Pre-Award Grants & Contracts Manager, Faculty Shared Services

JOB SUMMARY

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is competitively recruiting talented grants and contracts/sponsored project professionals to join our growing research administration team. Sponsored Program Services (SPS) is responsible for administering a portfolio of $375M in annually awarded funding across all UConn campuses and UConn Health. We are a top-ranked public research university and land grant institution, rurally situated in the “Quiet Corner” of Northeast Connecticut.

The Pre-Award Grants and Contracts Manager manages a team of pre-award grants and contracts administrators to ensure requirements are met and in compliance with University and sponsor rules/regulations. Provides day-to-day guidance and high-quality customer service to faculty, sponsors, and others in managing the technical and financial aspects of sponsored programs. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages and safeguards sponsored program funds by providing day to day guidance and supervision to a team of grant and contract administrators in conducting proposal reviews, post-submission requests and preparing progress reports, to ensure accuracy and compliance with University policies and agency regulations.
• Manages and performs grant and contract award activities for a small portfolio which includes proposal processing, post-submission requests, and progress reports. 
• Ensures team maintains records in accordance with University, state, federal and sponsor requirements.
• Serves as a member of leadership team. Participates in establishing and updating unit policies, procedures, processes, and initiatives.
• Performs related work as required. 

Core Competencies 

Knowledge of:

• Federal regulations, sponsor guidelines, and the Federal Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance as it relates to sponsored program activities.
• University policies and procedures related to and affecting sponsored program activities.
• University financial systems.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision.
• Microsoft Office and related software applications.

Skill in:

• Planning and organization.
• Developing and maintaining effective and appropriate working relationships.
• Critical thinking, problem solving, and analysis.

Ability to:

• Develop financial reports.
• Review documents for conformance to sponsor requirements.
• Meet deadlines.
• Communicate effectively through both oral and written means.
• Respect diversity and work collaboratively with individuals of diverse cultural, social, and educational backgrounds.
• Test and verify data during software upgrades and implementation.
• Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries.
• Work independently to analyze available information, draw conclusions and understandings, and present such conclusions effectively to senior management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s degree in related field and six years of related experience. At least one of these years of experience must be overseeing large projects, or at least two years in a supervisory capacity over a small unit.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Experience working in higher education research administration.
2. Supervisory experience and ability to plan, direct and evaluate the work of others.
3. Reputation for proactively identifying problems and resolving conflicts, or independently facilitating satisfactory resolutions, requiring tact, skill, and diplomacy.
4. Experience using InfoEd or similar.
5. Knowledge of grant requirements for DOE, DOD, NSF, NASA or NIH.
6. Experience working collaboratively with faculty to advance their scientific endeavors.
7. Strong financial skills.
8. Knowledge of accounting standards and principles.
9. Proficient knowledge of Kuali Financial Systems or similar.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 35-hour per week permanent position with an excellent benefits package including medical and retirement, as well as employee and dependent tuition waivers at the University of Connecticut. The target salary range for this position will be commensurate with experience to the mid-point of the designated Career Paths salary band, currently $76,897-$99,966. Hybrid work modalities may be considered in accordance with authorization and University Alternate Work Arrangements policies and procedures. Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #497289 to upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on May 19, 2023. 

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.