Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

🟦 Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke

Duke University | Office of the Vice Provost for Research

Grants and Contracts Manager

Remote Position | Multiple States Eligible

🟦 Be You

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As the Grants and Contracts Manager, you’ll be a vital part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team within the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. You’ll join the Campus Grants Management Team (CGMT), a dynamic and growing unit that provides cradle-to-grave grant management services for designated departments.

You’ll thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities while applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You’ll be more than a transaction processor — you’ll be a subject-matter expert and a strategic partner to faculty, helping them craft competitive proposals and manage awards with precision and compliance.

You’ll also manage a team of Grants and Contracts Administrators, guiding their development, ensuring high-quality service delivery, and fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.

🟦 Be Bold

As a Grants and Contracts Manager, you’ll oversee a portfolio of complex federal, non-federal, and international grants and contracts. You’ll apply your technical expertise, analytical skills, and sound judgment to ensure compliance and successful project outcomes.

What You’ll Do:

Pre-Award (30%)

• Advise faculty on administrative requirements and proposal submissions.
• Develop and review budgets, budget justifications, and sub-recipient documentation.
• Ensure proposals meet agency and university guidelines and are submitted on time.
• Coordinate with ORS and ORA to manage subcontract processes and institutional approvals.

Post-Award (30%)

• Manage large, interdisciplinary projects and develop project management plans with faculty.
• Conduct monthly reconciliations of project budgets and proactively communicate with faculty regarding financial status and adjustments.
• Submit cost transfers, salary redistributions, rebudgets, and no-cost extension requests.
• Monitor and close out sub-recipient budgets, ensuring all sponsor-required reports are submitted.
• Maintain financial records in accordance with Duke’s retention guidelines.
• Make cost-sharing adjustments to reflect salary or in-kind contributions.
• Manage budget, reporting, and compliance timelines throughout the grant lifecycle.
• Establish and monitor sub-recipient requirements, coordinating agreements with ORA/ORS.
• Address and resolve overdrafts in line with institutional guidance.
• Ensure accurate revenue recording and apply revenue management standards.
• Perform comprehensive grants monitoring using institutional tools and provide reports to the Senior Manager as needed.

Management/Supervisory/Leadership (40%)

• Lead and mentor a team of Grants and Contracts Administrators.
• Ensure staff are adequately trained and deliver high-quality service to faculty.
• Monitor team performance using institutional metrics and reporting tools.
• Recommend personnel actions including hiring, performance appraisals, and promotions.
• Serve as the primary contact for faculty and staff on grants-related matters.
• Create and foster a team culture that encourages open communication, motivates staff, and supports continuous learning and professional development.

🟦 Choose Duke

This is a remote position, open to candidates residing in one of the following states or districts:

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland,

Massachusetts, Michigan, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,

Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington (State), Washington, DC

🟦 Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; research or grants education/certification preferred.
• Minimum of three years of relevant grants/contracts and/or leadership experience.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) preferred.
• Must complete Duke’s Research Administration Academy (RAA) within 12 months of hire and Advanced Grants Management (AGM) within 6 additional months.
• Strong command of MS Office Suite, especially Excel; familiarity with Word, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication skills — both verbal and written — across all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management experience.
• Deep understanding of research administration, including compliance, internal controls, effort management, and fund accounting for federal and non-federal awards.
• Ability to advise and guide grant administrators and faculty with sound, accurate guidance.
• Flexible and agile in adapting to changing technologies and landscapes in grants and contracts management.

🟦 Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply now and help us build a stronger, smarter, and more connected future.

Anticipated Pay Range

Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position of USD $67,732.00 to USD $116,282.00. When extending an offer, Duke considers a variety of factors, including (but not limited to):

• The scope and responsibilities of the position
• The candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills
• Internal peer equity
• Market and organizational considerations

Total Compensation

Your total compensation goes beyond your paycheck. Duke offers comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs for eligible team members.
Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provisions for requesting reasonable accommodations will be provided by each hiring department.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends onthe robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.