Grants Administrator

We are looking for an experienced grants specialist to join a busy education-focused research environment in Houston, Texas. This contract position centers on leading pre-award proposal activity while also contributing to select post-award functions as business needs arise. The role partners closely with faculty, researchers, and cross-functional administrative teams to deliver accurate, timely submissions and maintain strong compliance throughout the grant process.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, assembly, and submission of research proposals for federal, state, foundation, nonprofit, and industry sponsors.
• Review application packages in detail to confirm budgets, narratives, compliance elements, and supporting documents are complete before submission.
• Advise faculty members and principal investigators on sponsor guidelines, internal requirements, and proposal preparation timelines.
• Work with finance, compliance, and research administration partners to coordinate proposal development and resolve submission issues efficiently.
• Prepare and submit complex federal grant applications in alignment with agency rules, formatting standards, and deadline requirements.
• Contribute to post-award administration by assisting with award modifications, reporting needs, contract-related tasks, and closeout activities when needed.
• Track sponsor policy updates, submission dates, and regulatory changes to help ensure ongoing adherence to funding requirements.
• Maintain organized records across the grant lifecycle and support communication with sponsoring agencies regarding questions or clarifications.
• Provide guidance and knowledge sharing to team members to strengthen administrative processes and overall proposal quality.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least 5 years of experience in research administration or grants administration.
• Demonstrated background in preparing and submitting federal grant applications, including NIH submissions.
• Strong understanding of pre-award processes, grant regulations, and sponsor compliance expectations.
• Experience managing numerous deadlines and competing priorities in a high-volume setting.
• Proven ability to audit complex proposal materials with a high degree of precision and accuracy.
• Effective communication, organization, and stakeholder partnership skills.
• Proficiency with grant management platforms and research administration systems.