Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist / Grants and Contracts Specialist

University of Texas at Austin

1d • $60,000 - $70,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Grants and Contracts Specialist is a member of the Department of Computer Science Research Administration team, supporting faculty and managing a portfolio of research funding. The role provides subject-matter expertise throughout the grant-management life cycle, including pre-award, grant management, and post-award activities. The research administration unit supports teamwork, collaboration, innovation, training, and professional development while providing research administration services. The Senior level manages a larger and more complex portfolio, mentors junior team members, and contributes significantly to team work.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least three years of related experience at the Grants and Contracts Specialist level; at least five years of related experience at the Senior level.
• Progressively responsible experience in grants management or sponsored programs administration, preferably in higher education, nonprofit, research, or public-sector settings.
• Successful record of managing proposal submissions and awards accurately and on time while meeting competing deadlines.
• Working knowledge of federal grant regulations and experience applying institutional or funder compliance requirements.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain contract, financial, and compliance requirements.
• Willingness to learn the full grant-management life cycle, with an emphasis on excellent support services and professionalism.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) status.
• Familiarity with external electronic research administration systems such as eRA Commons and Research.gov.
• Experience with UTRMS, DEFINE, and external agency proposal-preparation, budget-development, and submission systems.
• Experience with the full grants and contracts life cycle, from proposal through close-out.
• Experience working with faculty, PIs, and/or researchers in a higher education environment.
• Experience working with large-scale, complex grant proposals and awards.
• Demonstrated involvement in a research administration community, such as UT’s ARA, NCURA, or other professional organizations.

Responsibilities

• Assist with award setup and manage award finances, including budgets, spending projections, budget modifications, financial reporting, and expenditure reviews.
• Monitor post-award activities for compliance and coordinate sub-award agreements as needed.
• Assist principal investigators with effort certification.
• Provide accounting information for research-fund purchases; process invoices, reimbursements, vendor onboarding forms, and travel authorization requests.
• Assist with arrangements for invited researchers and speakers, and coordinate with event-planning staff to ensure sponsored-project events follow budgets and expense eligibility rules.
• Monitor and report account balances and spending, reconcile accounts, and maintain account overviews and PI dashboards in Smartsheet.
• Analyze sponsored-research financial data and advise faculty on strategic and appropriate use of funds.
• Coordinate with PIs to gather financial and non-technical report components and ensure timely submission and adherence to reporting timelines.
• Provide assignment details for sponsor-funded student and staff positions and visitors to the human resources team.
• Process Tuition Reduction Benefits for graduate research assistants and summer salary in Workday for faculty in the PI portfolio.
• Collaborate with PIs, department and university staff, and external stakeholders to identify and resolve pre- and post-award research administration issues.
• Participate in professional development and research administrator networks to stay current with UT, local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations.
• Contribute to the research administration team, the broader finance and administrative team, and a positive workplace culture.
• At the Senior level, manage a larger and more complex portfolio, mentor junior team members, and contribute significantly to team work.

What This Job Offers

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