Investigator Grants Manager

Job Overview: The Grants Manager I independently develops accurate, competitive Investigator Grant Estimates and related budget assumptions to support clinical trial proposals, rebids, and post-award updates. This role partners with Proposal teams, subject matter experts, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure grant estimates align with protocol requirements, sponsor expectations, internal standards, and business-critical timelines. Success in this role requires strong financial analysis, attention to detail, effective stakeholder communication, and the ability to manage multiple deliverables in a fast-paced, global environment. Summary of Responsibilities: • Develop accurate and competitive Investigator Grant Estimates (IGEs) for moderate to high complexity opportunities during the RFP stage, using available protocol information, schedules of events, sponsor requirements, and applicable budgeting assumptions. • Create IGEs in the Grant Plan tool and apply appropriate grant methodology, historical benchmarks, and study-specific assumptions to support realistic and competitive budget development. • Support post-award IGE development and rebid activities, as needed, by updating grant estimates to reflect changes in protocol design, scope, timelines, site requirements, or sponsor expectations. • Analyze historical grant, study, and cost data to inform assumptions, benchmark investigator fees and patient care costs, and improve the accuracy and competitiveness of grant estimates. • Ensure IGEs comply with sponsor specifications, RFP requirements, applicable regulatory or institutional requirements, and internal quality standards. • Perform quality control reviews in accordance with applicable processes, tools, and requirements to support accurate and timely deliverables. • Partner with Proposal teams, subject matter experts, and cross-functional stakeholders to develop grant budget strategies that align with RFP requirements and overall proposal objectives. • Respond to client questions and internal stakeholder inquiries related to IGEs, providing clear, data-supported explanations and recommended options where appropriate. • Identify, evaluate, and resolve routine to moderately complex grant-related issues and, when necessary, develop recommended solutions of complex grant-related issues with analysis and proposed solutions • Contribute to the resolution of complex grant-related challenges across pre-award and post award stages, supporting client-focused analysis, effective grant management, and successful study outcomes. • Coordinate work across a matrixed, global environment, aligning stakeholders, influencing contributors, and supporting delivery across multiple time zones and locations. • Manage assigned deliverables to meet proposal timelines, quality expectations, and business critical deadlines. • Provide guidance to less experienced team members on proposal processes, grant estimate methodology, quality expectations, and deliverable execution. • Actively contribute to initiatives that improve processes, tools, systems, content reuse, data accuracy, cycle time, deliverable quality, and stakeholder experience. • And all other duties as needed or assigned. Qualifications (Minimum Required): • Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent relevant experience. • Fortrea may consider relevant and equivalent experience and successful project outcomes in lieu of educational requirements. • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and grant management or budgeting tools. Strong financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and data interpretation skills. • Working knowledge of clinical trial budgeting and grant cost structures, including patient care costs, investigator fees, indirect rates, and related study assumptions. • Strong attention to detail, with the ability to manage accurate financial data and multiple grant estimates simultaneously. • Ability to manage competing priorities, adjust timelines, and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines. • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain financial information clearly to internal stakeholders, clients, and senior management and draft clear budget rationale, grant estimate explanations, and client-ready responses for routine to moderately complex opportunities. • Ability to prepare clear, accurate grant estimate documentation, budget assumptions, and written responses using approved templates and established guidance. • Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and follow through on assigned deliverables. • Strong teamwork and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions, business units, and geographies. • Proven ability to work independently while knowing when to escalate issues, risks, or decisions requiring additional input. • Positive attitude, sense of urgency, and commitment to meeting business-critical proposal deadlines. Experience (Minimum Required): Minimum of 4 years of experience in the clinical research, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related industry, including at least 3 years of experience in grants, budget development, clinical trial budgeting, or related financial proposal support. Preferred Qualifications: • Experience with platforms such as Grants.gov, eRA Commons, Grant Plan, or similar systems preferred. Physical Demands / Work Environment: Work Environment: • Work is performed in an office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment. • Occasional travel both domestic and international. Physical Requirements: • Frequently stationary for 6-8 hours per day. • Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists. • Occasional crouching, stooping, with frequent bending and twisting of upper body and neck. • Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in-house and off-the shelf. • Light to moderate lifting and carrying, or moving of objects, including luggage and laptop computer with a maximum lift of 15-20 lbs • Regular and consistent attendance. • Varied hours may be required. Learn more about our EEO & Accommodations request here .