Post-Award Grant Senior Specialist | Office of Research

Position Summary    

The Post-Award Grant Senior Specialist plays a vital role in supporting research efforts at American University of Sharjah (AUS). This position oversees research funds by ensuring proper financial management, compliance with internal and external funding regulations, and accurate reporting. Responsibilities include financial operations and monitoring a number of research accounts, use Oracle software to produce reports and/or populate report templates. Through effective post-award grant procedures, this role helps advance AUS’s strategic goals.

Job Responsibilities    

• Liaise with faculty, Procurement, Finance, HR, Graduate Studies, and other offices to process invoices, purchase orders, hiring of research consultants, etc.
• Ensure accurate and timely charges to the respective grant accounts.
• Provide comprehensive post-award support to faculty, including assistance with financial management, budget reconciliation, and compliance with sponsor regulations.
• Generate financial reports and check for budgetary inconsistencies.
• Ensure all research-related expenses are properly approved, sufficiently documented, and accurately charged to the appropriate grant accounts in accordance with sponsor guidelines.
• Develop and implement efficient tracking systems for grant expenditures, commitments, and available balances to prevent over-expenditure.
• Monitor research performance metrics and timelines, ensuring progress reports and financial statements are properly approved and submitted to sponsors by required deadlines.
• Serve as the primary liaison between principal investigators, project staff, and sponsors on externally funded research projects, facilitating effective communication and problem resolution
• Coordinate the hiring and onboarding of research personnel and graduate students on grant-funded projects, ensuring accurate allocation of salary charges.
• Maintain meticulous records of all research grants and consultant contracts, including documentation of approvals, modifications, and correspondence for audit purposes and accurate reporting.

Qualifications and Skills Required    

• Bachelor’s degree in related field: accounting, finance, research management.
• Minimum of three years of experience in higher education or a related field.
• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Customer service focus with strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, use discretion, and exercise critical judgment
• Initiative in finding solutions and suggesting improvements.
• Proficiency in MS Office (especially Excel).
• Ability to read and interpret financial reports and legal documents.

How to Apply

• Interested applicants should fill out the form.
• AUS alumni are encouraged to apply. Applicants who do not meet specified requirements will not be shortlisted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• AUS is an equal opportunity employer. We adhere to a policy of making employment decisions without regard to race, color, age, gender, religion, national origin, disability or marital status. Opportunities for employment are based solely upon one’s qualifications.