Grants & Contracts Specialist

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

Business Title:

Employee Type:

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

As a Grants & Contracts Specialist, you will provide professional fiscal and analytical support for sponsored programs at the Washington State University (WSU) Mount Vernon and Puyallup Research and Extension Centers and the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR) under general supervision.

You will independently manage the financial aspects of grants and contracts, supporting faculty throughout the full award lifecycle, including budget development, financial monitoring, forecasting, and compliance oversight to ensure the effective and compliant use of sponsored funds.

You will manage a high-volume, complex portfolio of sponsored projects across multiple principal investigators, including federal, state, and private funding sources with diverse regulatory and financial requirements.

In this role, you will apply principles of accounting and grant management to analyze and interpret financial activity, identify trends, evaluate performance, and support decision-making. You will collaborate with faculty and administrative partners to develop spending plans, monitor financial performance, resolve issues, and ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.

This position requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while delivering accurate, timely, and customer-focused financial support in a complex regulatory environment.

Percentage Breakdown of Job Functions:

• 40% Post-Award

• 40% General Grants & Contracts Support

• 10% Pre-Award

• 10% Other duties

Additional Information:

This is a full time (100% FTE), permanent position. This position is overtime eligible.
Monthly Salary: $4,517 to $6,075 | Range 49 Steps A - M | Successful candidates are typically hired at the beginning of the salary range and receive scheduled salary increment increases in accordance with WAC 357-28.
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.
Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Classified staff and Total Compensation.
Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, which must include 18 quarter or 12 semester hours in accounting, auditing, or budgeting AND one (1) year experience working in grants and contracts.

• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with the WSU myResearch and Workday.

• Experience with the WSU grants and contracts policies, procedures, forms, and systems.

• Office of Research Support and Operations (ORSO) Budget Certified.

• Demonstrated computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for work visa sponsorship
Area/College: College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS)
Department Name: WSU Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center
Location: Mount Vernon, WA

This position is an on-site/in-person preferred role located on the WSU campus in Mount Vernon, WA with hybrid/remote option available
Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.
1) Resume
2) Cover Letter
External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.

Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.
Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.
Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.
Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:

Position Term:

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/