Research Project Coordinator at Colorado State University — Fort Collins, CO

Job Description

Position Summary:

This position is responsible for the pre and post-award support for CSU Pueblo and CSU Fort Collins OVPR units. This position works under minimal supervision to assist Principal Investigators (PIs) in the development and submission of proposals, financial transactions, and management of award accounts.

Department Website: https://www.research.colostate.edu/

Full Consideration Date:

July 13, 2026

Essential Job Duties:

• Manage sponsored project portfolios from pre-award to post-award, including proposal development, budget management, expense prep and tracking, and reporting.
• Assist and guide investigators in the successful and timely submission of sponsored activity proposals, just-in-time requests, and project reports.
• In coordination with PI(s), develop and evaluate project budgets and budget justifications in accordance with federal, institutional, and sponsor policies and procedures.
• Reconcile account activity with regular reports to provide guidance to PI's.
• Monitor expenditures, ensure appropriate salary allocations (effort reporting), and manage cost transfers and budget revisions.
• Coordinate grant staffing with HR partner.
• Forecast future commitments and spend rates; coordinate purchasing of supplies, equipment, and travel for grant projects.
• In coordination with PI(s), prepare requests for sponsor approval, including but not limited to, no cost-extensions, personnel/budget changes, etc.
• Works effectively with other offices (central, college, departments, etc).

Supervision:

• None

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree OR a high school diploma (or GED) plus 4 years of pre or post-award grant management/grant accounting experience
• 2 years of research administration experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with creating proposal applications and budgets for various sponsor types, as well as reviewing grant opportunities from diverse sponsors to determine required documentation and timelines for meeting submission deadlines. (merging bullets one and two)
• Experience analyzing accounts and expenditures for sponsor and institutional compliance.
• Departmental sponsored programs administration at a college or university.
• Experience with sponsor proposal platforms (ASSIST, Workspace, etc)
• Experience with Kuali Research and Kuali Financial systems.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA).

Application Instructions:

In your cover letter, please tell us how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications.

Salary Range

$65,000-$80,000

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.
• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.
• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.