Grants and Contracts Analyst

Salary Grade

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $58,000 and $66,672, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

Job Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Grants and Contracts Analyst operates with considerable independence, coordinating complex sponsored-project activities from proposal review through award setup, subaward administration, and award modification. The analyst serves as a key institutional resource, applying established policies to interpret requirements, assess risk, establish compliant accounts, resolve complex issues, and guide faculty and administrators. The role supports a shared institutional portfolio exceeding $600 million annually and advances consistent, efficient, and compliant research-administration practices across the university.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conduct initial reviews of complex proposals and renewals for final approval and submission by the authorized institutional official. Evaluate budgets and requirements, coordinate cross-functional reviews, identify risks, resolve routine issues, and recommend compliant solutions. Advise and train investigators, administrators, and staff, referring matters requiring institutional approval or policy interpretation to the appropriate authority. (30%)
• Coordinate the review and implementation of complex sponsored awards for final approval and acceptance by the authorized institutional official. Evaluate award terms, budgets, compliance requirements, and account structures; support sponsor communications and negotiations; identify risks; resolve routine issues; and recommend compliant solutions. Establish and maintain accounts in PeopleSoft Financials, translate award requirements into university processes, and train department staff. (30%)
• Coordinate subaward administration and support negotiations for assigned agreements. Serve as a liaison among the authorized institutional official, subrecipient organizations, investigators, and administrators. Assess subrecipient and contractual risk; prepare and amend agreements; recommend terms; ensure required flow-down provisions; and resolve issues within established procedures. Refer matters requiring institutional approval, signature authority, or policy exceptions to the appropriate authority. (20%)
• Coordinate the review and implementation of award modifications, including supplemental funding, no-cost extensions, budget revisions, carryforward requests, and changes in scope, personnel, or other award terms. Analyze sponsor requirements, assess financial and compliance impacts, prepare documentation, update institutional systems, and recommend compliant action. Refer modifications requiring approval, signature authority, or policy exceptions to the appropriate authority. (10%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Review required project documentation, including indirect cost rates, regulatory approvals, and Conflict of Interest disclosures, identifying issues and recommending compliant solutions; contribute to process improvements, training resources, and system testing; maintain current research-administration knowledge; and provide cross-training and backup coverage across the team. (5%)
• Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)

CONTACTS

Department: Daily contact with Research Administration leadership, grants and contracts staff, department assistants, and post-award staff; weekly contact with information technology staff.

University: Daily contact with management centers, department administrators, and faculty; periodic contact with technology transfer and legal offices.

External: Daily contact with federal and non-federal sponsors and subrecipient organizations; weekly contact with peers at other universities.

Students: Occasional contact with work-study and graduate students involved in sponsored projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

No supervisory responsibility.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 5 years of related experience required. Relevant experience may include research administration, contract administration, finance, compliance, project administration, higher education, or comparable business operations. Experience with complex sponsored projects, contract or subaward negotiation, and financial systems preferred.

Education/Licensing: Bachelors degree

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Ability to learn, interpret, and apply complex sponsored-project requirements, institutional policies, contractual terms, and procedural guidelines to provide sound operational recommendations.
• Ability to review budgets and financial data, identify discrepancies, assess operational or compliance risks, and recommend corrective solutions.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with demonstrated initiative, accuracy, and accountability to manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines, and resolve issues with limited oversight.
• Excellent written, verbal, and customer-service skills, including the ability to translate complex information clearly and build collaborative relationships across all institutional levels.
• Demonstrated commitment to team success through knowledge sharing, backup support, and constructive engagement, paired with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, systems, and process improvements.
• Proficiency with standard office and business productivity tools. Hands-on experience with research-administration platforms or enterprise financial software (e.g., PeopleSoft Financials) preferred.
• Ability to learn and execute AI automation techniques to improve processes.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Typical office environment with routine computer use.

Hybrid Eligibility

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

EEO Statement

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodations

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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