Sponsored Programs Support Center Specialist

UT Health San Antonio•San Antonio, TX

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sponsored Programs Support Center Specialist handles routine pre-award administrative duties and serves as a resource for faculty questions. Under direct supervision, the specialist assists with grant lifecycle tasks, including research budget development and proposal coordination. The role emphasizes high-quality service, attention to detail, and excellent customer service. This is a hybrid position located in San Antonio, Texas; candidates must be located in or around Bexar County. The position supports faculty and Principal Investigators with funding opportunities, proposal and agreement preparation, budgets, submission processes, sponsored program administration, and award establishment in coordination with the Office of Sponsored Programs. The role works with sponsored programs including training, public service, and basic science and clinical research. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public research university serving approximately 42,000 students across 320 academic programs, with 17,000 faculty and staff. The university is a Carnegie R1-designated institution and is recognized for access, excellence, and its contributions to research, social mobility, and public health.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree is required.
With a bachelor's degree, zero to four years of research administration, grant proposal, and budgeting experience is required.
With a high school diploma, four years of experience must supplement education.
Ability to work in a team environment, be flexible and accountable, manage conflicting responsibilities, prioritize tasks, and consistently meet internal and external deadlines.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, administrative staff, and ancillary units involved in sponsored program administration.
Capability to work with all types of sponsored programs, including training, public service, and basic science and clinical research.
Attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and ability to prioritize multiple projects and responsibilities to meet deadlines.
Critical-thinking and deductive-reasoning skills.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification.
Pre-Award (CPRA) certification.

Responsibilities

Assist faculty, as requested, with seeking funding opportunities.
Assist with preparing and routing proposals and sponsored program agreements according to established policies and procedures, meeting deadlines and communicating internal submission deadlines and sponsor due dates.
Help coordinate sponsored proposals, budgets, and other administrative data required for proposals for leadership and Principal Investigator review.
Review proposal budgets and ensure requested costs are allowable and accurate according to sponsor and institutional guidelines.
Help ensure proposals are entered into ERMS Grants or another applicable submission system before routing to the Office of Sponsored Programs, in accordance with internal deadlines.
Support Principal Investigators in understanding sponsored program administration, policies, and compliance on an ongoing basis.
Attend regular meetings, training sessions, and professional development workshops to stay current on relevant policies and procedures, as requested and approved by the Pre-Award Specialist – Supervisor.
Support the establishment of awards in conjunction with the Office of Sponsored Programs.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

UT SELECT medical insurance offered at no cost to employees; family members may be added through payroll deduction.
Discounted copays and coinsurance when using UT Health Physicians.
$50,000 of group term life insurance and $50,000 of basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance at no cost, with options to purchase additional coverage.
Three dental plan options through Delta Dental, including two PPO plans and one HMO plan.
Two vision plan options offering standard or enhanced benefits.
Disability insurance providing income if a non-work-related illness or injury prevents an employee from working.
Flexible spending accounts for qualifying dependent day care and out-of-pocket health care expenses.
Retirement plan eligibility through either the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), with voluntary retirement programs also available.
Front-loaded paid time off of 128 to 208 hours (16 to 26 days) based on years of service, with possible prorating in the first year.
Extended Illness Bank accrual of 8 hours per month.
Up to 240 hours (6 weeks) of paid family leave after 6 months of consecutive employment.
Twelve paid holidays each year.
Discounts on services, tickets, and gym membership.