Contract and Grants Specialist I, II, III, or Senior

MSU Jobs • Starkville, MS

28d

About The Position

Provides administrative and technical guidance and support to faculty and staff seeking outside funding for research, public service, and special sponsored institutional projects. Researches and interprets relevant regulations, guidelines, and standards. Prepares and reviews proposal budgets and oversees the processing of contracts and grants. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (http://www.cse.msstate.edu) is seeking a Contracts and Grants Specialist I, II, III, or Senior. Mississippi State University is designated as both an R1-Very High Research Activity Doctoral University under the Carnegie Classification and as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations, Cyber Defense Research and Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering has 28 faculty members and approximately 1000 undergraduate and graduate students. The department offers undergraduate programs in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence, and jointly administers a program in Computer Engineering with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The Computer Science program offers concentrations in Artificial Intelligence, Systems, Human and Visual Computing, Computational Science, and General Computer Science. In addition, the department offers a B.A.S. in Cybersecurity and three minors: Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence. An accelerated B.S./M.S. program allows students to complete a B.S. in Computer Science or Software Engineering along with an M.S. in Computer Science in four academic years plus one calendar year. At the graduate level, the department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science as well as M.S. degrees in Cyber Security and Operations, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science. The faculty also direct graduate students in Computational Engineering. Certificates in Information Assurance, Cyber Operations, and Computational Biology are also available. In the last fiscal year, research expenditures amounted to over 4.6 million dollars. Core research areas for the department are cyber security, artificial intelligence, computational science, visualization and graphics, bioinformatics, parallel and distributed computing, software engineering, human-robot interaction, augmented and virtual reality, and computer science education. Faculty in the department are active in many university research centers such as the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, the Center for Cyber Innovation, the Center for Computational Science, and the Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing & Biotechnology.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline.
• One year experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified
• Ability to analyze budgetary line items for compliance with budget guidelines.
• Ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Information research skills.
• Database management skills.
• Organizing and coordinating skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Spreadsheet, database, and word processing skills mandatory.
• Knowledge of mathematics.
• Ability to provide technical advice and information to faculty and staff in area of expertise.
• Knowledge of federal, state and/or community funding sources and mechanisms.
• Records maintenance skills.
• Knowledge of grant funding policies and procedures and applicable local, state, federal and university regulations.
• Knowledge of the Uniform Guidance (OMB Circulars) and standard cost accounting.
• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments.
• Attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Three years’ experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Knowledge of the Uniform Guidance (OMB Circulars) and standard cost accounting.

Responsibilities

• Guides and facilitates faculty and staff in the development and preparation of research proposals, contracts, sub-contracts, and agreements, to include budgets, documentation, and interpretation of funding requirements.
• Analyzes and evaluates contract and grant budgets for correct calculation of expenditure categories such as salaries, percent of effort, salary adjustment increases, fringe benefits, indirect costs, materials, and equipment.
• Analyzes and evaluates proposals, awards, contracts, and subcontracts for compliance with funding agency, federal, state, and university requirements.
• Coordinates receipt of awards and contract documentation; maintains proposal and funding records in database systems, and prepares scheduled and special reports, studies and analyses.
• Participates and/or assists in special projects, and performs associated administrative duties, as assigned; may provide functional direction to lower level technicians on assigned work.
• Serve as the liaison between PI and the Office of Sponsored Projects concerning proposal submission and awards.
• Maintain current and pending grant and contract information on behalf of faculty and staff within the unit.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level