Clinical Trials Post-Award Specialist (Research Services Post Award Principal Professional)

Job Summary

The Clinical Trials Post-Award Specialist is responsible for the financial administration, compliance oversight, and operational management of an assigned portfolio of industry-sponsored clinical trials, federal clinical research awards, investigator-initiated studies, and other sponsored research projects. This position serves as the primary post-award resource for Principal Investigators (PIs), research coordinators, clinical research managers, and departmental leadership to ensure awards are managed in accordance with sponsor requirements, institutional policies, federal regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles.

The incumbent provides comprehensive post-award management from award setup through project closeout, including financial reconciliation, invoicing, clinical trial revenue management, study budget monitoring, payroll expense transfers, effort reporting, subaward administration, and financial reporting. The position works collaboratively with clinical research personnel, research administration, finance, grants and contracts offices, sponsors, and external collaborators to ensure compliant stewardship of sponsored funds and timely collection of clinical trial revenue.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Trial Financial Management – 20%25

• Manage a portfolio of industry-sponsored clinical trials, cooperative agreements, federal grants, and investigator-initiated research studies.

• Establish and maintain project budgets and financial tracking tools.

• Monitor study expenditures to ensure costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable, and consistently treated.

• Develop and maintain financial projections for active research studies.

• Review budgets and expenditures to identify deficits, surpluses, and compliance risks.

• Partner with research teams to ensure appropriate utilization of funds and achievement of study milestones.

• Monitor patient enrollment activity and associated research revenue.

Clinical Trial Revenue Management – 20%25

• Monitor sponsor payments and patient visit reimbursements to ensure accurate and timely revenue collection.

• Reconcile sponsor payments against executed clinical trial agreements and enrollment activity.

• Investigate and resolve payment discrepancies with sponsors and study teams.

• Track outstanding receivables and follow up on overdue payments.

• Collaborate with research coordinators and finance personnel to ensure all billable research activities are invoiced appropriately.

• Maintain financial documentation supporting sponsor payments and revenue recognition.

Award Administration -10%25

• Review award notices, contracts, amendments, and modification documents to identify financial and administrative requirements.

• Establish new project accounts and funding sources in institutional financial systems.

• Process budget revisions, carryforward requests, no-cost extensions, and sponsor prior approval requests.

• Maintain accurate award records and supporting documentation.

• Coordinate project extensions and modifications with internal and external stakeholders.

Financial Monitoring and Reconciliation – 10%25

• Perform monthly reconciliation of sponsored project accounts.

• Analyze expenditures for compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements.

• Review payroll distributions, supply charges, subcontract invoices, participant payments, and other research expenses.

• Identify and resolve accounting discrepancies and errors.

• Prepare detailed financial reports such as grant projections for investigators and departmental leadership.

• Maintain audit-ready supporting documentation.

Effort Reporting and Personnel Administration – 10%25

• Monitor personnel effort charged to sponsored projects.

• Review salary distributions for compliance with sponsor commitments and institutional policies.

• Process funding distribution changes and payroll expense transfers.

• Coordinate effort certification activities.

• Assist investigators and research staff in maintaining accurate personnel funding allocations.

Subaward Administration – 5%25

• Establish and administer outgoing subawards related to clinical research projects.

• Coordinate subaward agreements, amendments, and funding modifications.

• Monitor subrecipient spending and invoice activity.

• Review invoices for accuracy, allowability, and compliance with award terms.

• Ensure timely completion of required subrecipient monitoring activities.

Financial Reporting and Invoicing – 10%25

• Prepare sponsor invoices and financial reports consistent with contract and award requirements.

• Assist with preparation of annual, interim, and final financial reports.

• Support research teams with progress reporting requirements involving financial information.

• Maintain documentation supporting all submitted financial reports.

Compliance and Regulatory Oversight – 10%25

• Ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), NIH policies and procedures, FDA regulations applicable to sponsored clinical research, clinical trial agreement requirements, institutional policies and procedures, and sponsor-specific financial requirements.

• Prepare documentation supporting audits, monitoring visits, and financial reviews.

• Identify compliance concerns and escalate issues appropriately.

• Assist with development and implementation of departmental standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Stakeholder Support and Education – 5%25

• Serve as a post-award subject matter expert for investigators and study teams.

• Provide guidance regarding sponsor requirements, allowable costs, effort reporting, invoicing, and financial management.

• Participate in departmental training initiatives related to sponsored research administration.

• Build collaborative relationships with faculty, research staff, finance teams, grants and contracts personnel, and sponsors.

Work Location:

Hybrid – this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us:

The Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine is dedicated to delivering superlative patient care, providing an environment where training and education thrive and innovation and discovery are fostered.

The Department of Emergency Medicine is based at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora Colorado. The campus is a state of the art medical campus home to the University of Colorado Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, the Colorado School of Public Health; as well as the University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado both of which serve as major training sites for the Denver Health Residency in Emergency Medicine. 

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options

• Dental: Multiple plan options

• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision

• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10%25 of your gross pay

• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year

• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)

• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)

• Holiday Days: 10/year

• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses

• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, Research Administration, or a related field

• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in post-award research administration, grants management, clinical trial administration, research finance, or sponsored project management.

  • A combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA), or similar certification.

• Experience with federal, foundation, and industry-sponsored awards.

• Experience with PeopleSoft, Oracle, Workday, SAP, or comparable ERP systems.

• Knowledge of clinical trial billing and clinical research revenue cycle processes.

• Experience preparing sponsor invoices and financial reports.

• Experience supporting industry-sponsored clinical trials preferred.

• Experience within an academic medical center, healthcare system, or research-intensive environment preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Clinical trial financial management principles.

• Sponsored project administration practices.

• Federal regulations governing sponsored research.

• Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).

• NIH grants administration requirements.

• Subaward administration and monitoring.

• Clinical trial agreements and budget structures.

• Skills

• Financial analysis and reconciliation.

• Budget development and forecasting.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.

• Data analysis and financial reporting.

• Written and verbal communication.

• Organization and project management.

• Abilities

• Manage multiple complex research projects simultaneously.

• Interpret sponsor guidelines and contract terms.

• Collaborate effectively with faculty, research staff, sponsors, and administrators.

• Exercise sound judgment when handling confidential information.

• Produce accurate, audit-ready financial records and documentation.

• Work independently while contributing to a collaborative research administration team.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: EMED Human Resources; [email protected]

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by September 18, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as $67,864 - $90,937

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected]

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.