Grants Manager (Institute for RNA Innovation)

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Grants Manager (Institute for RNA Innovation)

Job Profile Title

Grants Manager A

Job Description Summary

Under limited supervision from the Manager of Administration and Finance, this position will manage all post award activities for the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation. Responsible for the overall financial management of an assigned grant portfolio and other financial matters of the Institute. Manage post award activities including account set up, monitoring and review of all sponsored projects expenditures including fund projections. Monitor and enforce compliance with sponsor guidelines and meet with principal investigators to discuss and advice on any financial issues related to their portfolio. Actively participate in specific projects and will be greatly involved in complicated grants, including federal, industry, training grants, and program projects with multiple sub-contracts. This position will work closely with the Office of Research Support Services, and the Office of Research Services post award team.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Manage post-award research activities on a diverse grant portfolio including but not limited to Industry-sponsored, Investigator-sponsored, Program Projects, and Training Grants.

Preparation of monthly financial reports on all sponsored projects for Principal Investigators (PIs).

Manage and prepare financial analysis and conduct monthly meetings with PIs to review grant funds and provide quarterly forecasts. Ensure that PIs adhere to budgets and sponsor regulations.

New award set up including budget journal entries, subcontract initiation and processing for all sponsored projects. Directly responsible for monitoring of expenditures, invoicing, processing of salary allocations and grant effort, and close out of all grants.

Preparation of the annual sponsored programs budgets as well as participation in the annual budget process. Assist with large, complex grant mechanism submissions, such as T32's, P01's.

Provide purchase order and travel reimbursement approvals.

Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Grants Manager A:

The Grants Manager will manage post-award activities for a diverse sponsored program portfolio, including account setup and closeout, and regular review of all sponsored projects expenditures including fund projections. The GM-A will monitor and enforce compliance with sponsor guidelines and OMB Uniform Guidance, meet with principal investigators to discuss and advise them on financial issues related to their portfolios, maintain salary grids and process payroll allocations to ensure faculty and staff are paid correctly, and assist in the preparation of effort reports. They will participate in specific projects, including the annual budget submission and the development and implementation of standard operating procedures.

Grants Manager B:

The Grants Manager B has the same responsibilities as the Grants Manager A but with a greater degree of independence, managing more complex grants or projects with minimal supervision, including tasks like actively participating in the annual budget submission, overseeing more intricate grant details, and engaging in financial analysis and projections. It is expected that the Grants Manager B candidate will have a greater grants management experience than the Grants Manager A candidate, such that s/he will work more independently and make greater contributions.

Qualifications

Ability to maintain confidentiality with respect to highly sensitive data required.

Proven ability to handle complex portfolios. Experience in University research administration and financial systems, including Business Objects/Data Warehouse, Workday, BEN Financials strongly preferred. Experience with administering highly complex grants, contracts and sponsored agreements strongly preferred. Proficiency in MS Office Word, Excel, and data warehouse systems required with additional computers skills a plus. Must demonstrate critical thinking, analytical skills, attention to detail and a proactive work style. Ability to apply solid organizational, time management and multi-tasking skills to a fast-paced deadline-driven environment required. Strong interpersonal skills and verbal and written communication skills desired.

Grants Manager A:

Bachelor’s degree with 3-5 years of grant and contract administration experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.

Grants Manager B:

Bachelor’s degree with 5-7 years of grant and contract administration experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience required. Master’s degree preferred.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$65,628.00 - $80,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours:Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

​

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay