Job no: 509685
Position type: Staff Full Time
Benefit Status: Benefited-Union
Campus: UMass Lowell
Department: Office Research Administration
Salary: Salary commensurate with experience and grade/range
Applications Open: Aug 05 2021
Applications Close: Open until filled

General Summary of Position:

The Office of Research Administration (ORA) provides assistance to faculty and research staff in all aspects of managing external research funding. The Assistant Director of Grants and Contracts Administration assists in the management of the Grants and Contracts team within ORA. The position has responsibility for and assists in the management of the pre-award and non-financial post-award administration of grants and contracts including proposal review, approval and submission; award set-up; and award management support with re-budgeting, extensions and other project modifications. This position is responsible for helping to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, University and sponsor policies, procedures and rules. The position and office work closely with the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development's other offices, as well as other units across the campus and throughout the University system to provide efficient and effective research administration support services to the UMass Lowell research community.

Essential Job Duties:

1. Provide Grants & Contracts Administrator support to a small portion of the campus proposal activity and active awards portfolio which includes responsibility for:

Proposal Development - review and approval of proposals prior to submission including review and approval of budgets

Review and Set-up of Awards

Preparation of Modifications to Existing Awards – includes handling of no cost extensions, carry-forward requests, rebudgeting and other modifications and items requiring prior approval.

Communication with Sponsors – acting as a liaison to resolve questions and issues that arise during the course of an award

General Knowledge of Funding Opportunities

Direct Interface with Principal Investigators (PIs)

2. Management, training, and mentorship responsibility:

• Exercises supervisory responsibilities for student employees in the Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) unit, assist with management of pre-award and post-award non-financial activities within ORA, and fill in for the Director-GCA in the Director’s absence
• Help train and mentor ORA staff, especially in electronic research administration (eRA) processes and implementation and in navigating funder policies, processes, and portals
• Serve as ORA liaison to College Research Administrators and hold regular meetings with them to disseminate new information, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate processes and procedures

3. Support process improvement and eRA implementation:

• Work with Director-GCA and GCA staff to identify opportunities to reduce workload, gain efficiencies and improve processes
• Liaise with the eRA implementation team to help inform set-up and operation of eRA system

4. Represent ORA internally and externally:

• Liaise with sponsors to resolve questions and issues with contracts and grants, and to obtain amendments to awards (e.g., re-budgets, additional funding, extensions)
• Present to faculty and staff information about sponsor and university policies and procedures for grant and contract funding

Promote the University’s commitment to customer service by:

• Building effective partnerships with co-workers throughout the University by freely sharing appropriate information and providing assistance when needed.
• Ensuring optimum service to all internal and external partners in response to all requests for service and information.
• Maintaining an environment that is welcoming to persons of all backgrounds, nationalities, and roles.

Other Job Duties:

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Bachelor’s Degree plus nine years of experience in Grant and Contract Administration
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state & general funding agency rules and regulations; extensive knowledge of A21 & A133 and Uniform Guidance
• Demonstrated supervisory experience
• Ability to develop and mentor staff at a variety of levels
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under the pressure of deadlines while emphasizing excellent customer service
• Ability to serve as a subject matter expert in the field of Research Administration
• Extensive budgeting experience including experience with multi-year budgets and separately priced tasks
• Ability to work with little direct supervision

Additional Considerations:

• Given the nature and responsibilities of the position, only U.S. persons (any individual who is a citizen of the United States, a permanent resident alien of the United States, or a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C.1324b(a)(3)) will be considered for this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Grant and Contract Administration in a Higher Education or non-profit setting
• Experience with complex contract terms and FAR/DFAR clauses
• Experience with PeopleSoft financials
• Excellent communication skills and strong interpersonal skills in order to interact with faculty, staff and individuals outside the University
• Experience with multiple private and government sponsors including Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA, National Science Foundation, and National Institutes of Health

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Only Internal Professional (SEIU 888 Professional Union) Bargaining candidates will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

This is a SEIU Professional Union position, Grade P21.

Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. However, the position may close when an adequate number of qualified applications are received.

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process.