Job Description

Post-Award Grants Specialist

About Eastern Washington University:

Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. EWU’s 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washington’s second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences, and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction , a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a ’24-’25 College of Distinction (CoD).

Money magazine recently named EWU as one of its Best Colleges in America 2024 .

Tribal Land Acknowledgement
Eastern Washington University resides within the traditional homelands of the Spokane People and other tribes who are connected through their shared history of this region. This land holds their cultural DNA and it is their Ancestors who are here and bring forth the knowledge of this place—the knowledge that comes from the land.

Job Summary:

The Office of Grant and Research Development, Eastern Washington University, is inviting qualified applicants to apply for our full-time Post-Award Grant Specialist position. The position will be part of the Post-Award Team, under the direction of the Director, Office of Grant and Research Development.

As part of the post-award team, the primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as a resource, providing guidance and oversight on issues related to the fiscal, administrative and regulatory management of grants and contracts from acceptance to close out.
• Provide support and point of contact for grant project directors in the implementation of grant and contracts.
• Become a content expert on the terms and conditions of federal, state and private awards.
• Maintain thorough understanding of fiscal regulations and policies such as federal legislation, the Uniform Guidance, the State of Washington RCWs and institutional policies and procedures.
• Prepare and maintain administrative and business reports and records for the Office of Grant and Research Development using Banner, Tableau and/or Excel to assist in the effective monitoring and management of operating costs and project expenditures on a timely basis.

See Job Duties section for detailed description of the position’s responsibilities.

EWU is committed to supporting and promoting a diverse workforce and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for this position.

The salary range for this position is $55,571 (minimum) – $77,806. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills. In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: .

EWU expands opportunities for personal transformation through excellence in learning.

Applications are open and accepted until recruitment is closed. Screening of applications will begin on December 23, 2024 and will continue to be screened until recruitment is closed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, financial management or a closely related field or four years of equivalent professional experience in accounting, financial management, economics, or banking.
• Two years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent education/experience.
• Demonstrated experience with complex budgeting and fiscal management.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Technological proficiency.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Demonstrated interest, ability and/or experience promoting cultural competency, universal accessibility, and/or diversity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field.
• Five years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent education/experience.
• Advanced knowledge of and experience in regulatory compliance including Uniform Guidance.
• Experience in a university office of sponsored programs.
• Experience working in higher education or working with sponsored research; experience using financial accounting systems such as Banner or fund accounting systems.
• Experience with contract management.

Other Skills and Abilities:

The post-award grant specialist must possess the following attributes:

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles ( GAAP ) and governmental accounting.
• Understanding of the principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work as part of a team, the ability to make complex decisions with a high level of initiative and judgment in a variety of situations.

Job Duties:
Assist with post award administration of grants and contracts awarded to the university:

• Maintain a portfolio of grant accounts within the Office of Grant and Research Development.
• Assist with award set-up, including but not limited to the creation of indexes, ensuring awards are set up properly, inputting of grant budgets in Banner, providing orientation and training for staff and project directors to ensure an understanding of responsibilities and duties in monitoring awards.
• Communicate regularly with PDs/PIs to ensure project accountability.
• Develop monitoring tools to assist PDs/PIs in effective budget management, and assist department-level grant and contract managers in tracking expenses and matching and cost-sharing requirements.
• Analyze budgets and track expenditures, review grant and contract funded expenditures for allowability.
• Approve expenditures and review billings for contractual programs at the university.
• Reconcile the financial activity of grants and contracts to ensure reporting requirement and deliverables are met.
• Ensure direct costs that are charged are both allowable and allocable under funder guidelines, applicable regulations and university policy.
• Investigate unresolved financial errors and discrepancies and ensure follow-up with the director of post-award to make necessary corrections.
• Monitor individual grant and contract budgets for deficits and adherence to approved budgets, and assess need for carry-over and budget modification requests as needed.
• Monitor project compliance with matching and cost-sharing requirements.
• Develop cost estimates, plan and projections for future program needs; develop budgets and prepare revisions for awarded grants and contracts.
• Prepare billings to be submitted to funding entity in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with Pre-Award staff to ensure project details and expectations are met.
• Perform award close-out tasks.
• Generate customized reports for projects as needed.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual fiscal reports as directed.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Percent of Time: 50

Maintain expertise regarding regulations and procedures as well as terms and conditions of federal, state and private awards:

• Perform analysis of sponsor award documents to maintain compliance with fiscal management and reporting requirements.
• Become a content expert on the terms and conditions of federal, state and private awards.
• Maintain and apply knowledge of fiscal regulations and policies such as federal legislation, the Uniform Guidance, the State of Washington RCWs and institutional policies and procedures.
• Act as a resource to project directors and business managers and campus units to ensure compliance with all terms and conditions
• Provide guidance regarding sponsor guidelines and procedures.
• Be proactive to ensure project directors submit reports in a timely manner and are complying with terms and conditions.
• Other related duties as assigned

Percent of Time: 40

Collaboration with campus units and external sources:

• Assist department level grant and contract managers to develop systems for tracking expenses and matching or cost share requirements.
• Serve as a liaison between the Office of Grant and Research Development and university support units including, but not limited to, Contract Services, Facilities, and Travel Accounting.
• Serve as a liaison between the Office of Grant and Research Development and funding agencies on grant and contract activities for assigned indexes as directed.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Percent of Time: 10
Conditions of Employment:

This position, during the course of university employment will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, university funds or other items of value, as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion and passing of a background check prior to beginning employment.

All new employees must comply with EWU Immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU . Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.

All new faculty and staff are required to complete DEI /Title IX/Hazing Training for employees. This should be completed as soon as possible, but no later than the first few weeks of your hire. You can access the online training here or complete the training in person or via Zoom. In person and Zoom training opportunities will be posted on InsideEWU and are listed on Human Resources’ site .

Salary Information:

The salary for this position is $55,571 (minimum) up to $77,806. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills.

Posting Date: 12/12/2024
Open Until Further Notice: No
Closing Date:
Screening to Begin: 12/23/24

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Submit your application materials through our online applications portal provided below. If you are unable to submit through the applicant portal, please contact Human Resources Services at (509) 359-2381.

To apply, visit

EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.

Job Tags

Holiday work, Full time, Contract work,

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