Senior Sponsored Agreements Administrator

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer: 

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match 
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us! 

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

JOB PURPOSE:

The Senior Sponsored Agreements Administrator manages complex incoming research agreements, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, sponsor guidelines, and institutional policies. This role supports the intake, review, negotiation, execution, and modification of incoming awards (including but not limited to incoming contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, subawards, and clinical trial agreements). The position reports to the Executive Director of Pre-Award and is responsible for ensuring compliant, timely award setup, risk mitigation, and smooth handoffs to Post-Award and other central offices.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:

May provide guidance and informal mentorship to junior team members, but does not have direct supervisory responsibility.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

This position reports directly to the Executive Director, Sponsored Programs Office (SPO), Pre-Award, and is a key member of the incoming award and research agreement team. The role operates within a defined scope focused on sponsored research agreements (including but not limited to incoming contracts, grants, subawards, and clinical trial agreements) and compliance-related intake activities. It supports agreement review, negotiation, and execution across a broad portfolio of federal, nonprofit, and industry sponsors.

The Senior Sponsored Agreements Administrator collaborates closely with Pre-Award colleagues, legal counsel, post-award staff, principal investigators, and academic departments to ensure timely and compliant award setup. While this is a non-supervisory role, the position is expected to serve as a technical resource for junior staff and contribute to process optimization and training initiatives led by the Executive Director.

The position requires an in-depth understanding of sponsored agreements, federal and institutional compliance requirements (e.g., 2 CFR 200, FAR/DFARS, FFATA), familiarity with sponsor portals and grant management systems (e.g., Cayuse, Workday), and a proactive approach to ensuring documentation is accurate and audit-ready..  This role requires the ability to operate independently on complex transactions, prioritize among multiple agreements simultaneously, and use sound judgment in identifying issues that require escalation.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Agreement Review

  • Independently review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of sponsored research agreements, including grants, cooperative agreements, research contracts, subawards, and clinical trial agreements.

  • Interpret standard and non-standard terms to ensure alignment with university policy and sponsor requirements.

  • Apply approved fallback language and coordinate with appropriate leadership and central offices when deviations or red flags arise.

  • Monitor agreement lifecycles to support execution within target timeframes.

• Compliance Review & Risk Management

  • Conduct compliance screenings, including foreign involvement, cost share, publication, and FFATA in advance of award execution and set-up.

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