Post-Award Grants And Contracts Specialist/Senior Grants And Contracts Specialist (Rank Open)

JOB SUMMARY

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is competitively recruiting talented grants and contracts/sponsored project professionals to join our growing research administration team. Sponsored Program Services (SPS) is responsible for administering a portfolio of $375M in annually awarded funding across all UConn campuses and UConn Health. We are a top-ranked public research university and land grant institution, rurally situated in the “Quiet Corner” of Northeast Connecticut.

Provides complex sponsored research administration and management, acts with institutional authority with sponsors and agencies. Provides day to day management and oversight for a high volume of post award administration.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as an institutional resource to advise, interpret, and make determinations on regulations and policies, sponsor award terms and conditions, and other matters; interprets all applicable sponsor policies, procedures, regulations, and statutes.
• Serves as a liaison between investigators, academic units and other administrative offices and provides technical assistance, guidance, and advice to faculty, administrators, and other professional staff for sponsored project administration. 
• Safeguards sponsored program funds through proposal reviews, post award transaction reviews, preparing reports, approving and processing to ensure accuracy and compliance with University policies and agency regulations. 
• Approves sponsored project expenditures; certifies completeness, accuracy, and compliance of reports with all applicable regulations and policies; submits reports to sponsors on behalf of the University.
• Identifies and resolves issues pertaining to technical budget, funding, cost sharing, allowable costs, fiscal, administrative, or procedural constraints, and similar matters. Recommends solutions, assists with re-budgets, and assist with other changes when conflicts arise with contract provisions or grant requirements. 
• Serves as the University’s liaison for negotiation of terms, changes in scope, effort commitments, no cost extensions and other related matters; serves as the University official to prepare, approve, and submit financial and compliance reporting to sponsors. 
• Actively manages awards and approves financial transactions in accordance with cost accounting standards; makes account adjustments as needed; resolves discrepancies related to financial compliance or availability of funds, including budgets, billing, payroll calculations, adjustments, project reporting, and other post-award activities while verifying compliance with University and sponsor requirements.
• Facilitates and may perform award closeouts by working with the investigators and other University offices to prepare reports for sponsors.
• Maintains records in accordance with University, state, federal and sponsor requirements. Provides records as requested and collaborates with SPS leadership in response to audits.
• Participates in policy and procedure discussions and recommends policy or procedural changes as appropriate to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Participates in the development and provision of University grant and contract training.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Core Competencies

Knowledge of:

• Federal and state laws, regulatory requirements, and University policies governing the planning, application development, and management of research and program grants and contracts for universities.
• University procedures and processes for grant applications.
• Research administration.
• Microsoft Office and related software applications.

Skill in:

• Planning and organization.
• Developing and maintaining effective and appropriate working relationships.
• Critical thinking, problem solving and analysis.

Ability to:

• Provide grant-related technical assistance and training.
• Communicate effectively through both oral and written means.
• Respect diversity and work collaboratively with individuals of diverse cultural, social and educational backgrounds.
• Interpret and communicate detailed grant program guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Write and interpret technical contract language.
• Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries.
• Work independently to analyze available information, draw conclusions and understandings, and present such conclusions effectively to senior management.
• Exercise independent judgment based on knowledge of research administration, policy and regulation (Note: This is a preferred/emerging ability for the Grants and Contracts Specialist level.)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. For the Grants and Contracts Specialist: Bachelor’s degree in related field and four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. For the Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist: Bachelor’s degree in related field and six years of related experience, with at least two of those years working at an advanced/senior level or serving as project lead. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for the degree and years requirement.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Knowledge of Uniform Guidance and/or the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
2. Ability to interpret technical solicitation or contract language applicable to sponsored research and understand its implications.
3. Experience with electronic research administration systems (such as grants.gov, research.gov, NSPIRES, eRA Commons).
4. Experience working in an institution of higher education.
5. Experience working in a high-volume, high-production, and/or sponsored-research intensive environment.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 35-hour per week permanent position with an excellent benefits package including medical and retirement, as well as employee and dependent tuition waivers at the University of Connecticut. The target salary range for this position will be commensurate with experience: $61,302-$77,000 for the Grants and Contracts Specialist; and $68,658-$83,500 for the Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist. Hybrid work modalities may be considered in accordance with University Alternate Work Arrangements policy and authorization. Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #497269 to upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on March 14, 2023.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.