Job Details

Manager, Post Award Compliance Programs

Position Number: 6720008
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Position Type: Sponsored Programs, Grants, and Contracts

Manager, Post Award Compliance Programs

Job Summary

The University of Utah is recognized as one of the nation's premier R1 research institutions, generating over $700 million annually in research activity that drives innovation, discovery, and economic growth. Within this vibrant environment, the Office of Research Management & Compliance (RMC) plays a vital role in ensuring that research is supported with strong financial stewardship, integrity, and accountability.

We are expanding our financial post-award team significantly to support the University's growing research portfolio, and it is an exciting time to join us. The Manager of Post-Award Compliance Programs will directly contribute to this mission by being the institution's primary contact for external audits of sponsored programs, a trusted compliance advisor and trainer for stakeholders across the U's research enterprise, and by overseeing two cornerstone compliance programs: Effort Certification and Subrecipient Monitoring. These programs are essential to the integrity of the University's sponsored research enterprise, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, safeguarding public funds, and maintaining the trust of our sponsors and partners.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

Responsibilities
Under minimal supervision, the Manager of Post-Award Compliance Programs manages and supervises the development, implementation, and enforcement of compliance programs, and trains and advises stakeholders across the University's research ecosystem, to ensure institutional compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and university standards. This position leads and continuously improves the University's Effort Certification and Subrecipient Monitoring programs-cornerstones of the institution's research compliance framework and essential to the integrity of its $700-million research portfolio.

The Manager identifies compliance risks and engages appropriate stakeholders around risk awareness and mitigation, ensuring that actions and outcomes are aligned across all levels of the university. They collaborate with General Counsel, Internal Audit, Sponsored Projects, and other business teams-as well as external sponsors and auditors-to ensure compliance-related matters are appropriately understood and addressed. The role also serves as the central compliance liaison for external audits of sponsored programs, coordinating Management Decision Letters and Corrective Action Plans, and developing comprehensive training programs for principal investigators, department administrators, and central office staff. The ability to serve as a trusted advisor to diverse stakeholders across campus, and to effectively navigate compliance and collaborative partnerships is critical to success in this role.

The Manager will lead a team of professional staff and work closely with senior leaders in Research Management & Compliance, Sponsored Projects, and central Finance. In addition to maintaining and strengthening existing compliance programs, this position will play a key role in modernizing compliance monitoring tools and reporting systems, leveraging automation and analytics to improve efficiency, accuracy, and insight across the research enterprise. The Manager will also build strong partnerships across colleges, institutes, and departments to foster a shared culture of compliance and proactive problem-solving.

This position contributes to the development and maintenance of university policies and procedures related to post-award compliance, represents the function on institutional committees as assigned, and drives a culture of compliance through strategy, policy, and training. As a first-level manager, the role is responsible for hiring, performance appraisals, pay reviews, and operational oversight of a team of approximately three FTE.

The successful candidate will be a systems-focused, service-minded, University-first compliance professional with the ability to translate complex hierarchical regulatory requirements - particularly those related to 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) - into practical institutional policies and procedures. They will demonstrate confidence interacting with auditors and sponsors, a proactive approach to risk identification and mitigation, and a commitment to fostering a culture of compliance, collaboration, and continuous improvement throughout the research community.

Minimum Qualifications
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).
Manager, Compliance Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

Prior experience in research administration, managing or supporting Effort Certification or Subrecipient Monitoring programs.
Prior experience as an audit professional.
Two or more years of management or supervisory experience.
Experience developing and implementing training programs for diverse stakeholder groups.
Strong analytical and communication skills with a collaborative, customer service oriented approach.
Operational familiarity with PeopleSoft's payroll platform.

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN43569B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 5:00; some flexibility around core hours; hybrid acceptable
Department: 00359 - Grants & Contracts Accounting
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $86,773 - $118,429
Close Date: 2/12/2026
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/191910