Financial Research Project Manager - College of Engineering

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: 4 days ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 29 Apr 2024

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Financial Research Project Manager - College of Engineering
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202400556AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Research Coordinator
Number of Vacancies 1
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $60,000 - $66,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion , and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
  • Review our detailed benefits information here.
  • Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here .
  • For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator .
  • Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in !
Desired Start Date 06/03/2024
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 04/29/2024
Description of Work Unit
Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s leading research universities and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Located an hour north of the Denver metro area, Fort Collins is a vibrant community of approximately 157,000 residents that offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a large city. Fort Collins is situated on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with views of 14,000 foot peaks, and offers access to numerous cultural, recreational, and outdoor opportunities.
The College of Engineering Research Business Office (RBO) provides coordination and direct support for the management of federal, state, and commercial grants and contracts for research groups within the college. The RBO supports management decisions at all college levels with accurate and timely data accounting for compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
Position Summary
The Financial Research Project Manager (RPM) provides day-to-day budget management of a complex portfolio of scientific research projects working closely with college faculty and senior research scientists to coordinate multiple research projects.
The RPM also plays a leading role in the preparation and submission of scientific proposals to external sponsors, including federal, state, and local government agencies, industry, and foundations.
This position does not participate in the scientific research of any project.
A successful RPM will be capable of coordinating complex expenditure planning for multiple research projects, forecasting, and recommending appropriate solutions for staff funding shortfalls, and purchasing or travel complications. This individual does not typically execute financial transactions, but reviews and approves/declines project-related expenditures in consultation as needed with the projects’ principal investigator (PI). The RPM will possess strong organizational skills with emphasis on attention to detail and writing proficiency; be a quick learner; and possess excellent interpersonal skills to work with faculty, research scientists, university administrators, and program managers in the US and abroad.
The Financial Research Project Manager reports to the Post Award Manager in the Walter Scott, Jr, College of Engineering at the Colorado State University.
Remote work is negotiable depending on the experience of the candidate. Remote work candidates will be considered, however periodic on-campus presence may be necessary (e.g.: staff retreat) but not on a regular basis. Therefore, candidates are expected to commute to Fort Collins when necessary. 
Required Job Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree
    • 8 years of work experience or a CRA certification (with a High School Diploma) will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

