institution and with diverse internal and external stakeholders. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace applications. Additional Information: Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process. Salary: $91,486.02 - $101,718.82 per year; commensurate with experience and qualifications. The UCE‑FIT Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) dictates the compensation, benefits, and conditions of employment. Hiring Salary: $91,486.02 per year with step increments per Salary Schedule 95, after one year of service and annually thereafter. Work Schedule: Days/Hours: M-F, 9:30am-5:30pm, in person; work schedule subject to change based on needs of the department. Benefits: The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures. Retirement Plans Health Care Plan and Dental Plan Employee Assistance Program Flexible Spending Account Commuter Benefit Plan FIT Tuition Exemption Program Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holidays) 4-day Summer Workweek Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage. Pay Equity by State Employers: Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at View phone number on click.appcast.io or via email at View email address on click.appcast.io. Visa Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement: FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people from a range of backgrounds. FIT is firmly committed to creating a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability. The FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, partnership status, caregiver status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, uniformed service, height, weight, any lawful source of income, status as a victim of domestic violence or as a victim of sex offenses or stalking, whether children are, may be or would be residing with a person or conviction or arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Chief Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, View phone number on click.appcast.io. Annual Security Report: The safety and well-being of FIT's students, faculty, staff, and visitors is of paramount importance. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, FIT publishes an annual report containing crime statistics and statements of security policy, accessible here: Safety Statistics . A paper copy of the report will be provided upon request by contacting Public Safety's administrative office number at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Physical Requirements And Work Environment: The working conditions for this position will be primarily in an office space. The physical requirement for this position will require constant sitting, occasional standing, occasional bending, occasional walking, occasional pulling, pushing, or reaching, constant repetitive motions, and occasionally lifting 10 lbs. or less. #J-18808-Ljbffr