Job Description
Sponsored Grant and Financial Services Manager, JILA
Requisition Number:
Location:
City
State
Employment Type:
Schedule:
Posting Close Date:
Date Posted:
Reporting to the JILA Chair, the Sponsored Grant and Financial Services Manager supervises, leads and develops nine full-time positions including accounting, payroll, pre-award, and post-award finance professionals. As a model and mentor for their team, this position practices clear and respectful communication. They demonstrate good judgment and integrity in their work, show patience when explaining complex financial topics, are comfortable working within shared governance, and maintain a helpful attitude and support the development of their team.
At its core, JILA finance is a valuable partnership amongst colleagues, not just an administrative function. JILA offers a uniquely collaborative and mission-driven environment. The institute has a strong culture of inclusiveness, intellectual curiosity, and community, which provides a meaningful and engaging workplace.
JILA is a joint institute of the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology and is located on the beautiful CU Boulder main campus at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Led by the roughly 30 research Fellows, JILA supports eclectic and innovative research programs that foster creative collaborations among our scientists. The wide-ranging interests of our scientists have made JILA one of the nation's leading physics research institutes. JILA also houses and supports several national science centers, which further its scientific mission in collaboration with a broad coalition of industry and academic partners. JILA has a total budget of $50 million, with 297 members (including faculty, staff, students and postdoctoral researchers).
Leadership, Communication, and Collaboration
- Plans and aligns financial programs in partnership with JILA executive leadership.
- Fosters continuous development of an effective team and provides clear expectations; monitors workload distribution and adjusts roles as needed.
- Builds, maintains, and navigates JILA, CU and NIST relationships, which values differences, and cultivates mutual respect.
- Leads JILA financial process improvements, including development of user training, coordination of upgrade and monitoring of issues.
- Is responsible for internal and external customer inquiries, manages expectations, and ensures customers understand the type and level of services available.
Financial Management
- Financial Lead for all CU-JILA financial operations: Provides institutional guidance, coordination, and oversight of JILA financial, budget, accounting, sponsored research and financial support systems.
- JILA budget: Maintains and monitors organizational and accounting records in the CU-JILA systems, ensuring compliance and accuracy. Prepares annual budget including general administrative operations and JILA Shops.
- Compliance: Ensures that appropriate and adequate internal control and support systems, processes and procedures are in place to deliver timely and accurate CU-JILA financial records and data.
- Process and data efficiency: Ensures consistent use and data accuracy of data entered in CU-JILA systems and JILA projections and reporting. Presents regular, ad-hoc and special purpose financial and benchmark reports and analysis to JILA partners.
- Account management: Performs financial and trend analysis of key components. Conducts forecasting and managing ICR/DAICR funds. Monitors and implements appropriate ICR splits for projects shared with other departments and institutes on the CU Boulder campus. Monitors and manages gift funds and MOUs.
- Cooperative Agreement partnering:
- Coordinates with the NIST Administrative Officer on all CU-JILA issues that impact the financial operations of the NIST - CU Cooperative Agreement.
- Fiscal analysis and insights: Provides data, analysis, and advice to the JILA Chair and Executive Committee to inform all major resource allocations and financial decisions.
Sponsored Research Administration
- Sponsored Research oversight: Responsible to supervise university sponsored research financial activities for JILA.
- Center finances: Coordinates with JILA centers – like the JILA Physics Frontier Center and Q-SEnSE – on sponsored finance items.
- Issue monitoring and guidance: Provides high-level guidance and advice to the JILA Chair and Executive Committee to assist them with sponsored research.
Pre-Award
- Serves as JILA Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) for proposal submission and ensures that Proposal Analysts are trained in and meet CU standards.
- Ensures JILA Fellows and Senior Research Associates have appropriate financial support to prepare and submit University research funding proposals.
- Reviews financial aspects of CU-JILA Fellow research funding proposals.
Post-Award/Closeout
- Ensures adequate systems are in place and implemented to provide JILA Fellows and Senior Research Associates with accurate and up-to-date financial information for pre- and post-award items.
- Ensures adequate documentation for all sponsored award expenditures in compliance with applicable University and sponsor regulations and policies.
- Ensures appropriate internal processes and procedures are in place to monitor research grant/award spending in compliance with university and sponsor rules and regulations.
- Ensures JILA Sponsored Project Specialists (SPSs) have regular training on proposals and/or post-award administration to ensure compliance with current University and sponsor regulations and procedures.
Staff Supervision
- Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, set objectives, determine priorities, and conduct frequent coaching and annual performance appraisals.
- Organize and assign workflow and provide clear and direct communication to establish focus and ensure employees understand duties and delegated tasks.
- Monitor and manage daily activities of production; provide constructive feedback and support issue resolution.
- Foster teamwork and encourage open communication, curiosity, feedback, and involvement in decision-making processes.
- Build positive relationships with employees, provide motivational support, and nurture a work culture that challenges, respects, and engages staff.
- Ensure business and service continuity by identifying and assigning back-up project leads for all cyclical and major deliverables; assess knowledge gaps to coordinate training and skill development opportunities for cross-trained personnel.
- The work modality for this position will be primarily onsite with the option for remote work one to two days per week after the initial training period.
The annual hiring range for this position is $100,000-$130,000. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.
At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.
- Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance or related field.
- 4+ years of financial management or related research administration experience including supervisory or lead experience.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
- Exemplary communication skills including interpersonal, written and verbal.
- Ability to establish and maintain positive and cooperative working relationships.
- Ability to organize and successfully manage multiple projects occurring at the same time and keep detailed and accurate records.
- Ability to work effectively in a working environment with multiple interruptions.
- Willingness to mentor and aid research students, postdoctoral scholars, staff and faculty.
- Familiar with various fiscal business applications for productivity, reporting and data record keeping and integrity.
- Dedication to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful workplace.
- Internal motivation with the ability to thrive independently as well as in cooperation with an interdisciplinary team.
- Ability to anticipate the needs of the broader team and develop/recommend policies and procedures.
- Strategic approach.
- Proficienct with Microsoft business suite applications, including Outlook, Excel and Word.
- MBA or CPA.
- RA, CPRA or CFRA certification.
- Experience within an academic or research setting, including sponsored project oversight.
- Experience performing financial analysis and reporting.
- Experience with proposal and grant initiatives and navigating research funding.
- Experience with NIST funding and research parameters.
- Experience with change management and continuous improvement to assess, evaluate and initiate change.
- 5+ years of financial management or related research administration experience including supervisory or lead experience.
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- A current resume.
- A cover letter that includes the following:
- Interest and Qualifications: Please describe your interest in the position and relevant qualifications.
- Leadership & Team Development: Describe your leadership and supervisory experience, including your approach to managing, mentoring, and developing staff and teams.
- Operational Leadership & Change Management: Provide examples of how you have fostered collaboration, accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement, including supporting teams through change, growth, ambiguity, or competing priorities.
- Relationship Building & Organizational Effectiveness: Explain how you build productive working relationships across departments and stakeholder groups while balancing strong customer service, clear expectations, sound processes, and operational accountability.
We may request references at a later time.
Please apply by 6/2/2026 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: [email protected]