Senior Contracts and Grants Specialist

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) brings together more than four decades of innovative and life-saving research on vaccines and infectious diseases. http:// www.medschool.umaryland.edu/cvd/ . As an organized research center within the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), CVD comprises a multi-disciplinary team of faculty and staff whose primary mission is to develop, evaluate, and implement vaccines and other interventions to reduce illness and mortality domestically and in less developed countries. Research administration jobs oversee the efforts to increase the effectiveness and productivity of institutional research by promoting the use of best practices in professional and research administration. Research administration is the collaboration between faculty, students, and staff to identify funding opportunities, develop proposals, and/or manage sponsored funds. 

The CVD is seeking a Senior Contracts and Grants Specialist to join our Grants and Contracts team.

Benefits: Exempt Regular 

UMB offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes wellness, work/life balance, and professional development. This position participates in a retirement program that must be selected and is effective on your date of hire. Exempt regular staff receive a generous PAID leave package that includes over 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year, 15 paid holidays, 3 personal leave, unlimited accrual of sick time, and comprehensive health insurance; professional learning and development programs; tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any University System of Maryland school; and flexible work schedules and teleworking options (if applicable per job). 

Primary Duties:

• Prepares grant and contract budget and application. Finalizes documents for submission. Validate proposal error and/or warnings. Knowledgeable in all funding mechanisms and interprets of federal, state, University, sponsor policies and regulations and requirements to ensure compliance and adherence to those policies.
  
• Provides consultation, advice, and directions to all level staff and faculty regarding grant and/or contracting issue resolution.
  
• Translates program requirements into contract terms in consultation with principal investigator (PI) and management.
• Identifies, develops, and ensures contract requirements contain quantifiable specification and measurable performance criteria. Validates the performance criteria will meet the requirements. Ensures all results are completed and submitted to sponsor.
  
• Reviews sponsor guidelines and request for proposals, interpret and communicate compliance and eligibility information to research faculty and staff. Seeks information to obtain better understanding of processes. Identifies inconsistencies in process and develops suggestions for improvements to ensure higher quality processes in conjunction with the Office of Research of Development.
  
• Maintains all close documentation for the department and the sub awards. Seeks approvals for invention statement and publications have been completed in ERA commons.
  
• Interprets data for the purpose of determining past financial performance to develop and prepare financial reports for financial analysis, forecasting, and trending. Devises financial reporting tools and reports. Recommends overall adjustments in effort allocation and spending across investigator portfolio. Provides PI and management with adhoc reports in support of strategic plan.
  
• Develops safeguards to ensure the integrity of grant administration or contracts and protects the University from financial losses. Ensures sub-awards are also in compliance with terms and conditions of the award.
  Identifies issues and resolves independently. Anticipates roadblocks and able to independently resolve proactively.
  
• Develops evaluation criteria for review of grant and contract applications. Reviews and interprets funding agency guidelines and regulations and advises faculty as to policies and procedures of those agencies as well as those of the state and University.
  
• Develops timeline to meet submission deadlines and checklist of required documents and independently adjusts timeline to adapt to change. Adhere to set timelines. Independently prioritizes processes to ensure timelines are met.
  
• Provides guidance on staffing and budgetary requirements. Reviews and maintains documentation related to cost transfers, requests for expenditures, effort reporting, budget revisions, and fund statements. Coordinates invoicing, accounts receivable, and deposits in the financial system and ensures payments are applied correctly. Anticipates spending to ensure contract funds are fully utilized with in contract date.
  
• Interacts directly with designation sponsor representatives to clarify ambiguous terms and conditions, and to request supplemental funding, no cost extensions, and other administrative requests.
  
• Identifies future funding opportunities and work with PI to identify research components.
  
• Acts as point of contact for all UMB parties and sponsors involved in the negotiation process.
  
• Maintains, identifies, and resolves any delinquent trainings, conflict of interest, and any other institutional compliance requirements.
  
• May provide work coordination or oversight of others.
  
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education: Bachelor's degree. Master's degree preferred.

Experience: Five (5) years of directly related contract, grant, or research administration.

Preferred experience: Experience with post-award management.

Other: Financial disclosure reporting required by State of Maryland Ethics Commission. No substitution of experience for minimum education. Completion of a 12 credit Research Administration graduate certificate program can be considered for the equivalent of one (1) year of relevant research administration work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Knowledge of position requirements. Knowledge of all applicable requirements, regulations, and laws. Skill in effective use of applicable technology/systems. Ability to effectively communicate both verbal and written thoughts, ideas, and facts. Ability to work cooperatively with others and independently. Ability to demonstrate, understand, apply, and adhere to the UMB Core Values of Respect and Integrity, Well-being and Sustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation and Discovery.

Hiring Range: $87,000 - $93,000 (Commensurate with education and experience) 

UMB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law or policy. For assistance related to employment, please contact the Staffing department at [email protected] .  

If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request . You may also contact [email protected] . Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.