Fund Manager - Grants Management

• NEOM is focused on becoming a pre-eminent global location for establishing Innovative technologies and associated industries. This development will encompass many future-facing sectors of activity spanning from education, through health and well-being, the digital world, energy, food, and water, to creative industries, tourism, and sport (

• The ERIF’s initial flagship program comprises Applied Research Institutes that bridge the gap between academic and industrial activities in key global challenge areas of strategic importance to NEOM. Three Applied Research Institutes are underway, in Hydrogen and e-Fuels (HEFARI), in Ocean Science and Solutions (OSSARI), and in The Future Urban Livability (FULARI).
• In addition, the ERIF will establish a suite of shared research infrastructure facilities that will be widely accessible to users from NEOM U, the Applied Research Institutes, Talent Academy, NEOM sectors, start-ups, SMEs, international corporations and institutions, and government agencies. ERIF will further launch Research Initiatives focused on NEOM-relevant global themes, an Academy of International Fellows to engage the global ERI community with the NEOM region and its R&I activities, and a competitive Grant Funding Program.
• Taken together, this will help build the R&I ecosystem, in close collaboration with the NEOM sectors and regions, by supporting students, researchers, innovators, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, and companies.
• The Fund Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing the fund management and reporting for the ERIF\s research funding activities. This role is critical in assisting ERIF’s R&I ecosystem which aims to support Principal Investigators, Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Start-Ups.

• Oversee and perform financial administration of grants and contracts awarded by the ERIF Monitor award accounts for compliance with accounting standards, ensuring expenses are reasonable and allowable.
• Ensure awards are spent in financial compliance with accounting standards and controls, applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and ERIF sponsor guidelines.
• Oversee and monitor internal financial management of ERIF grant funding, initiate/execute grant-related accounting reconciliations, and other corrective actions as needed.
• Develop and implement procedures and processes to ensure grant recipients, vendors, and service providers' payments are processed in a timely fashion while working closely with ERI operations and other stakeholders.
• Develop and perform financial oversight by implementing financial guidelines, develop budget templates, financial monitoring, and reporting requirements for funding programs and research activities funded by the ERIF.
• Perform financial review of incoming grant proposals for ERIF funded research proposals.
• Employ reporting tools to provide accurate financial reports on various outputs for research funding and grant analysis for internal/management and external stakeholders.
• Develop evaluation criteria and procedures for financial oversight and risk mitigation for grant recipients' financial compliance. Oversight and monitoring actions include desk audits, in-person audits, reporting requirements, and mitigation actions.
• Develop and prepare forecasts for ERIF-funded research activities in consultation with the ERIF Program Office, ARIs, and the ERIF R&I ecosystem team.
• Major contributor to the development of strong policies and standard operating procedures for the financial post-award management of grants and funded research.
• Serve as liaison between ERIF departments, sponsors, partner institutions, PIs, researchers, and ERIF stakeholders for financial award matters.
• Serve as a resource for PIs, ARIs, researchers, ERI staff, and administration on financial grant matters.
• Participate in the development and dissemination of grant management training and materials; create and maintain effective outreach and support mechanisms. Coordinate and participate in developing and implementing training offerings to the R&I eco-system.
• A major contributor to the development, implementation, and maintenance of technology solutions effectively enabling financial grant management and oversight hereof.
• Other responsibilities as assigned. ERIF is evolving and this role will be critical in establishing the new office.

• 5+ years of experience in financial grants management preferable in an academic or funding agency/research foundation setting.
• Knowledge of grant accounting practices and accounting standards (such as GAAP or similar).
• Experience with research funding and processing and review of grant applications.
• Knowledge of research compliance regulations and ethical considerations.
• Knowledge of SAP and SAP grant management or similar financial grant management solutions.
• Proficiency in grant administration solutions.
• Demonstrated flexibility, mature judgment, integrity, and ability to manage complex situations.
• Experience with people management.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in delivering/facilitating training courses, in-person and online, is desirable.
• Demonstrated commitment to learning and collaboration, and to working in authentic partnership.
• An orientation toward self-starting, proactive anticipation of team needs, and creative problem-solving.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Bachelor’s in research administration, business, or accounting preferred.

• The ERI Foundation team, including the ERIF Executive Director, Director of Programs, the Applied Research Institute Directors, and research leads for Research Initiative projects.

• NEOM U leadership team.

• Talent Academy leadership team.
• R&I team leaders for NEOM sectors, regions, and companies

• KSA and international R&I community
• KSA and international government agencies
• KSA and international companies, institutions and industry partners.

NEOM