Position Summary
The Department of Computer Science is currently seeking to appoint a Senior Grants Specialist. This department is committed to democratizing access to computer science education across the student body. It provides a comprehensive curriculum for majors, ranging from introductory courses in computer science and programming to advanced studies across ten research domains. Additionally, there are numerous opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in research projects, facilitating hands-on learning and practical experience.
Reporting to the Associate Director of Finance and Grants in the Department of Computer Science, the Senior Grants Specialist will be responsible for all aspects of pre- and post-award grants management and research administration services provided to faculty. Functioning at an intermediate-advanced level, the incumbent independently manages a diverse portfolio of simple to complex grants and contracts from sponsors such as NSF, DARPA, foundations, industry, and other agencies.
Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications
A Bachelor's degree, preferably in a technical, scientific, or financial field is required.
At least 3 years of demonstrated grants pre-award experience, including hands-on proposal submission for NSF and DARPA grants.
At least 3 years of demonstrated grants post-award or financial analysis/reporting experience.
Firm understanding of NSF and university-sponsored projects and financial policies.
Advanced-level experience in developing complex spreadsheets.
Knowledge of accounting and budgeting policies and practices is required.
Ability to make independent judgments and to act on decisions on a daily basis.
Ability to work with flexibility on several tasks simultaneously and to meet various concurrent deadlines.
Knowledge of external Federal policies (such as Uniform Guidance), guidelines/procedures for grants and contracts, including NSF, DARPA, NIH, and other government and private funding mechanisms, proposal submission platforms such as InfoEd, ASSIST, BAA, FastLane, Research.gov, and Grants.gov.
Must be detail-oriented with excellent quantitative, analytical, organizational, interpersonal, oral, and written communication and computer skills.
Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment with changing priorities and multiple responsibilities required. Proven ability to multi-task and meet multiple deadlines is required. Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and other departments while providing strong attention to detail. Ability to work discreetly with confidential information.
Must be customer service-focused, proactive, and a self-starter; capable of working with a diverse constituency, being flexible, and maintaining a positive attitude while meeting strict deadlines.
This position will involve advanced use of MS Excel including the creation of pivot tables and the use of formulas (i.e. VLOOKUP and Pivot) to create reports and analyze variances on a variety of data sets.
Preferred Qualifications
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.