Description

External Retirement Plan TRS or ORP Employment Type Employee Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible Full/Part time Full Time Work Schedule Additional Schedule Information
Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00p.m.
Advertised Salary Commensurate with Experience Posting Date 09/18/2025 Open until filled Yes Closing Date Proposed Starting Date 11/03/2025 Special Instructions to Applicants Location of Vacancy Athens Area EEO Policy Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([email protected]).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Position Information

Classification Title Grants Supervisor FLSA Exempt FTE 1.00 Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent and 8 years of professional experience
Preferred Qualifications
• Leadership/management experience and mentality

• Proven Success in a Managerial Role

• Strategic Thinking, Risk Assessment, Decision-Making, and Problem Solving Capabilities

• Ability to Motivate, Mentor, and Lead Employees, while also Holding Them Accountable

• Team Oriented Mindset

• Time Management Skills in a Deadline Driven Unit

• Training Experience

• Process Improvement

• Excellent Communication, Collaboration and Delegation Skills

• Adaptable/Flexible

• Strategic Planning Abilities
Position Summary
The SPA Award Manager is responsible for the design and implementation of a cohesive and flexible award team that supports faculty and research staff in their pursuit of externally funded research and scholarly activity. The Award Manager will have excellent interpersonal and team building skills to promote a productive working relationship between SPA staff and the research community. This position holds an individual who has the vision and the ability to encourage people to be innovative problem solvers while still maintaining a highly compliant environment.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Strong managerial skills, supervisory skills, and demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to supervise and mentor a team of research administrators and apply human resource and managerial skills to oversee the day-to-day operations of a team of research administrators responsible for the review, negotiation and acceptance of awards for and modifications of external funding at UGA.
• Outstanding problem-solving and interpersonal skills to deal effectively with issues at all levels.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with faculty, staff, and external partners.
• Ability to independently manage competing priorities and meet time-sensitive deadlines and the ability to train others to do the same.
• Commitment to excellent customer service and the ability to multitask, as well as to impart the techniques and ability to do the same to others.
• Extensive knowledge of the methods, procedures, and techniques used in the review, negotiation, set up, and administration of sponsored projects awards and modifications.
• Expert knowledge of institutional policies and procedures pertaining to external funding.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with university, state, and federal agencies, as well as private organizations. Ability to partner with other managers in SPA to ensure a seamless process for the life cycle of sponsored activities.
• Ability to participate in the evaluation and analyses of existing techniques and procedures and to actively participate in the improvement of existing and development of new procedures, as well as the ability to document and teach those improvements to others.

Physical Demands

• Sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, lifting up to 20 lbs and carrying up to 20 lbs.

Is driving a responsibility of this position? No Is this a Position of Trust? Yes Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? Yes Does this position require a P-Card? No Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes Credit and P-Card policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities
Leadership, direction, training and mentorship of a diverse team of seven professional pre-award staff members involved in the review, negotiation, execution, and administration of sponsored awards and modifications.

• Sets and tracks performance and productivity metrics.
• Engages in process improvement activities to meet goals of efficiency and enhanced customer service.
• Responsible for human resources activities including hiring, evaluation, termination, promotion and ensuring onboarding and training resources for staff.
• Provides guidance and expertise in areas including proposal and budget development, sponsor policy, sponsor systems, and institutional policies.

Percentage of time 40 Duties/Responsibilities
In collaboration with other units, develops and promotes educational activities through the presentation of workshops, meetings and electronic resources to assist the campus community in successfully receiving and administering outside funding sources for their research, instruction, cooperative extension, public service and other sponsored activities.

• Creates and fosters an environment of support for the university research community by extending and supporting their endeavors to secure and administer external funding.

Percentage of time 40 Duties/Responsibilities

• Participates and contributes to outreach activities conducted by SPA including training materials, policy updates, process improvements, problem solving, and other duties as assigned.
• Disseminates changes/updates to university and sponsor guidelines and processes to ensure uniform processes and experiences.

Percentage of time 10 Duties/Responsibilities

• Manage the highest level of caseload assigned in SPA and assists faculty in complex award administration, advising on strategies, interpreting general sponsor philosophy, regulations, and guidelines.
• Reviews and negotiates the most complex awards on behalf of UGA and UGARF.

Percentage of time 10

Contact Information

Recruitment Contact

Contact Details
For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.
Recruitment Contact Name Catherine Cuppett Recruitment Contact Email [email protected] Recruitment Contact Phone

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter
3. List of References with Contact Information

Optional Documents