Grants & Contracts Manager, Weiss Fund

Department
 

Becker Friedman Institute – Development Innovation Lab

About the Department
 

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) works with the Chicago Economics community to turn its evidence-based research into real-world impact. BFI takes a unique approach to bridging the divide between academic researchers and decision-makers in the business community and government by translating and packaging the rigorous work of the Chicago Economics community into accessible formats, and proactively sharing those findings with relevant decision-makers and thought leaders around the globe. BFI is a collaborative platform serving the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, and the Law School. For more information visit https://bfi.uchicago.edu.The Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics supports innovative research projects that aim to improve the lives of people living in developing countries. The Fund also aims to attract talented researchers to the field of development economics and support them in producing creative, rigorous evidence to address complex challenges affecting less-developed countries. The Weiss Fund strives to create links to policy and implementation for the most relevant and promising research.

Job Summary
 

A primary activity of the Weiss Fund is a bi-annual request for proposals (RFP) process and the year-round management of those who have received awards from the Weiss Fund. This position supports the Weiss Fund team in running the annual RFPs and ongoing awardee financial and programmatic management.
The Grant and Contracts Associate supports routine pre-award and/or post-award activities relating to the Weiss Fund's grant and contract proposals and funding. Pre-award activities preparing for and executing the Request for Proposals process including collecting applications, facilitating the review period, and organizing the award decision process. Post-award activities include compliance monitoring, awardee reporting and NCE processing, invoice payment processing, and salary allocations. Performs work with guidance from others.

Responsibilities

• Seeks to improve and maintain processes for efficient grant management of outgoing awards from the Weiss Fund.
• Prepares grant reports and analysis as requested by the primary donor.
• For the primary award to UChicago, handles straightforward post-award activities including account creations, regulatory and compliance monitoring, salary allocations, effort reporting, grant projections, cost allocations, cost center charges, equipment inventory, invoice preparation, grant closing process, and account closure.
• Plans and oversees the RFP process including updating the application, coordinating stakeholders for various review stages, and preparing materials for the committee meeting.
• For outgoing awards to Weiss Fund recipients, handles all award notifications, coordinates contracts with URA, manages programmatic reporting requirements, processes no-cost extension requests, ensures invoices are compliant with Weiss Fund policies, and processes invoices. 
• Works closely with Weiss Fund and UChicago team members to execute the complexities of Weiss Fund grant management.
• Creatively problem solves as unorthodox grant management questions arise. Weiss Fund is an organization that is giving out grants, an atypical arrangement for a University setting, so the role works closely with the University administration to identify appropriate processes and solutions.
• Reviews all applications against University guidelines, in addition to drafting progress reports, non-competing applications, amendments, and budgeting. Responsible for all data entry and preparation of grant reports and trend analysis.
• Handles straightforward post-award activities including account creations, regulatory and compliance monitoring, salary allocations, effort reporting, grant projections, cost allocations, cost center charges, equipment inventory, invoice preparation, grant closing process, and account closing.
• Prepares summaries of grants and effort allocations for Principal Investigators, meets with them and responds to their questions. Coordinates with other departments/units/divisions regarding multi investigator grants. Serves as department contact for annual audits and agency site visits.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or similar field.

Experience:

• Accounting and budgeting experience.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Project management skills; plan tasks for teams, monitor progress, make corrections to plans.
• Contracting and grant management experience.

Preferred Competencies

• Analyze financial data.
• Great organizational skills.
• Ensure compliance
• Team player with good problem solving and time management skills.
• Work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills.

Working Conditions

• Perform tasks mostly indoors in an office setting.
• Work independently for periods of eight (8) hours or more.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Three Professional References Contact Information (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Financial Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.