Grants Officer (Finance) at Concordia University of Edmonton

Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) is a community of learning grounded in scholarship and academic freedom, preparing students to be independent thinkers, ethical leaders and citizens for the common good. CUE campus is situated on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton’s historic Highlands neighborhood. Supporting a student body of over 3,000, we are known for our small class sizes and our excellence in teaching and research focus. Our small classes and diverse student population provide an excellent opportunity for engaging with students in a sustained and nurturing way unique within the Canadian university system. CUE is an institution that values research in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and management. CUE is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for work, study, and living. We actively promote dignity for all, rejecting action and language that are harmful to mutual respect
Reporting to the Director, Research and Innovation Services (“Director”), the Grants Officer (Finance) is a key member of the service-oriented Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) team, and possesses analytical, flexible and forward-thinking qualities. The ORI manages all academic grants (research and non-research), including the associated agreements and contracts. The incumbent is responsible for supporting grants and contracts compliance and providing grant financial advice, including budget development, analyses, forecasting, expenditure monitoring, compliance oversight, cash flow management, and audit facilitation. The scope of these responsibilities includes funding from external agencies, foundations, donations, private sector companies, not-for-profits, and multi-institutional award funding. The incumbent also provides key forecasting support for the financial implementation of commercialization within the innovation portfolio and aids in securing external funds in support of research and innovation events and programs
Under the direction of the Director, the incumbent works with other ORI team members to support CUE leadership, researchers, scholars, and artists navigate the research administration continuum of the grant lifecycle, ultimately ensuring alignment with CUE’s Academic and Research & Innovation Strategic Plans. The incumbent draws on a broad understanding of best practices and requisites in grant proposal development, grant management, external sponsorship and legislative requirements, and all aspects of research, innovation, and project administration continuum, with the overall goals of: 1) expanding and improving CUE’s academic, research, and innovation framework to best support its researchers, scholars, and artists; 2) increasing the success of externally funded proposals; 3) increasing the amount of externally-funded grant proposals at CUE; and 4) supporting all contracts and partnership agreements The incumbent endeavors to integrate and advance CUE’s commitments to Indigeneity, equity, diversity, inclusivity, and to convey respect for those undertaking research, scholarly, or artistic endeavours
Responsibilities:

• Support the development of grant applications, by identifying strategies that meet CUE’s objectives relating to academic, research, innovation, international partnerships, and commercialization activities.
• Support the implementation of CUE’s Research Integrity Portfolio, which includes research security, animal care, human research ethics, and research data management.
• Provide guidance to CUE researchers regarding university and granting agencies policies and procedures around eligibility of expenses, project scoping and activity costing.
• Track and forecast grant expenditures.
• Work with the Finance team to ensure account set-up upon award and financial reports to funding agencies are completed at project milestones.
• Verify academic grant and contract revenues are received and ensure that anticipated expenses align with project budgets.
• Ensure all expenses align to university policies and procedures and to granting agency policies.
• Prepare requests for invoices, transfers of funds, cheque requests, purchase orders, and contracts. Route financial documents through the university systems.
• When necessary, provide support to project leads and the institution when audits are conducted.
• Assist researchers understand financial reports, financial policies and procedures, terminology, and standard accounting practices.
• Monitor, review, and reconcile accounts monthly and advise project leads of discrepancies, anticipate potential concerns, and identify potential mitigation options.
• Identify overspending and work with project leads to resolve deficits by reallocating expenses. Make recommendations to respective project leads regarding deficit resolution strategies.
• Identify best practices and policy development regarding grant and contract financial administration.
• Support senior leadership secure external funding to advance CUE’s Academic and Research & Innovation Strategic priorities, including donations and sponsorships for events (e.g., CARIC) and special programs.
• Support the implementation of CUE’s Academic Strategic Plan, Research and Innovation Strategic Plan, and Research Data Management Plan.
• Develop budgets for multidisciplinary and institutional grant proposals, both research and non- research.
• Provide strategic advice, mentorship and hands-on assistance to CUE applicants with the development of budgets for grant applications/proposals from idea through to submission. Review the budgets of all academic grants prior to submission.
• Provide strategic advice to funding applicants on how to leverage grants to secure other opportunities for additional funding at the individual researcher level.
• Support the Director in the development, implementation, and management of policies and their associated procedures.
• Develop, coordinate, promote and deliver training (and training material) on budget development and grant administration, along with best practices for grant financial management, policies, and procedures (both for CUE and funding sponsor).
• Support the Director by proactively establishing, developing and maintaining productive relationships with key stakeholders, including external funding organizations and industry sponsors, to elevate CUE’s research and innovation profile.
• Seek and recommend research partnerships/collaborations with academic and research institutions, government organizations, non-profits and industry based on a deep understanding of CUE’s signature areas and CUE’s faculty areas of expertise.
• Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of the research and innovation capacity at CUE.
• Support the Director in the generation of research, innovation, and grant administration data and analytics required for reporting purposes, whether for an internal or external audience. Proactively track activities and achievements.
• Support the Director in the completion of reports required for funding agencies, as well as internal and other external stakeholders.
• Facilitate connections between researchers and funding agencies.
• Develop and maintain positive and productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Build relationships with CUE researchers, including students, to understand and inventory the research going on at the institution.
• Assist CUE researchers understand the potential commercial applications of their research and describe their value to external partners.
• Actively participates and collaborates in the development of institutional and strategic planning including contributing to institutional reports.
• Coordinate or assist with events and activities organized by the ORI or by the institution.
• Maintain a professional image and demeanor with all employees, management, executives, and visitors at all times.
• Seek learning opportunities, mentorship, and professional development that enhances their efficacy in the role.
• Other duties, relevant to the position, shall be assigned as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated analytical ability with a sound knowledge of accounting practices.
• Strong knowledge of different financial systems, advanced MS Excel skills with good knowledge of Word and PowerPoint. Proficient in Google Suite (i.e.: Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Sheets, Google Docs, etc.), applications, and databases. Proficiency with data dashboards is an asset.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly in both written and verbal form in a clear, straightforward, and professional manner, with attention to detail, is required.
• Exceptional business writing and editing skills, research skills, and grant writing skills are required.
• Proficient knowledge of Canadian funding agencies and programs, as well as their guidelines, policies, and procedures, including:

