Working Title: Grants Specialist (Two Positions)

State Role Title: Financial Services Spec I

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Vice President - REDI

Department: 539001 - Sponsored Programs Accounting

Pay Rate: Maximum Starting

Specify Range or Amount: $45,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? Yes. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon continued funding.

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 08/13/2025

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

The Office of Sponsored Programs-Administrative Services (OSP-AS) assists the JMU community with applying for and receiving external funding. We ensure submitted applications comply with sponsor, state, and JMU policies regulations; we also assist Principal Investigators (PIs) with JMU’s internal approval process. Additionally, OSP-AS negotiates and signs awards and research-related contracts on behalf of the university, as well as submit prior approvals and facilitate non-financial reporting after an award is issued.

Duties and Responsibilities:

* Proposal Development and Submission:
A Grants Specialist plays a pivotal role in fostering the growth of external funding at James Madison University by ensuring funding proposals are developed, reviewed, and submitted efficiently and effectively in accordance with university policies and procedures and sponsor guidelines. This position involves close collaboration with faculty and staff across the campus, utilizing various communication methods to effectively liaise between stakeholders. A Grants Specialist must possess exceptional adaptability and flexibility to balance competing priorities and be able to work in a continuously evolving deadline driven environment.

* Funding Notification Processes:
A Grants Specialist assists with communication regarding awards and denials, including reviewing incoming award documents to ensure acceptability, working with sponsors to negotiate and resolve issues, and providing comprehensive support for funding decisions by submitting all necessary information and documents, such as just-in-time materials, payment remittance information, risk assessment forms, and audit certifications.

* Post-Award Administrative Functions:
A Grants Specialist is responsible for ensuring compliance with federal regulations and university controls in the administration of grants and subawards. This includes coordinating prior approval requests, preparing subaward agreements, performing subrecipient monitoring duties, and facilitating administrative closeout activities. Additionally, they must maintain well-organized project files that are easily accessible for maximum responsiveness to sponsor and principal investigator inquiries.

* Other Administrative Activities:
A Grants Specialist will stay updated on rapidly changing regulations, system implementations, and funding opportunities providing proactive support to PIs and stakeholders. They will also collaborate closely with other offices, such as the Office of Research Integrity, the Office of Research Development, and Sponsored Programs-Financial Administration, to share information and provide comprehensive service.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:
Excellent interpersonal skills, organizational ability, and computer skills.
Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Access, including the ability to create complex spreadsheets and generate reports.
Experience using databases and Internet search capability.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills are required. Ability to write and speak effectively and to compose and edit essential documents for clarity and content.
Must be customer service oriented, have ability to organize and prioritize work with attention to detail and work effectively and independently in a fast paced, deadline driven environment.
Must show ability to multi-task and adapt to constantly shifting priorities.
Must show demonstrated experience developing budgets, activity-based cost allocations and financial analysis.

Additional Considerations:
Knowledge of federal regulations regarding the management of grants and contracts is desirable.

Additional Posting Information:

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.