Assistant Director, Grants Administration

The Assistant Director of Grants Administration provides administrative support for the Flagship grant portfolio, helps manage award activities, maintain accurate records, and assist with data requests. Oversees several email inboxes, responds to internal and external questions and requests. Possesses curiosity about cancer research and/or health science. Cultivates good working relationships internally and externally. Serves as the lead for the pre-award process, grants database system, and will lead special grants projects.

Join a team that truly makes a difference in the world by funding game-changing cancer research and saving lives. The V Foundation for Cancer Research provides a fun and rewarding environment where your work accelerates Victory Over Cancer. The V Foundation is a diverse community where employees are valued for their ideas and contributions. We offer phenomenal benefits including 100% of healthcare costs covered for you and your family and a generous paid time-off plan.

Key Responsibilities and Activities:

• Serves as the lead project manager for the grants database SmartSimple by overseeing maintenance, enhancements, and ensuring optimal performance for all end-users. Facilitates sharing data within the organization and supports integration needs from SmartSimple to other internal databases. Assists applicants and reviewers with navigating the grants software. (15%)
• Helps manage special Team projects and grant initiatives. (10%)
• Serves as a liaison between the Foundation and its grantees and assists in training and directing other grant team members in these activities. Helps improve and create new process workflows when needed. (15%)
• Helps manage administrative and project-level support, including creation and maintenance of all program documents and templates including an instruction manual for grants team staff. Maintains Scientific Advisory Committee directories and documents. (10%)
• Oversees internal and external email inboxes and responds on behalf of the grants team and Foundation. Mentors other team members on responses as needed. (15%)
• Ensures the pre-award grant process runs smoothly. Creates and distributes pre-award documents. Enters and maintains accurate grant records within the database. (25%)
• Comfortable completing data requests. Understands data output options, asks thoughtful questions to guarantee appropriate output, ensures timely and accurate responses, and files all responses in an organized manner to reduce duplication of work and requests. (5%)
• Helps V Foundation staff/partners/clients, undertakes special projects as needed, and completes other tasks as assigned. (5%)

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree (preferably in biomedical/health sciences)

Experience:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of fulltime administrative experience
• Previous experience with grants administration
• Previous experience in a scientific and/or research setting
• Experience with SmartSimple or other grant administration and research software

Skills and Other Requirements:

• Experience working in a professional environment where maturity, confidentiality and discretion are essential.
• Experience with SmartSimple or other grant administration software (preferred).
• Exceptional attention to detail and task follow-through.
• Serves as a mentor and role model.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, including proofreading.
• Strong interpersonal skills, tolerance, flexibility, cooperativeness, and humor.
• Ability to adapt in a fast-paced work environment, prioritize, multitask, and meet competing deadlines.
• Excellent customer service skills with emphasis on respectful and tactful communications.
• Strong computer skills, proficient with Zoom and Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work successfully with diverse populations and to promote and enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Eagerness to grow with the position as the department’s needs evolve.