o Major Tri-Agency grant funding programs (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR); o Alberta Innovates, Mitacs, NRC, and PrairiesCan funding programs o Principles for responsible use of research funds; o Knowledge of research ethics processes, as specified by TCPS 2 (2022); o CCAC guidelines and requirements for animal ethics

• Knowledge of research funding programs, understanding of external funding and funding procedures is required.
• Ability to establish and build healthy working relationships and partnerships with clients, peers, and external stakeholders is required. Strong capacity to deal with ambiguity and navigating conflicting needs is required.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and be flexible/ adaptable is required.
• Experience preparing and delivering presentations and workshops is required.
• A commitment to providing exceptional service with a positive and professional approach is required.
• Excellent judgement and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and discretion in all interactions are required.
• Superior problem solving and troubleshooting skills are required.
• Ability to demonstrate competencies in the areas of professionalism, results orientation, organizational understanding, and teamwork.
• Excellent time management skills - must be able to prioritize and manage workload to meet the multiple demands of the position and firm deadlines.
• Ability to be a team player.
• Satisfactory Criminal Records Check results.
• This position requires access to sensitive information and secure databases.
• Must be able to be cleared for a Reliability Status security screening.

Requirements:

• Undergraduate university degree in business, accounting, or related field is required. A Master’s degree or higher education in in business, accounting, or related field is desired. Other types of education (i.e.: undergraduate degree in Humanities, Social Sciences, Science) and with combined experience will also be considered. Other education and experience will also be considered.
• Professional accounting designation is considered a strong asset.
• A Research Administration Certificate, or related training, is an asset.
• 3+ years of related experience in financial monitoring and analysis, preferably in an academic environment. Experience supporting the financial administration of external grants and contracts within a post-secondary environment is considered an asset.
• Research finance experience working with industry, federal and provincial grants/contract administration is required.
• Experience in financial reporting and analysis, budgeting and forecasting is required.
• Training in grant development, intellectual property identification and protection, and/or commercialization is considered an asset.
• Experience with CARA, CFI, TCPS 2 CORE, and FOIP or PIPA is considered an asset.

This position is to be performed in-person and is primarily sedentary, requiring the incumbent to work in an office sitting at a desk. Minimal lifting of office supplies, boxes, etc. may be required. This position may also require the incumbent to walk between various buildings across campus, including the Ralph King building. This position requires some degree of flexibility in working hours to accommodate deadlines or work outside normal hours during events
Closing Date: Application review will commence after January 9, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled
Please direct all questions and inquiries to Human Resources at Concordia University of Edmonton [email protected]. Please be advised that the campus is closed from December 20, 2025 to January 4, 2026. You will receive a response upon the team’s return
Concordia University of Edmonton encourages applications from members of racialized groups, visible minorities, First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, women, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and others who may support a diversity of perspectives at CUE. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.