Contracts & Grants Specialist III

$56,030 - $56,030/Yr

University of Central Florida - Orlando, FL

Full-time - Mid Level

Orlando, FL

10,001+ employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Contracts and Grants Specialist III at the University of Central Florida (UCF) will provide essential pre-award and proposal submission support to faculty and staff within the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL). This role involves collaborating with principal investigators to identify funding opportunities, preparing grant proposals, and ensuring compliance with university and sponsor regulations. The specialist will manage complex budgets, coordinate submissions, and serve as a liaison between various stakeholders to facilitate successful grant applications.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Principal Investigators (PIs) and their teams to develop proposals for submission.
• Prepare sponsor forms, including budgetary and application forms, for proposal submissions.
• Interpret sponsor guidelines and assist with completing college and university forms.
• Create and manage timelines for proposal submissions.
• Develop project budgets, including complex budgets for multiple colleges or sub-awards.
• Prepare budget justifications in compliance with UCF and sponsor regulations.
• Develop and format bio sketches of key personnel involved in grant projects.
• Manage sub-awardee and consultant participants to ensure compliance with proposal requirements.
• Submit completed proposals to the Office of Research for internal review and approval.
• Serve as a liaison between faculty, outside researchers, and funding agencies.
• Advise faculty and staff on sponsor guidelines and university processes.
• Manage contract and grant modification requests.
• Contribute to developing policies and procedures with college leadership.
• Maintain the College's intranet proposal database.
• Provide research activity reports to College Administration.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field.
• 4+ years of relevant experience in research administration or a related area.
• Proficiency in using research administration software such as Huron and ScienCV.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical analysis abilities.

Nice-to-haves

• 5+ years of experience in higher education research administration, particularly in pre-award processes.
• Knowledge of Federal regulations related to contracts and grants.

Benefits

• Paid holidays
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Employee assistance program
• Vision insurance
• Employee discount
• Life insurance