Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist

Job Posting Title:

Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist

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Hiring Department:

Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs

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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:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

Purpose

The Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist provides all aspects of pre-and post-award grant support for the LBJ School of Public Affairs. As a key member of the finance team, this position ensures exceptional support of the school’s research mission and service excellence in all aspects of financial management of research awards. The incumbent will also support related programming including management of the school’s research Data Hub.

Responsibilities

Pre-Award:

• Faculty Support: Communicate funding opportunities and deadline information to faculty, particularly for Early-Stage Investigators. Provide assistance in budgeting, formatting, editing, and proofreading of proposals. Build a repository of standard documents and templates. Notify faculty about workshops and other training opportunities.
• Financial/Post-Award Support: Create a database of submissions to track metrics for department and generate info for FARs, Tenure, etc. Work with Financial and Post-Award Staff to track and manage funding. No-Cost Extensions and Renewals. Transfers and Budget Adjustments. Summary budget reports for grant/contract deliverables.
• Processing of Proposals and Agreements: Submit Proposal Review Forms (PRFs) and coordinate submissions through OSP and OIE. Coordination of multi-disciplinary grants, as needed. Upload proposals via electronic funding platforms. Electronic Research Administration (ERA) of sponsored (federal and industry) through the Research Management System (RMS). ERA of non-sponsored agreements through the UT Research Management Suite: Agreements Module and eProtocol (Material Transfer Agreements (MTA), Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), Data Use Agreements (DUA), Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), Technology Control Plan (TCP), Confidential Data Control Plans (CDCP), IRB (for human subject protocols), and IACUC (for animal research protocols).

Post-Award:

• Monitor post-award activities to ensure compliance with issues involving allowable costs, cost transfers, budget adjustments, and reporting requirements.
• Review appointments on grant accounts and confirm availability of funds and appropriate project/account allocations. Process or review all budget transfers on all 26 accounts to ensure compliance with sponsor guidelines, correct costing allocations, and contractual terms.
• Oversee sub-award payments and their financial reporting on grants. Reviews monthly expense certifications.
• Reviews monthly expense certifications. Calculate and distribute IDC returns in accordance with school policies. 
• Create and route credit authorizations, letters of authorizations, and spend available requests as needed. Monitor MOU, DUA, and NDA for compliance as appropriate. Create specialized invoices as needed.
• Engage with faculty members to project future grant expenses and ensure expenditures conform to budget guidelines.
• Collaborate with the school’s inventory coordinator to ensure inventory records and documentation for grant-related equipment purchases.
• Work with BAS team to submit service agreements for grant consultants as needed.

Research Programs:

• Assists in managing faculty and student research awards for the Associate Dean of Research and school leadership.
• LBJ School Data Hub: Ensure application users can produce the reports needed for daily job functions. Interact with state agencies and the UT Business Contracts Office to ensure compliance with DUAs, MOUs, and ANAs. Coordinate the addition of data and functionality as assigned.
• Serve as backup for the Business and Administrative Service (BAS) Administrative Manager
• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, social sciences, or a related field. Five years of experience in preparation, processing, and/or negotiation of grant and contract proposals and awards. Self-starter able to proactively manage workload and consistently meet deadlines. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated organizational skills, flexibility, and positive attitude. Ability to pay great attention to details and learn quickly. Ability to work independently and as a member of a team. Professional demeanor. Experience working with confidential information using tact and discretion.

Relevant education and experience may be