  • Two years of related professional experience
  • The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposed start date. The department will not sponsor a visa for this position.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Proven effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated time management skills essential to meeting critical deadlines.
  • Advanced knowledge of office productivity software including MS Office (specifically Excel), data retrieval (e.g., Oracle, Access, or other database management software), report preparation (e.g., Excel pivot tables or comparable experience), and Adobe Acrobat.
  • Familiarity with Federal Cost Accounting Standards and Uniform Guidance requirements.
  • Experience working in a higher education setting.
  • Experience forecasting and managing project staffing and budgets.
  • Familiarity with the administrative activities associated with the scientific research process.
  • Experience with Kuali Financial System Information (KFS) and Kuali Research Proposal Development (KR/PD) systems.
  • Experience with the preparation of scientific research proposals including budget development.
  • Certification in Research Administration such as CRA, CPRA, and/or CFRA.
  • Past Experience building strong work relationships with customers based on subject-matter knowledge and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of customers/colleagues.
Diversity Statement
Personal and professional commitment to diversity and inclusion as demonstrated by involvement in teaching, research, creative activity, service to the profession and/or diversity/inclusion activities.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Project Management
Duty/Responsibility
  • Management of a diverse research funding portfolio including federal, state, local government, foreign government, private sector, and non-profit agency grants, contracts, and cooperative agreement funding.
  • Makes day-to-day project expenditure decisions, based on a familiarity with project objectives and available funding, consulting with the project PI, OSP, and others as needed.
  • Interacts with program managers, contracting staff, and scientific leadership at external funding agencies to address questions and resolve problems related to project staffing, budget categories, contracting issues, project status updates, requests for project extension or supplemental funding, and project reporting.
  • Works with scientist and administrators from other US and international institutions to coordinate joint research efforts. Leads planning for complex, international research field deployments. Researches and finds solutions to institutional or governmental hurdles (e.g., internal equipment transport and customs requirements) that might otherwise prevent or impede successful accomplishment of research objectives. This frequently involves working with the Office of Sponsored Programs and other administrative offices at CSU.
  • Participates in NCURA professional meetings and/or other professional growth opportunities to promote improved job knowledge and performance.
  • Interacts with program managers, contracting staff, and scientific leadership at external funding agencies to address questions and resolve problems related to project staffing, budget categories, contracting issues, project status updates, requests for project extension or supplemental funding, and project reporting.
  • In coordination with RBO accounting tech and PIs, set-up and administer sales and service accounts to support department provision of scientific services to internal and external clients. Research and project future activity levels. Coordinate with customers on project management, schedule, and deliverables.
  • Manage the award of graduate student fellowships and grants, dealing with complex, sometimes conflicting guidelines, associated with student receipt of multiple award types.
  • Note: Customers, collaborators, subawardees, subcontractors, sponsors, etc. may be federal, state, local or foreign governments, private sector companies, or non-profits.
Percentage Of Time 40%
Job Duty Category Proposal Submissions
Duty/Responsibility
Proposal submissions, as needed to support the pre-award team.
  • Researches and coordinates preparation of scientific research proposals to federal sponsors including, but not limited to, the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the National Park Service.
  • Prepares proposals for state, local, international government funding.
  • Prepares proposals for industry, foundation, non-profit, and other potential sponsors.
  • Investigates availability of funding programs, and research submission, compliance, and project cost share requirements.
  • Consults with sponsor representatives.
  • Prepares proposal budgets and draft budget justifications, ensuring compliance to application requirements including allowability and allocability of anticipated costs.
  • Coordinates and recommends solutions for project cost share requirements.
  • Coordinates budget and application requirements across multiple CSU colleges and/or other institutions for collaborative projects.
  • Coordinates directly with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) to meet submission requirements.
Percentage Of Time 5%
Job Duty Category Financial Management
Duty/Responsibility
  • Designs and implements models to forecast expenditures on existing projects and the likelihood of future funding via pending or planned research proposals. Identifies gaps in future funding and help identify future funding opportunities.
  • In coordination with RBO accounting tech and PIs, researches costs of provided services and sets appropriate charge rates.
  • Ensures the award of graduate student fellowships and grants are charged to the appropriate funding source. Prepares and administers graduate student funding plans.
  • Manages the cost share associated with awards from budgeting through tracking and verifying
  • Works with faculty to ensure the subawards are paying invoices in a timely manner, and as needed, meets with subawardees to discuss administrative details/requirements.
  • Works with College of Engineering Development staff and PIs to plan and manage research projects funded through department, college, and university development efforts.
  • Prepares and recommends staffing plans for individual faculty research groups. Using funding forecasts, makes recommendations to faculty, the director of RBO, and department heads regarding needed changes in scientific staffing. This may include the recommendation to hire or change the funding source of research associates, research scientists, post docs, and graduate students.
  • In coordination with RBO accounting tech and PIs, designs business plans to acquire, appropriately utilize, maintain, and replace scientific equipment. Analyzes equipment use in support of funded research activities. Builds models to support recharge centers (21s) and lab services (22s), considering equipment capital, operating costs, and projected equipment use based on forecast of research activity levels and directions. Sets appropriate equipment use fees to ensure adequate cost recovery and build these charges into project budgets. Prepares and updates account business plans and charge rates annually.
Percentage Of Time 55%

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
For full consideration, please upload your resume/CV, cover letter, and the contact information for three professional references by 11:59 PM (MST) on April 29, 2024. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
In your cover letter, please address the required and preferred qualifications of this position. A cover letter that fails to address the qualifications of this position may not be considered further after review by the search committee.
This posting will remain open until filled, however for full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59 PM (MST) on April 29, 2024.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact Becky Burke, [email protected]
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Similar Positions