Senior Grants and Contracts Administrator

Department
PSD Local Business Center: Chemistry Plus A

Job Summary
The Senior Grants & Contracts Administrator works independently to administer pre-award and/or post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals/funding within a department or unit. Serves as a subject matter expert and provides mentoring and training for less experienced grant coordinators and administrators.

Responsibilities

• Working with Principal Investigators, faculty and academics, manages all aspects of their portfolios regarding Pre-Award administration, which includes proposal preparation, proposal budgeting, routing applications through AURA the University system of record for all grant/contract proposals and awards. Works with University Research Administration (URA) to ensure awards have been accepted/negotiated and set up in our financial system.
• Manages all aspects of Post-Award administration for portfolios, which includes account reconciliation, expenditure forecasting, and meeting with faculty to discuss account expenses. Assists with annual progress reports, annual effort reports and processes closeout. Submits subcontract materials when needed to URA to ensure sub agreements are issued. Assists with the processing or Material Transfer Agreements (MTA's), when needed.
• Acquires IDC cost and cost share waivers when needed. Works with URA to ensure research compliance is in place for IBC, IACUC, IRB, COI, export controls, and foreign influence.
• Approves all transactions charged to restricted and unrestricted accounts so that expenditures are in agreement with account budgets. Approve and transfer payroll and expenditures, monitor invoicing and payments, and reconcile charges using monthly ledgers and FAS.
• Along with Grants and Contracts Manager, trains, onboards, provides guidance and serves as an informational resource to junior Grants & Contracts Coordinators and Administrators for both the pre-award and post-award.
• Oversees gift and endowment accounts, departmental operating accounts and faculty unrestricted research accounts.
• Provides specialized support for the research enterprise within a department or unit, including pre- and/ or post-award administration for all sponsored activity. Serves as liaison between PIs, University administrative offices, and external agencies.
• Ensures service and communication to PIs, standardized information, best practices development, and that all faculty and research staff are aware of any new grant policies and changes.
• Analyzes industry trends and remains current with agency and regulatory changes. Monitors department/ unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.
• 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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Progressively responsible work experience in sponsored programs administration.
• Senior-level skills in pre-award, post-award, and contract administration.
• Experiences within research-intensive environments and supporting highly productive and motivated research faculty and staff, on an academic research institution, research foundation, or industry / corporate research setting.

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to work independently and as a member of a cohesive team.
• Deep knowledge of sponsor agency guidelines (Federal, non-Federal, and other) along with policies related to proposals and awards.
• Ability to confidently interact with corporate and industry sponsors - faithfully representing the needs of the University and its research faculty.
• Comfortable with deadline-driven work tasks and the capacity to get things achieved through others.
• Strong communication skills with a high degree of "emotional-intelligence" and a skillful negotiator.
• Ability to translate complex work issues into understandable and actionable plans toward resolution.
• Ability to refine skills through continuous learning.
• Exercises independent judgement and work under limited guidance due to previous experience/breadth and depth of knowledge of administrative processes.

Working Conditions

• This position is eligible for a remote work schedule.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

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

Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5

Drug Test Required
No

Health Screen Required
No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No

Pay Rate Type
Salary

FLSA Status
Exempt

Pay Range
$88,000.00 - $110,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.