Grant Life Cycle Program Director

University of Colorado Anschutz Campus

Colorado School of Public Health | Central Administration

Grant Life Cycle Program Director
Position #: 670994 - Requisition #: 38961

Job Summary:

Join the Colorado School of Public Health as a Grant Life Cycle Program Director (Research Services Program Director). This position will oversee comprehensive research support services across multiple Departments and Centers within the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH).

This role encompasses leadership of all grant life cycle processes, including pre-award, post-award, compliance, financial reporting, and closeout while ensuring alignment with university and school policies and sponsor requirements. The Grant Life Cycle Program Director will develop and implement operational strategies, policies, and technologies to streamline research administration. This position serves as a key advisor to Chairs, Directors, Principal Investigators, and Unit Administrators, and collaborates with Office of Grants and Contracts and other internal/external partners to ensure effective grant and contract management.

Additional responsibilities include mentoring staff, analyzing research finances, and leading special projects as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

* Serve as the expert and primary point of contact for sponsored projects administration, advising faculty and staff on proposal development, budget preparation, and allowable costs.

* Manage the routing of grant proposals, contracts, and amendments for institutional review; serve as primary pre-award administrator.

* Conduct pre-award budget reviews and feasibility assessments to ensure proposals align with sponsor guidelines, institutional policies, and available resources.

* Oversee Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs); ensure timely and accurate submission to sponsors in compliance with award terms.

* Manage post-award administration of grants and contracts for internal and external awards, including account set-up, award acceptance, budget modifications, compliance monitoring, expenditure reviews, financial reporting, and award closeout.

* Oversee all post-award financial transactions, including budget transfers, purchasing, reimbursements, invoicing, cost transfers, and account reconciliation for accuracy, compliance, and timeliness.

* Conduct ongoing budget analysis and monitor grant expenditures to ensure spending aligns with approved budgets and sponsor guidelines.

* Work closely with department personnel to ensure that research faculty and staff effort is properly allocated and certified in accordance with award terms, university policies, and sponsor requirements.

This role is offered as part-time to full-time (0.6 FTE - 1.0 FTE) and reports to the Associate Director of Research and Grants Administration.

Work Location:

Why Join Us:

Hybrid -This position is located on the CU Anschutz Campus in Aurora, CO and is expected to work on site three days per week.

The Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) is a unique and collaborative graduate school that combines the collective expertise of three Colorado universities: the University of Colorado Anschutz Campus (CU Anschutz) in Aurora, Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, Colorado. The Colorado School of Public Health is the only accredited school of public health in the Rocky Mountain Region, attracting top tier faculty and students from across the country, and providing a vital contribution towards ensuring our region's health and wellbeing. The school's faculty, staff, and students work together to share knowledge and conduct innovative research and community service to actively address public health issues including chronic disease, access to healthcare, environmental threats, emerging infectious diseases, costly injuries, and more.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 10/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements

* A bachelor's degree in public health, public administration, finance, accounting, business administration, business or a directly related field from an accredited institution.

* Minimum of six (6) years of experience with pre and post award grant management, contracts, and/or grant administration within a higher educational environment.

Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

* At least five (5) years of progressively complex experience in research finance.

* Previous research management experience in an academic medical center.

* Experience in preparing contracts, subcontracts, project agreements, and/or memorandums of understanding.

* Experience in an academic medical setting managing the grants and/or sponsored projects of faculty members from multiple departments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

* Proficient with Microsoft Office programs, including strong skills in Microsoft Excel budgeting.

* Ability to develop, evaluate, and improve administrative workflow systems and processes for sponsored research activities.

* Ability to multi-task and prioritize multiple projects at once, while meeting deadlines.

* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.

* Advanced knowledge of university systems, including InfoEd, mFIN, Marketplace, HCM and Cognos Reporting Systems.

* Demonstrated experience in fostering a community that values a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

* Ability to manage complex, sensitive and confidential information and align multiple, competing demands with established priorities.

* Strong skills in project management.

* Exemplary communication, organization and leadership skills.

* Superior analytical skills.

* Ability to successfully manage multiple self-directed projects that may, at times, have competing priorities.

* Strong attention to detail, balanced with ability to maintain a broad perspective.

* Strong interpersonal and human relations skills, including ability to effectively manage conflict.

Conditions of Employment

* Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae / Resume

2. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

3. Three to five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Megan Freije, Megan.Freije@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Screening begins immediately and continues until February 18, 2026.

Anticipated Salary Range:

The starting target salary for this position has been established as $89,500 - $113,000 (1.0 FTE).

The above salary represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

As the School of Public Health located within the University of Colorado on the Anschutz Campus, we are committed to developing and sustaining a faculty, staff, and student body that reflects a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. We advocate for and actively lead efforts and activities to build a community that treats people with dignity, respect, and compassion among the school's students, staff, faculty, and external community partners.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.