Grants and Contracts Officer

Under the general direction of the Associate Director of Grants and Contracts and functioning as part of the Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC) team, the temporary Grants and Contracts Officer provides high-quality support and customer service to faculty, staff, and funding agency sponsor representatives. Assists the OGC team in preparing, reviewing, and submitting proposals to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and University policies. Provides assistance with all aspects of proposal preparation, including but not limited to interpretation and clarification of sponsor guidelines, budget development, and review, completion of required forms, assurances and certifications, collection of necessary or pertinent data, and compilation of and review of proposal components for consistency and compliance with sponsor guidelines. Identifies areas of risk and/or concern prior to proposal submission and ensures timely submission of accurate proposals. Coordinates the campus approval processes for proposals via Cayuse S2S, and other pertinent pre-award documents. Identify and serve as liaison in matters involving Conflict of Interest, HIPAA, Biosafety, and Responsible Conduct of Research for assigned departments and units. 
 
Drafts, reviews, analyzes, negotiates, and recommends grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other agreements for acceptance by the CSU Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) on behalf of the University. Completes registration to appropriate sponsor systems as needed. Issues account for faculty, administrators, and staff to appropriate sponsor systems such as eRA Commons, Research.gov, and other systems as needed. Assists in logistical preparation for various campus-wide events, workshops, and meetings. Serves as the lead in drafting and updating contracts and various other bilateral agreements including, but not limited to, MOUs, MTAs, and NDAs. Secures concurrence of the principal investigator and other University offices as appropriate prior to recommending acceptance of the award to ASC with non-standard terms and conditions.
 
This position is anticipated to end September 2024.

50% 

• Review, develop, administer, and submit accurate and timely proposals to funding agencies. 
• Assess the submission method and secure access accordingly. 
• Determine if external partners will be included in the project and notify PI of required proposal documents for the identified subawardee(s), if applicable. 
• Develop budget alongside project narrative and prepare the internal budget form for campus approvals.
• Draft and review budget justification and finalize with PI for proposal submission. 
• Responsible for coordinating and securing internal approvals from the appropriate campus approvers prior to submission. 
• Identify the required approvals needed based on project information (ASC, Admin and Finance, Department Chair, College Dean, University Advancement, AVP for Research and Sponsored Projects, Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety, Research Compliance (IRB, IACUC, and IBC), Equipment and Space Needs, International Travel (Extension and International Programs), and Biosafety). 
• Identify required compliance documents required to meet sponsor guidelines and policy (FCOI, NSF Safe and Inclusive Work Plan, etc.) 
• Secure required compliance forms and complete assurances and certifications in accordance with sponsor guidelines. 
• Coordinate and secure required signatures on documents such as cover page, sponsor forms, or other proposal documents as needed. 
• Complete application forms and institutional information as required by sponsor guidelines/instructions. 
• Review application for completeness and accuracy before submission and work collaboratively with the Research Development Officer to obtain final proposal documents from PI.

• Prepare and collect required pre-award-related documentation, compliance requirements, and approvals prior to acceptance of an award document.
• Responsible for preparing and submitting just-in-time requests (National Institutes of Health), revised budgets, and proposal updates in anticipation of funding. 
• Work closely with Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC) team to confirm the status of the award with the sponsor, secure firm commitments, and/or allowability of pre-award spending with the sponsor.

• Draft, review, and negotiate various agreements; prepare recommendations for acceptance by the CSU Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC).
• Responsible for reviewing and negotiating grant/contract terms and conditions and serving as the lead contact for all incoming awards. 
• Serve as the liaison between the sponsor and the university/ASC to ensure terms are acceptable in accordance to campus policies. 
• Responsible for reviewing and negotiating unfunded agreements related to sponsored program activities, such as Memorandum of Understanding, Partnership Agreements, and Non-Disclosure Agreements.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in research administration at a university, hospital, or research institute. 
• Working knowledge of and the ability to apply standard theories, principles, practices, and techniques applicable to the program and/or administrative specialty to develop conclusions and make recommendations. 
• Thorough knowledge of the policies, procedures, and outside regulations pertaining to the applicable program and/or administrative specialty. 
• Working knowledge of operational and fiscal analysis and techniques. 
• Ability to take initiative and plan, organize, coordinate, and perform work in various situations where numerous and diverse demands are involved. 
• Skilled in the research, development, and evaluation of policies and programs. 
• Ability to collect, evaluate, and interpret data to develop sound conclusions and make appropriate recommendations. 
• Expertise in investigating and analyzing problems with broad administrative impact and implications. 
• Ability to anticipate problems, address them proactively, and develop appropriate recommendations leading to solutions. 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interpret, organize, and present information and ideas in written or presentation form and use consultative and facilitation skills to gain consensus. 
• Ability to train others on new skills and procedures and provide lead work direction. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with others.

• Extensive experience in the issuance, review, preparation, and negotiation of complex contracts and cooperative agreements, including FAR and DFAR clauses. 
• Current or previous memberships with NCURA, SRA or related research administration groups. 
• Possession of CRA or CPRA certification from the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC). 

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and/or the equivalent training and administrative work experience involving the study, analysis, evaluation, development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices or programs plus four years of related experience.
• Minimum Master’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferred. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Prolonged sitting in front of computer. Walking, talking, hearing, pulling, bending, may carry 10-15 pounds of objects/material, not exposed to extreme noise level, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, taste or smell.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
CSU Fullerton, Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) is committed with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practice.  This means hiring diverse talent and ensuring employees understand and respect differences around us. ASC is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
 
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative at (657) 278-4117. 
 
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the ASC. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current ASC employees who apply for the position. 
 
Note: CSUF/ASC follows the direction of the CSU Policy related to COVID-19 vaccination. See FAQ Vaccines for more information.