Post-Award Services Specialist

East Carolina University
East Carolina University

Full-time

Greenville, NC, USA

USD 54k-60k / year

Posted on Nov 6, 2026

Posting Details

Position Information
Job Title Post-Award Services Specialist
Position Number 500722
Vacancy Open to All Candidates
Department AAH REDE Office of Research Admin
Department Homepage https://rede.ecu.edu/ora/
Advertising Department RESEARCH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT
Division Academic Affairs
Classification Title Specialist
Working Title Post-Award Services Specialist
Number of Vacancies 5
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 1.0
Full Time or Part Time Full Time
Anticipated Recruitment Range. Salary offered may be outside of this range as impacted by budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications. $54,000 - $60,000
Position Location (City) Greenville
Position Type Non-Faculty
Job Category Non-Faculty Professional
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East Carolina University (ECU) is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public universities for its commitment to research, innovation, social mobility, and public service. Classified as a R1 institution by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, ECU is among the top 5% of research universities in the United States, an elite designation reflecting the highest levels of research activity, funding, and doctoral output.

Founded in 1907, ECU is a public, four-year university located in Greenville, N.C., which is widely regarded as the cultural, educational, economic, and medical hub of eastern North Carolina. Through education, research, healthcare, community engagement, athletics, cultural enrichment, and service, ECU enhances the quality of life for its students, the state and communities around the world. It is a great place to work, teach, and learn.

ECU’s commitment to impactful scholarship is further demonstrated through its repeated Carnegie Community Engagement Classification (2010, 2015, 2024), as well as its 2024 designation as a Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose institution. These distinctions recognize the university’s leadership in translating research into meaningful community partnerships and measurable societal benefits.

The university supports its workforce through a wide range of professional development opportunities designed to foster career growth and skill advancement. Eligible employees also benefit from a comprehensive benefits package that promotes a healthy work-life balance.
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
Academic Affairs, led by the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, comprises the university’s colleges, schools and libraries, along with other academic support and administrative units. Academic Affairs works collaboratively to strengthen ECU’s culture of academic excellence in line with our mission to be a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation.

Research, Economic Development and Engagement (REDE), led by the Senior Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, provides strategic leadership for East Carolina University’s research, innovation, economic development, and community engagement enterprise. REDE advances discovery, workforce development, and societal impact through research administration and development, industry engagement, technology transfer and commercialization, economic development initiatives, community-engaged partnerships, continuing education, and collaborations with federal agencies and national security partners. REDE also oversees research integrity, compliance, and responsible research practices.

Post-Award Services, part of the Office of Research Administration (ORA), advances the effective stewardship of sponsored projects through coordinated financial, administrative, and compliance support. The team oversees award setup, financial management, billing and revenue, and compliance monitoring; strengthening accountability, operational excellence, and institutional impact aligned with ECU’s mission of public service and research integrity.
Primary Purpose of Position
The primary purpose of the ORA Post-Award Services Specialist (PSS) is to provide comprehensive post-award financial management, compliance oversight, and PI support for sponsored projects. Reporting to the Financial Analyst, this position serves as the primary point of contact for the PIs and departments regarding financial and administrative management of sponsored projects. They are the liaison between the Financial Analysts, ADRs, and PIs.

Key Responsibilities Include:
  • Review all financial transactions, perform monthly reconciliations, monitor budgets and prepare financial forecasts (55%)
  • Create award folders, develop project management plan, and leads Principal Investigator New Award meetings (20%)
  • Review effort forms, assist in identifying inaccuracies, support project closeout, and verifies accuracy of final expenditures (20%)
  • Supervise Post-Award Services Associate positions (5%)
Minimum Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation
None
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
  • Master’s degree (accounting or business-related degree) and one year of experience in post-award grant administration, fiscal/budgetary management and oversight.
  • Demonstrated expertise in university research administration, including best practices in post-award processes within a university or academic medical center environment, with strong knowledge of federal, state, industry, and foundation sponsor requirements and regulations (e.g., NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, USDA).
  • Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
  • Familiarity with complex institutional, state, federal, and sponsor regulations.
  • Familiarity with Uniform Guidance, including cost principles, general accounting principles, and audit requirements for federal awards.
  • Experience working with broad types of sponsors including post-award administration requirements for federal, foundation, industry, and other external funding sources.
  • At least one year of supervisory experience is preferred.
  • Demonstrated understanding for partnerships with faculty, senior administrators, and external research sponsor officials.
Special Instructions to Applicant
This posting is intended to establish a pool of qualified applicants for consideration to fill multiple vacancies within the department.

East Carolina University requires applicants to submit a candidate profile online in order to be considered for the position. Candidates must also submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references, including contact information, online.

At the time of employment two to three original letters of reference, official transcripts, a criminal background check, and proper documentation of identity and employability are required. Please be aware that if selected as a candidate of choice, an automatic e-mail will be sent to the individuals entered by the applicant in the References section in the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system. Letters of reference submitted via the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system will be verified and considered towards meeting this requirement.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Additional Instructions to Applicant
In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit the required documents, as requested. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable.
Unless otherwise identified in the applicable job posting and consistent with University policy, the University will principally employ individuals who reside in the State of North Carolina to the greatest extent practicable. As such, most positions at East Carolina University require employees to live and work in North Carolina (or live within a reasonable daily commuting distance from their duty station) after hire. Candidates should be prepared to relocate within a reasonable, agreed-upon time after an offer of employment has been made and accepted to meet this requirement.
Job Open Date 11/04/2026
Open Until Filled Yes
Job Close Date - Positions will be posted until 11:59 p.m. EST on this date. If no closing date is indicated, the position may close at any time after the initial screening date.
Initial Screening Begins 11/19/2026
Rank Level
Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/98089
Nondiscrimination Statement
East Carolina University is committed to workforce success and cultivating a culture of care for our employees. ECU prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment based on race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status or disability.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) should contact the ADA Coordinator at (252) 737-1018 (Voice/TTY) or ADA-Coordinator@ecu.edu.
Eligibility for Employment
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity
If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity at (252) 328-9847 or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to employment@ecu.edu. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship for employment?
    • Yes
    • No
  2. * Please indicate where you learned about this job vacancy.
    • LinkedIn
    • Chronicle of Higher Education
    • CareerBuilder
    • Greenville Daily Reflector
    • Raleigh News & Observer
    • HigherEdJobs.com
    • InsideHigherEd.com
    • Monster.com
    • Indeed
    • ECU Website
    • Other

Documents Needed To Apply

Required Documents
  1. Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  2. Cover Letter
  3. List of References
Optional Documents