Senior Awards Specialist, Awards Management, Office of Sponsored Projects

Job Posting Title:

Senior Awards Specialist, Awards Management, Office of Sponsored Projects

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Hiring Department:

Office of Sponsored Projects

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) serves as the coordinating office for externally funded research and sponsored projects at The University of Texas at Austin. The mission of the OSP is to assist faculty and professional research staff in their efforts to secure and ensure proper stewardship of external funding. We do that by assisting research faculty and staff with the following: proposal review, authorization, and submission; award negotiations and acceptance; account management; close-out, reports, audits, collection; professional development and education; export control, and research compliance.

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:  

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage 

• Retirement contributions  

• Paid vacation and sick time 

• Paid holidays 

• Eligible for fully remote telework

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered. 

Purpose

Review new sponsored awards and complete account set-up. Monitor sponsored program account expenditures, analyze invoices and associated detail and reporting on sponsored project funds. Will also monitor for administrative and budget related compliance issues. Communicate with university departments and sponsoring entities to administer all financial aspects of awards.

Responsibilities

• Understands terms and conditions of new awards. Establishes and creates new account profiles including modifications. Working knowledge of policies, regulations, compliance requirements associated with private, state and federal research funding. Reviews proposal documentation upon award for compliance and reporting requirements and compliance risks.

• Monitors and reviews expenditure activities to ensure direct charges comply with university policies and procedures, federal guidelines, including cost transfers and budget adjustments. Review/approve budget transfers, Purchase Orders, and other accounting transactions as required.

• Assists in preparation of final billing and financial reporting as needed and reviews and signs final invoicing and final reporting documents. Monitors and analyzes account balances. Monitors research funds and assists departments with processing and reporting requirements. Audits financial activity to ensure compliance with terms and accounting principles of oversight entities. Complete account closeout.

• Communicates effectively and professionally within the research community on all matters related to award management. Maintains a degree of rapport with co-workers.

• Displays resourcefulness, works independently and effectively manages time. Mentors and trains peers. Reviews processes for efficiencies and assists in defining automation projects related to process improvements. Assists with special related projects or functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five years of experience in post-award grant administration and/or in the preparation, processing, and negotiation of research grant and contract proposals.

• Experience in governmental or commercial accounting.

• Extensive experience with the use of MS Word and MS Excel software.

• Experience with creating and maintaining spreadsheets.

• Ability to maintain accuracy and pay close attention to details.

• Ability to review and interpret the terms and conditions of research grants and contracts.

• Eligible to work in the United States for any employer on a full-time basis.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree. 

• More than the required years of experience. 

• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.

• Ability to work collaboratively and constructively in a team environment. 

• More than two years of experience in governmental accounting.

• Knowledge of federal guidelines pertaining to institutions of higher education.

• Certified Research Administrator.

• Experience in a Sponsored Projects Office.