Research Services Senior Professional, Senior Pre-Award Specialist

University of Colorado•Hybrid, CO

1d•$59,012 - $75,063•Hybrid

About The Position

The Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Sciences (ACCORDS) is a program of research within the University of Colorado Anschutz, School of Medicine. The Program conducts comparative effectiveness, health outcomes, health services, and primary care research. The Grants and Contracts Specialist will function as ACCORDS research support, including research grants, investigator-initiated studies, and program grants. This individual will act as a resource for ACCORDS and will be expected to work independently as well as collaboratively with ACCORDS Principal Investigators (PI’s) during the grant/contract process including, but not limited to development, submission, receipt, and reporting. The Senior Preaward Specialist is responsible for the interpretation and compliance with Federal, State, private foundation, and University policies and procedures as they relate to grant and contracts submission, receipt, management, and reporting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, social/behavioral sciences, finance, accounting, business administration, business, or a related field from an accredited institution
Minimum of 2 years of professional experience managing grant applications processes including budget development.
Experience in preparing detailed grant budgets.
Experience using the Microsoft Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
A combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.
An advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate) may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis if the degree is in a field of study directly related to the work assignment.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship.
Thorough understanding of fiscal policy and the regulations set forth by sponsoring agencies.
Strong decision-making skills; ability to independently analyze and resolve complex problems via examination of established protocols.
Strong independent judgment, problem solving, time management and analytical skills as well as self-directed work capabilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent customer service proficiency.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships at all levels in the organization.
Ability to produce accurate and timely work products.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to work under pressure and to track and maintain timelines for grant development and submission, grant progress reports, and grant funding utilization.
Ability to learn new skills, synthesize, and apply knowledge from diverse disciplines.
High level computer skills including but not restricted to expertise in Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel, use of electronic forms, and knowledge of database searches.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information carefully.
Uphold the interests and good reputation of the University.
Demonstrated ability to self-manage priorities and be proactive in resolving issues.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
Strong interpersonal skills and a high level of tact and diplomacy.
Demonstrated ability to work within a diverse community and with individuals at all levels of the organization.
Ability to interpret and apply policies from multiple levels of authority (federal, state, and institutional) and serving as a resource for others.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing federal grant applications.
Experience working in an academic or medical institution.
Experience in preparing contracts, subcontracts, project agreements, and/or memorandums of understanding.

Responsibilities

Coordinate all preaward grants and contracts activity as assigned.
Monitor and report on significant changes and updates to NIH, AHRQ, PCORI and other sponsor policies and processes.
Prepare and review complex, multi-year budgets prior to submission to federal, state, university and private sponsors for grants, fellowships, contracts, and industry contracts.
Apply appropriate employee compensation rates, fringe benefit rates, and approved escalation rates to budgets.
Advise PIs of budgetary restrictions and applicability of indirect cost rates for various locations and types of proposals per submission guidelines.
Process routing and final submission packets to sponsors in either electronic or paper format, including all compliance and regulatory documents and ensuring all sponsor guidelines and university policies are complied with.
Coordinate the preparation of both sponsor and institutional forms to ensure all signatures are obtained, and deadlines are met.
Respond to requests from funders for information/clarification needed for funding decisions including preparation of just-in-time information and/or budget revision and justification.
Work with the Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC) to identify cost-sharing in proposals to ensure accurate accounting.
Act as a liaison between OGC and the sponsor ensuring the timely execution of all awards.
Act as liaison between Children’s Hospital Colorado, OGC and ACCORDS as needed for grant proposals and subcontracts.
Maintain current electronic files on all grant and contract submissions.
Create and maintain SharePoint reports and grants database entries for use by leadership and the research administration including, but not limited to, a 30/60/90 report, volume report, and active award report.
Coordinate the receipt of funded proposals with PI’s and the OGC.
Collaborate with OGC to ensure new and established projects are set up correctly in the University financial system, and all necessary invoicing has been received and payments scheduled when appropriate.
Review Notices of Awards as received to ensure University compliance and notify and discuss with PI’s any restrictions or issues involved in these Notices.
Confirm and update budget set up according to approved budget and initiate invoice scheduling when appropriate.
Coordinate the execution and setup of subcontracts.
Support and ensure PI’s complete all necessary progress reporting and non-competing continuation routings.
Assist in the training of junior research administrators on new proposal routings, subcontract routing and continuation routing and reporting.
Maintain an accurate and comprehensive database of all grants and contracts submitted (funded, in review, not funded) including proposed dates, direct and indirect costs, PIs, personnel, senior/key effort committed, sponsors, award id’s, project title, and a short descriptor.
Maintain knowledge of current and new CU and funding agency policies.
Respond to requests for salary information, biosketches, other support documents and proposed subcontracts for research faculty and PRAs.
Provide direction to department faculty and research staff regarding Federal, State, private foundation, and University policies and procedures as related to grant and contracts submission, receipt, management, and reporting.
Attend local and national conferences and trainings regarding sponsored research programs.
Participate in committees pertaining to process improvement, strategic planning, and organizational development as assigned.