Job Description:The Grants Manager supports FIT's strategic priorities, serving as a lead grants officer responsible for the development, submission, and stewardship of external grant funding within the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs (OGSP). This role partners closely with faculty, staff, and external sponsors to manage a diverse portfolio of proposals and awards, with a primary focus on Science, Technology, and Business disciplines. The Grants Manager provides end-to-end grants administration, including funding identification, support for proposal development, budget oversight and reconciliations, post-award compliance monitoring, reporting and close-out. The role contributes to institutional research growth, faculty development, and cross-institutional partnerships while helping advance OGSP policies, processes, and annual performance targets.
Essential Functions:Grants Portfolio Management & Strategy- Independently manage a robust grants portfolio across multiple funding sources, including federal, state, city, foundation, and corporate sponsors.
- Proactively identify funding opportunities aligned with FIT's academic, research, and institutional priorities.
- Maintain an active, year-round grants pipeline in support of OGSP and College goals.
Faculty & Staff Engagement / Proposal Development- Partner with faculty and staff grant-seekers to assess project ideas, identify appropriate funding opportunities, and develop competitive, policy-compliant proposals.
- Provide hands-on pre-award guidance throughout the proposal lifecycle, including support for narrative development and editing, and conduct compliance review.
- Conduct technical submission of proposals and reports (narrative and financial) using sponsor and government online electronic systems.
Budget Development & Financial Stewardship- Develop accurate, policy-compliant project budgets in collaboration with grant-seekers, FIT Finance and Administration, Academic Affairs, and other campus stakeholders.
- Ensure budgets reflect institutional priorities, sponsor requirements (including Federal and NYS policies), and applicable FIT/SUNY policies.
- Monitor awarded budgets throughout the grant lifecycle to ensure appropriate financial oversight.
Post-Award Administration & Compliance- Steward awarded grants throughout the post-award period, to ensure timely submission of reports, reimbursement requests, and other sponsor requirements.
- Collaborate with Finance and Administration and other offices to support and prepare narrative and financial reports and conduct budget reconciliations.
- Ensure compliance with FIT, SUNY, and sponsor policies through grant close-out.
External Partnerships & Sponsor Relations- Serve as the primary liaison, as required and as assigned, with funders and external partners.
- Manage and support grants administration for multi-institutional research partnerships, including collaborations with R1 universities, nationally.
- Review and assess Funding Agreements and multi-institutional partner agreements, in collaboration with Executive Director and FIT Office of General Counsel.
- Maintain clear, professional communication with sponsors, partners and grantees throughout the grant lifecycle.
Program Development, Policy & Campus Engagement- Collaborate with the Executive Director to set objectives, evaluate grants performance, and support the development and implementation of OGSP policies and procedures.
- Contribute to OGSP team efforts, including support for the planning and presenting of campus programs, workshops, and events that build grants expertise and engagement across FIT.
The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.
Requirements:Minimum Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree required.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in grants administration within a higher-education environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing the full grants lifecycle, including proposal development, budgeting, compliance, reporting, and close-out.
- Experience with electronic grants submission platforms, including federal systems.
Preferred Qualifications:- 5+ years of grants administration experience in higher education.
- Experience with grants in Science, Health, Technology, and/or Business disciplines.
- Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential.
- Experience supporting multi-institutional or federally funded research partnerships.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:- In-depth knowledge of federal and state funding mechanisms, grants compliance requirements, and sponsor guidelines.
- Strong skills in proposal development, writing, editing, and technical submission.
- Advanced ability to develop, manage, and reconcile complex grant budgets.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and inflexible deadlines.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic-planning skills.
- Ability to communicate complex grants information clearly to non-specialist audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across a complex academic institution and with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace applications.
Additional Information:Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process.
SalarySalary: $91,486.02 - $101,718.82 per year; commensurate with experience and qualifications.
The UCE-FIT Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) dictates the compensation, benefits, and conditions of employment. Hiring Salary: $91,486.02 per year with step increments per Salary Schedule 95, after one year of service and annually thereafter.
Work ScheduleDays/Hours: M-F, 9:30am-5:30pm, in person; work schedule subject to change based on needs of the department.
BenefitsThe Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures.
- Retirement Plans
- Health Care Plan and Dental Plan
- Employee Assistance Program
- Flexible Spending Account
- Commuter Benefit Plan
- FIT Tuition Exemption Program
- Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holidays)
- 4-day Summer Workweek
- Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage.
Visa SponsorshipThis position is not eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Physical Requirements and Work EnvironmentThe working conditions for this position will be primarily in an office space. The physical requirement for this position will require constant sitting, occasional standing, occasional bending, occasional walking, occasional pulling, pushing, or reaching, constant repetitive motions, and occasionally lifting 10 lbs. or less.
Application Instructions:In order to be considered for this position, please submit the following documents online:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Unofficial Transcript
- A list of three references with telephone numbers and email addresses
Returning Applicants - Login to your FITNYC Careers Account to check your submitted application material.
Review of applications will begin immediately until the position is filled.
Please note that due to the volume of applications, we will not be able to contact each applicant individually.
Additional information about the Fashion Institute of Technology can be found at: http://www.fitnyc.edu.
Reposted on 8/13/2026
