GRANTS AND CONTRACTS ADMINISTRATOR SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Published: Apr 26, 2025 - The Grants and Contracts Administrator demonstrates expertise in drafting, negotiating, and concluding complex contracts while protecting intellectual property and balancing institutional interests. This position excels at adapting communication across diverse stakeholders and delivering high-quality service under tight deadlines in fast-paced, customer-focused environments. This role brings strong initiative, prioritization skills, and proficiency with standard tools and processes to support effective grants and contracts administration.

Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Grants and Contracts Administrator Resume
  • Grant Management
  • Compliance Research
  • Reporting Coordination
  • Documentation Management
  • Audit Preparation
  • Closing Activities
  • Contract Review
  • Contract Drafting
  • Budget Preparation
  • Grant Oversight
  • Communication Facilitation
  • Process Improvement
  • Negotiation Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Team Leadership
  • Grant Advising
  • Policy Clarification
  • Grant Submission
  • Data Analysis
  • Risk Assessment

Summary of Grants and Contracts Administrator Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume

1. BS in Accounting with 3 years of Experience

  • Experience in the submission and management of research proposals.
  • Experience in support of research proposal submission and project administration
  • Knowledge of, experience interpreting, and application of federal and non-federal regulaons and guidelines, cost principles, uniform administrative requirements for grants and audits of states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations in a university or an agency funding or conducting research.
  • Excellent computer skills and familiarity with Word, Excel and large financial databases
  • Experience accessing, compiling, analyzing, and synthesizing large data sets pulled from multiple computer systems.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with diverse constituencies both internally and externally
  • Experience working in a higher education research institution
  • Experience developing complex budgets
  • Experience working with accounting/fiscal, purchasing, and proposal submission systems such as Banner, Summit, Research Financials, MicroStrategy, ES Legacy Web Reports, and Hokiemart.
  • Experience communicating with a variety of people who may or may not understand university policy and procedures.
  • Experience with budget management using spreadsheets.
  • Experience implementing new University-wide policies and procedures and assisting constituents with the process.

2. BA in Political Science with 2 years of Experience

  • Experience using standard computer tools (e.g., MS Office suite, email, calendaring).
  • Experience composing & negotiating complex contracts
  • Experience negotiating agreements that include the protection of existing and anticipated intellectual property. 
  • Ability to balance the interests of for-profit entities against the interests and policies of an academic institution in the negotiation of agreements. 
  • Ability to seamlessly adapt communication style and content to varying audiences (e.g., Sponsors, University attorneys, senior management, technology transfer professionals, principal investigators and other researchers, deans, department heads, and research administration staff).
  • Ability and commitment to get to “yes” in negotiations while simultaneously ensuring the protection of key University assets and conformance with regental and University policy.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to conclude negotiations in a timely manner
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-moving, customer-focused environment subject to external pressure and frequent interruptions
  • Ability to provide high-quality service under tight deadlines.
  • Ability to take initiative, prioritize workload, and work independently.
  • Experience with accounting, contracting, or procurement.
  • Understand the University and the academic research environment.
  • Demonstrated comfort and willingness to learn new automated tools and processes.

3. BS in Business Administration with 3 years of Experience

  • Experience in sponsored programs administration.
  • Experience with large sponsored construction projects, such as NSF Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) awards
  • Experience administering large/complex projects with many components, such as center grants, multi-project grants, and consortia with more than 3 subawards
  • Experience creating custom queries in Business Objects, Oracle, or other ERP systems to meet specialized reporting requirements
  • Experience with the University research administration-related administrative systems
  • Knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), agency-specific guidance (esp. for NSF, NASA, and Dept of Energy), and other associated federal regulations.
  • Exercises independent judgement and works under limited guidance due to previous experience/breadth and depth of knowledge of administrative processes.
  • Ability to refine skills through continuous learning.
  • Strong communication skills with a high degree of “emotional intelligence” and a skillful negotiator.
  • Ability to translate complex work issues into understandable and actionable plans toward resolution.
  • Comfortable with deadline-driven work tasks and the capacity to get things done through others.
  • Ability to work independently and as a member of a cohesive team.

4. BA in English with 2 years of Experience

  • Experience managing grants and/or familiarity with contracts/contract law.
  • Knowledge of the principles and theories of health care delivery.
  • Knowledge of governments and the interplay of executive/legislative branch dynamics at all levels of government. 
  • Knowledge of accounting principles for grants and contracts, including financial reporting.
  • Considerable knowledge about grants from private and public entities.
  • Knowledge of and comfort with participatory management approaches, which involve various levels of administration and management
  • Ability to establish, foster, and manage relationships with internal and external colleagues/peers.
  • Ability to analyze information and formulate effective tracking and monitoring methods and plans for using the information.
  • Excellent time management skills working with multiple, sometimes competing deadlines.
  • Sound judgment is sufficient to ensure the integrity of operations and to provide leadership in the development of teamwork across disciplines.
  • Ability to react and adapt to change.
  • Excellent communication skills, including a high degree of professionalism and personal presence

5. BS in Finance with 3 years of Experience

  • Knowledge of accounting principles, practices, principles, and procedures.
  • Knowledge of supervisory practices and principles.
  • Skill in performing detailed numerical computations.
  • Skill in preparing detailed reports on a timely basis.
  • Skill in the use of computer hardware and software.
  • Ability to effectively communicate.
  • Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Knowledge of grants, contracts, and applications from a variety of government levels such as federal, state, local, etc
  • Previous contract administration or related experience in the biotech industry is desirable
  • Ability to work and meet deadlines
Relevant Information
Grants Writer Skills, Experience, and Job Requirements