[Hiring] Senior Grants and Contracts Administrator @University of Chicago

Role Description

The Senior Grants & Contracts Administrator works independently to administer pre-award and/or post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals/funding within a department or unit. Serves as a subject matter expert and provides mentoring and training for less experienced grant coordinators and administrators.

• Working with Principal Investigators, faculty and academics, manages all aspects of their portfolios regarding Pre-Award administration, which includes proposal preparation, proposal budgeting, routing applications through AURA the University system of record for all grant/contract proposals and awards.
• Works with University Research Administration (URA) to ensure awards have been accepted/negotiated and set up in our financial system.
• Manages all aspects of Post-Award administration for portfolios, which includes account reconciliation, expenditure forecasting, and meeting with faculty to discuss account expenses.
• Assists with annual progress reports, annual effort reports and processes closeout.
• Submits subcontract materials when needed to URA to ensure sub agreements are issued.
• Assists with the processing of Material Transfer Agreements (MTA’s), when needed.
• Acquires IDC cost and cost share waivers when needed.
• Works with URA to ensure research compliance is in place for IBC, IACUC, IRB, COI, export controls, and foreign influence.
• Approves all transactions charged to restricted and unrestricted accounts so that expenditures are in agreement with account budgets.
• Approves and transfers payroll and expenditures, monitors invoicing and payments, and reconciles charges using monthly ledgers and FAS.
• Along with Grants and Contracts Manager, trains, onboards, provides guidance and serves as an informational resource to junior Grants & Contracts Coordinators and Administrators for both the pre-award and post-award.
• Oversees gift and endowment accounts, departmental operating accounts and faculty unrestricted research accounts.
• Provides specialized support for the research enterprise within a department or unit, including pre- and/or post-award administration for all sponsored activity.
• Serves as liaison between PIs, University administrative offices, and external agencies.
• Ensures service and communication to PIs, standardized information, best practices development, and that all faculty and research staff are aware of any new grant policies and changes.
• Analyzes industry trends and remains current with agency and regulatory changes.
• Monitors department/unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Progressively responsible work experience in sponsored programs administration.
• Senior-level skills in pre-award, post-award, and contract administration.
• Experiences within research-intensive environments and supporting highly productive and motivated research faculty and staff, on an academic research institution, research foundation, or industry/corporate research setting.

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to work independently and as a member of a cohesive team.
• Deep knowledge of sponsor agency guidelines (Federal, non-Federal, and other) along with policies related to proposals and awards.
• Ability to confidently interact with corporate and industry sponsors – faithfully representing the needs of the University and its research faculty.
• Comfortable with deadline-driven work tasks and the capacity to get things achieved through others.
• Strong communication skills with a high degree of “emotional-intelligence” and a skillful negotiator.
• Ability to translate complex work issues into understandable and actionable plans toward resolution.
• Ability to refine skills through continuous learning.
• Exercises independent judgement and work under limited guidance due to previous experience/breadth and depth of knowledge of administrative processes.

Working Conditions

• This position is eligible for a remote work schedule.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References (preferred)

Job Family

• Financial Management

Role Impact

• Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

• 37.5

Pay Rate Type

• Salary

FLSA Status

• Exempt

Pay Range

• $88,000.00 - $110,000.00

Benefits

• Benefits Eligible: Yes
• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.