Grants & Contracts Specialist

University of North Dakota•Grand Forks, ND

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Located at the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS), the Grants & Contracts Specialist assists faculty and staff with sponsored-program proposal preparation and monitoring sponsored-project activity. The position provides financial administration for sponsored research, services, and instructional programs in accordance with federal, state, university, SMHS, and commercial contractual requirements. Work includes interpreting and ensuring compliance with sponsored-program and university guidelines; developing and reviewing budgets in collaboration with other departments and institutions; and reviewing completed proposals before submission. The specialist monitors sponsored projects within SMHS, trains faculty and staff, and monitors faculty effort certification. The position assists the SMHS Grant Manager, serves as a secondary liaison between SMHS faculty and staff and the Central Pre and Post Award Office, and provides individual in-house assistance with sponsored projects. The position is hybrid and requires working from the campus office based on position needs; a remote opportunity may be available after a period of time. This is an exempt position offering an annual salary of $50,000 or more, dependent on experience, for 40 hours per week.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, or a related field, or equivalent.
Experience in grant financial management or budget tracking.
Experience using Microsoft Office software, including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and intermediate-to-advanced Excel.
Knowledge of research administration or grants management.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent computer and customer service skills.
Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
Experience and demonstrated ability to fulfill the responsibilities, including a high level of initiative and judgment.
Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects at once.
Excellent decision-making and team-building skills.
Motivated self-starter able to work without direct supervision.
Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check.
Must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire; the position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of PeopleSoft HRMS and Finance.
Knowledge of NDUS and UND policies and procedures.
At least two years of knowledge or coursework in grant and project management.
Certified Research Administrator (CRA).

Responsibilities

Provide sponsored-project advice and guidance to SMHS faculty and staff, including advice on sponsor regulations concerning allowable costs and rebudgeting, and respond to questions about programmatic and financial aspects of sponsored projects.
Assist faculty and staff with proposal preparation by analyzing requests for applications (RFAs), reviewing the nature and function of proposed work, and helping prepare budgets that are reasonable and consistent with agency regulations and university policy.
Review budgets and cost-share commitments for allowability, reasonableness, trackability, and consistent treatment under cost accounting standards.
Advise or assist departments with proposal changes before final signature; assist with and review proposals in Novelution and submission platforms such as ASSIST, Research.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons; collaborate with the team on larger submissions as needed.
Monitor sponsored projects at SMHS, including helping faculty, staff, and departments complete sponsor-required management reports and establishing systems for timely submission of financial and technical reports.
Ensure compliance with sponsor and federal regulations, including 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance.
Coordinate and monitor meetings requested with principal investigators and departmental staff.
Ensure and train departments in reviewing and monitoring monthly expenses.
Provide individual training to SMHS faculty and staff on sponsored-project activity and serve as a resource for assistance and guidance.
Help create and update grants-related training documents and templates, and update information on the Grants Management website as needed.
Perform Research Affairs administrative duties, including monitoring mail and phone calls, monitoring and ordering supplies, creating Versatile files, and electronic filing.
Assist the SMHS Grant Manager and serve as a secondary liaison between SMHS faculty and staff and the Central Pre and Post Award Office.