Careers
Government Grants Manager, Post Award
Join the University City Science Center as a Government Grants Manager and contribute to a dynamic organization at the forefront of life sciences innovation in Philadelphia.
In this role, you'll be instrumental in managing a diverse portfolio of government grants, overseeing post-award operations, and supporting groundbreaking startups. This is an opportunity to work in an ecosystem that drives inclusive growth and transformative change in healthcare, biotechnology, and beyond. The goal of this work is to support the growth of the Science Center's government fundraising capacity and to ensure we are good stewards of public funds. Become part of a team that bridges the gap between science and society, making a real impact on the future.
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Position Summary
The Grants Manager will work under the direction of the Senior Director of External Affairs to assist the Science Center in overseeing post-award operations for government funding. Their core responsibilities include onboarding following government funding awards and managing all grant reporting and compliance. They will be the internal expert on our government funding and the go-to resource for principal investigators, program staff, Accounting, Legal, Marketing, and IT on the requirements of the Science Center's government funding (e.g., contracts, grants, awards). They may be called upon to assist with funding applications.
The chief responsibility of the Grants Manager will be managing the Science Center’s government funding portfolio of city, state, and federal grants, contracts, and awards. Core tasks include onboarding for new awards; reporting for all awarded grants such as collecting program data related to the grant and submitting reports; and implementing compliance activities including required training, forms, and certifications. These activities involve working closely with the Accounting team, program staff, and other key department stakeholders. They will also interface across the Science Center departments to develop comprehensive, timely, and complete reporting.
The Grants Manager will work with the Accounting team and programs to support government-funded procurement and spending, and to track invoicing and spend-down on government grants. The goal of this work is to support the growth of the Science Center’s government fundraising capacity and to ensure we are good stewards of public funds.
On occasion, the Grants Manager will manage the work of external fundraising consultants who help prepare grant application packages.
The Grants Manager should have experience managing government funding, including compliance and reporting. This position has external contact with institutional funders, corporations, government officials, grant program officers, donors, and other organizational partners. This position has access to sensitive Science Center information and is expected to handle such information with integrity and professionalism.
Essential Functions
Onboarding
Manages the process of accepting government funding, including creating and maintaining individual and organizational profiles in government websites. Manages the process of notifying Science Center staff of new government funding and subsequent implementation needs such as communications, meetings, trainings, and materials.
Funder Communications
Along with the Science Center programmatic lead overseeing the funding award, serves as a secondary point of contact with funding agency program officers and other agency staff. Communicates with government funders regarding the management of active funding (e.g., rebudgeting requests, changes to the scope of work, clarifications regarding policies, staffing changes, programmatic or organizational updates).
Grant Management
Remains in close contact with program and Accounting team contacts regarding the execution of a funded scope of work, including spending down the approved budget and invoicing/payment.
Reporting
Facilitates the development of required reports for funders in compliance with award terms and ensures timely reporting to all funders.
Compliance
Ensures the Science Center meets the conditions in grant award agreements, including programming and reporting. Ensures all grant requirements are met by proactively working across units to review activities and raising potential compliance issues in a timely and meaningful manner. Liaises with Accounting staff to ensure that fiscal compliance is maintained according to the Code of Federal Regulations Uniform Guidance (i.e., CFR200), which aids grantees in the administration of federal grants. Oversees human subject research (HSR) compliance requirements, including IRB documentation and required HSR training.
Outcome & Impact Measurement
Working with funded programs and the Digital Transformation team, uses Excel, Salesforce, Formstack, and other tools to track government-funded activity, generate reports, and otherwise track and quantify outcomes and impacts under government funding awards. Supports program teams in completing required measurement and evaluation.
Award Closeout
Works with PIs and Accounting to ensure spend-down of government funding by the end of the period of performance. Manages final reporting requirements and other closeout activities.
Other
Completes special projects specific to the function of the department or as needed for the department as directed.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Understanding of the Science Center's mission, goals, and objectives
- Ability to work independently with a high level of self-initiative, and contribute as part of a larger team
- Demonstrated experience managing government funding (i.e., grant, contracts, awards) including reporting
- Excellent written communication skills; capable of writing compelling programmatic and financial narrative updates in a variety of programmatic areas
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Experience working in a variety of office environments, with positions of increasing responsibility and a demonstrated understanding of the role of fundraising in an organization, including budgets, and best practices
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent processes, calendars, and deadlines
- Ability to efficiently and proactively manage projects, clearly set expectations and timelines, take and share notes, collaborate cross-departmentally to meet deadlines, and collect the necessary information from internal teams as part of the fundraising process
- Ability to successfully work directly with funders and conduct thoughtful stewardship
- Knowledge of data management and record-keeping practices; experience working in Salesforce is preferred
- Possesses strong interpersonal skills as demonstrated by compassionate, courteous, cordial, cooperative, and professional interaction with diverse groups of co-workers, external business partners, and the community
- Experience and/or knowledge of one or more of the following topic areas is a plus: economic development, technology commercialization, innovation, entrepreneurship, STEM youth education, and/or workforce development
Experience, Education, and Licensure
Minimum Experience
- 3 – 5 + years of demonstrated experience in fundraising and project management.
- Experience with writing and managing applications for federal and state grants is a plus.
- Experience working with a university-sponsored research office is a plus. Experience with tech-based economic development preferred.
Minimum Education
- BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university in a related field of study or equivalent work experience.
Science Center Values:
- Unity: Promotes one Science Center, united and guided by our mission.
- Open Communication: We make space in our work for people to be seen and heard while expanding our empathy and mutual respect of each other’s boundaries, experiences, and person.
- Integrity: Creates an environment of trust and integrity. We are honest and ethical in everything we do.
- Impact: Works to make a meaningful and measurable difference in the lives of others.
- Equity & Inclusion: Fosters an environment that embraces the strength in the diversity of our team and our community.
- Innovation in Action: Committed to continuous learning and open to new ideas that drive positive change.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer
About the Science Center
The University City Science Center is Philadelphia’s premier catalyst of entrepreneurial activity, healthcare innovation, and economic growth. Established in 1963, the nonprofit has been recognized by The Brookings Institution as a best-in-class investor, mentor, and economic development partner for young technology companies. Working alongside industry partners and leading research and academic institutions across the globe, the Science Center has supported over 1,000 early-stage companies. Today, the organization advances healthcare innovation from idea to the marketplace through startup support services, allocating capital, gathering the innovation community, and building inclusive STEM pathways for Philadelphia youth and adults. For more information visit sciencecenter.org or follow us at @UCScienceCenter.