Grants and Sponsored Programs Administrator

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY).

The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries.

We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY.

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Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.

Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, and 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation, most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020). Please visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

Reporting to the Associate Director for Grants Administration within LaGuardia’s Office of Grants & Sponsored Programs, the Grants and Sponsored Programs Administrator is a member of the grants team supporting the College’s Principal Investigators (PIs) and Program Directors (PDs).  The responsibilities of the Grants and Sponsored Programs Administrator include:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review sponsor guidelines; compile required documents; edit narratives; and submit proposals, applications, and reports through electronic portals and RFCUNY systems as applicable.
• Review grant proposal budgets to confirm expenses are allowable, allocable, and reasonable, conform to sponsor guidelines, and align with College and University requirements.
• Review sponsor agreements, subcontract documents, and independent consulting agreements; ensure alignment with budgets and supporting documentation; and coordinate with RFCUNY for review and execution.
• In collaboration with PIs/PDs, project staff, and the Research Foundation of CUNY (RFCUNY), monitor sponsored program activity to facilitate timely, compliant spending in accordance with sponsor terms and conditions.
• Analyze spending trends and assist with budget modifications, carryover requests, and appropriate spending practices.
• Support staff effort and cost share processes, including staff effort notices and effort/cost-share reporting and certification, as required.
• Assist PIs with navigating RFCUNY procurement processes, including purchase orders, supplier invoices, purchase card applications and reconciliation, and independent contractor agreements (ICAs).
• Assist PIs with navigating RFCUNY human resources processes for grant-funded staff, including onboarding RF employees and updating appointments.
• Maintain accurate records in CUNY’s eRA system (Cayuse) and related tracking tools: enter/update data; review records for completeness and accuracy; monitor proposal and award records prior to routing/submission.
• Participate in the routine updating of standard operating procedures, process re-engineering, and continuous process improvement.
• Compile and analyze data for institutional and sponsor reporting, including complex periodic reports related to grant acquisition and spending.
• Provide training and support to the College community on grants administration tools, systems, processes, and procedures, including RFCUNY systems and external sponsor platforms.
• Perform other duties and support special projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree and three years' related experience required.

• Experience in supporting grants and sponsored programs from federal, state, local government, or private funders. 

• Clear communicator who works well with diverse stakeholders.

• Organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated with sound judgment.

• Creative problem-solver who performs well under pressure.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

PREFERRED

• Familiarity with RFCUNY policies/procedures and related campus grants office workflows.

• Awareness of broader sponsored research administration compliance areas (e.g., Conflict of Interest, human subjects/IRB, export control) that intersect with grants administration.

• Experience with cloud-based database systems (e.g. OneDrive, Cayuse, Workday).

Pay Range:

$68,000 - $75,000

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.