Grants and Contracts Specialist

Title: Grants & Contracts Specialist

Location: Grand Forks

Job Description:

Work type: Full-time Staff
Location: Grand Forks
Categories: Accounting/Finance, Grants/Contracts

Salary/Position Classification

• $50,000+ Annual, Dependent on Experience, Exempt
• 40 hours per week
• This position is designated as hybrid and would require working from the campus office based on the needs of the position, but remote opportunity may be available after a period of time.

Purpose of Position

Located at the UND School of Medicine & Health Science, this position provides assistance to faculty and staff with sponsored program proposal preparation and monitoring of sponsored project activity. It provides financial administration for sponsored research, services and instructional programs in accordance with Federal, State, University, SMHS and commercial contractual requirements. This includes interpretation and compliance with sponsored and university guidelines, budget development and review collaboration with other departments and institutions, and review of completed proposals in preparation for submission. Additionally, this position requires monitoring sponsored projects within the SMHS, and providing training to faculty and staff, monitoring effort certification of faculty. This position assists the SMHS Grant Manager in these efforts and is secondary liaison between faculty and staff located at the SMHS and the Central Pre and Post award Office and provides individual in-house assistance with sponsored projects.

This position is designated as hybrid, but remote opportunity may be available after a period of time. 

Duties & Responsibilities

Provide sponsored project advice and guidance to SMHS faculty and staff

• Advise faculty and staff of sponsor regulations concerning allowable costs and re-budgeting
• Answer faculty and staff questions concerning programmatic and financial aspects of their sponsored project  

Assist SMHS faculty and staff with proposal preparation

• Read and analyze the RFA to determine a course of action consistent with the requirements of the RFA
• Review proposals to determine the nature and function of the work to be performed
• Assist faculty and staff in budget preparation, determining reasonableness in relation to work proposed, agency regulations and University policy
• Review budget and cost share commitments, allowability of cost, reasonableness, trackability and consistent treatment based on cost accounting standards
• Advise and/or assist departments with required changes to the proposal prior to final signature of the proposal
• Assist and review proposals in Novelution (UND approval routing software)
• Assist and review proposals in submission platform (such as ASSIST, Research.gov, Grants.gov, or eRA Commons)
• Work collaboratively with team on larger proposal submissions as necessary

Monitor sponsored projects at the SMHS

• Assist faculty, staff and/or department staff with completion of required management reports, as required by the sponsor
• Establish an effective system to ensure that required reports (financial, technical, etc.) are submitted on a timely basis
• Ensure compliance with sponsor and federal regulations, namely 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance
• Coordinate and monitor meetings requested with principal investigators and departmental staff
• Ensure and train departments on reviewing and monitoring monthly expenses  

Provide training to SMHS faculty and staff

• Provide individual training for faculty and staff focusing on sponsored project activity
• Ensure availability as a resource for SMHS faculty and staff requiring assistance or guidance
• Assist in creating and updating grants-related training documents, template creation. Update information found on the Grants Management website as needed 

Provide department administrative duties for Research Affairs

• Monitor mail and phone calls
• Monitor and order supplies
• Create Versatile files and do electronic filing  

Required Competencies

• Knowledge of research administrative/grants management
• Strong Interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent computer skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Experience and demonstrated skills to successfully complete the responsibilities of the position including a high level of initiative and judgment
• Excellent meeting deadlines and managing multiple projects at once
• Excellent decision making skills
• Excellent team building skills
• Must be motivated self-starter with the ability to perform without direct supervision
• Prefer knowledge of PeopleSoft HRMS and Finance
• Prefer knowledge of NDUS and UND policies and procedures

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Accounting or related field; or the equivalent
• Experience in financial management or budget tracking
• Experience using Microsoft Office software (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and intermediate to advanced Excel)
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of knowledge or coursework in grant and project management
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)