Sr. Grants & Contracts Analyst
The Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT) is a diverse, multidisciplinary team working at the intersection of nanoscience, engineering, biology, and medicine. Our unique team brings fosters collaboration across the Whiting School of Engineering, School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Applied Physics Lab, and Krieger School of Arts and Sciences to address some of healthcare and environmental challenges.
To support our mission, we are seeking a Sr. Grants and Contracts Analyst will provide dedicated professional level sponsored funds management for more than 80% of time and be an integral part of the INBT finance team. This position has specific responsibilities for pre-award and post-award functions for a diverse portfolio of federal and foundational funds that includes, but may not be limited to: proposal preparation, submission, budget development, account maintenance and oversight, billing/invoicing, reporting, compliance, and closeout. Works independently on a variety of grants/contracts that range from simple to highly complex. While this role may assist with some aspects of non-sponsored funds, the primary goal of this position is to ensure timely, effective and efficient functioning of sponsored funding. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to Principal Investigators (PIs), helping them navigate protocols, regulations, and sponsor guidelines.
Work Environment
This position will report directly to the Grants and Contracts Manager and be an integral part of the INBT finance team. The Senior Grants & Contracts Analyst will work closely with faculty, department staff, and central offices to ensure the smooth administration of sponsored funding and compliance with institutional policies.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
Pre-Award Management
- Collaborate with faculty to prepare, review, and submit grant proposals, ensuring compliance with sponsor guidelines (e.g., NIH, NSF, DOD) and JHU policies.
- Develop and review detailed proposal budgets and justifications, ensuring they align with project goals and sponsor requirements.
- Advise faculty on appropriate funding mechanisms, submission procedures, and strategies to maximize funding opportunities.
- Provide expert guidance on proposal agency requirements, including the preparation of documents, technical narratives, and compliance forms.
Post-Award Management
- Oversee the setup and administration of awarded projects, ensuring accurate account setup, budget allocation, and timely invoicing.
- Monitor project expenditures to ensure alignment with approved budgets and sponsor guidelines, including salary distribution and subaward processing.
- Negotiate, track, and manage subawards and pass-through subgrants, ensuring compliance with sponsor terms and conditions.
- Provide oversight for award closeout procedures, including preparation of required financial reports and documentation, such as progress and invention reports.
- Collaborate with PIs and PIs’ home department staff to monitor and manage award activities, including account reconciliation, audits, effort and financial reporting.
Compliance & Reporting
- Ensure compliance with federal and institutional policies, including effort certification, conflict of interest, and training requirements.
- Stay updated on changes in grant and contract regulations and communicate policy updates to faculty.
- Lead the preparation and submission of required sponsor reports, including financial status reports, technical reports, and other compliance documents.
Collaboration
- Provide training and guidance to INBT faculty, staff, and collaborators on grants and contracts processes, including compliance and reporting requirements.
- Act as a key liaison with other financial and sponsored research offices within Johns Hopkins, ensuring alignment with institutional policies and best practices.
- Foster cross-departmental collaboration to ensure timely submission and management of research grants.
Job Scope/Complexity
Will provide broad/in-depth professional administrative level guidance on protocols, regulations and guidelines to PI and other scientific/research professionals, both within the University and with other associated research/administrative professionals outside of the University. This position offers guidance and learning support to Grants & Contracts Analysts, Specialists and Coordinators within the department. This role may serve as the lead Grants & Contracts position, in departments where a Grants & Contracts Manager doesn’t exist.
Types of sponsored awards for which the position is responsible
This position works independently on a variety of complex level grants/contracts, including those from NIH, NSF, DOD and NASA. These grants, contracts and awards may involve highly detailed budgets, multiple projects, Cores and Sub-awards, Investigator-initiated, Consortium and, higher complexity Foundation grants. Will also provide direction and assistance to Analysts with details related to Sub-awards from other institutions on their federal pass-through grants. May also work directly with management of non-sponsored funds, including general funds and gifts, on a limited basis.
Special Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong understanding of federal and non-federal grants and contracts management practices.
- Proficiency in Excel and financial management systems.
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach to project management.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Skilled in handling difficult conversations with tact and professionalism, particularly when enforcing policies, explaining limitations, or declining requests to ensure compliance with guidelines
- Ability to interact effectively with faculty, administrators, and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and make informed decisions autonomously on a daily basis.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree.
- Four years of related experience in sponsored research and/or financial positions, preferably in an academic or medical setting.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
- Successful completion of the Research Administration Trainee program (13-15 months) is equivalent to two years of relevant experience for this position. If an employee does not successfully complete the program, no additional experience will be applied.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with federal sponsored funding is strongly preferred.
Classified Title: Sr. Grants & Contracts Analyst
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PD
Starting Salary Range: $62,900 - $110,100 Annually ($86,500 targeted; Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: 37.5hrs/Monday - Friday
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus
Department name: Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Personnel area: Whiting School of Engineering