Senior Grants Manager (Clinical Trials)

Position Summary

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Award Management, the Clinical Trials Senior Grants Manager (SGM) leads the effective and efficient administration of ICAP clinical trial projects throughout their entire award life-cycle, from pre-ward to close-out, focused on ensuring congruence with project terms and conditions, regulatory compliance, mitigation of business risk, and adherence to Columbia University (CU) and ICAP policies and procedures. The ICAP at Columbia University Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) supports the design and implementation of research to address gaps in the global HIV response The CTU includes three clinical research sites (CRS): two in New York City, situated in Harlem and Bronx, and one in Eswatini. The SGM works in close collaboration with the ICAP CTU and CRS teams in New York and globally to ensure that all pre- and post-award requirements for proposals and projects are fully addressed.

Responsibilities

Pre-Awards Functions: (25%)

• Provides overarching management support to ICAP’s proposal development efforts, including:
  • Assists ICAP Principal Investigators (PIs) in the development, review, submission and renewal of various types of sponsored project proposals. Directly manages timelines and the overall progression of work undertaken by internal proposal teams to ensure the on-time completion of high quality, responsive, and compliant proposal applications
  • Leads and oversees costing development for proposals, in close coordination with ICAP’s technical staff and in compliance with sponsor and CU requirements;
  • Serves as a technical resource to ICAP staff to interpret notices of funding requests and sponsor rules and regulations and serves as the main point of contact for contractual discussions and negotiations with sponsors working through CU Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA);Coordinates all internal MSPH/ICAP reviews of pre-award inquiries received from sponsors/donors regarding outstanding proposals and negotiations associated with proposed work plans, budgets, reporting requirements and other terms and conditions

Post-Award Functions: (70%)

• Leads the full life cycle of post-award grants management activities for a diverse portfolio of research clinical trial projects, including international projects, in close collaboration with ICAP teams globally, including:
• • Launches new awards with project teams, including analyzing and distributing new award notices, conducting project briefings, and establishing budget accounts; – Oversees and manages the development, review and submission of all post-award project requirements including prior approval requests, workplans and budget redirections, quarterly and annual reporting, and closeouts in partnership with Principal Investigators, project teams, and financial analysts; – Responsible for knowledge management and documentation of award actions for assigned awards; – Builds capacity of ICAP staff on award management, including through visits to country offices and/or meetings with ICAP staff. – Addresses sub-award contracts, maintains financial records, resolves account discrepancies and other financial challenges, and provides financial analysis to PIs and project teams. Maintains oversight over award budget and expenses through ongoing financial monitoring and financial report analysis.
    • Performs other duties, as assigned, in support of ICAP’s project management program. (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Public Administration, International Affairs, or related fields or equivalent in education, and experience.
• At least 5 years of experience related to implementing and managing complex projects within the global health and development sector;
• Advanced working knowledge of rules and regulations associated with various sponsored types of projects funded by the US Government other global bilateral sponsors and private funders;
• Experience in managing NIH research awards;
• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically, to lead and work within diverse teams, to work in multi-cultural settings and with a high degree of independence;
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, analytical, and leadership skills;
• Expert skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Public Administration, International Affairs, Management, or related fields preferred;
• Training and/or certification in project management;
• Experience in leading the development and submission of grant and contract proposals to the US Government and/or other bilateral and private funders;
• Experience in managing clinical trial research projects;
• Excellent technical skills in writing, editing, formatting, research and negotiation.

Other Requirements

• Three to four domestic and/or international trips of one week in duration per year.