Job Summary:

The Sponsored Programs Support Center Specialist - Senior handles pre-award duties for the departments in which they serve. This role is responsible for preparing grant proposals, contracts, and agreements to be reviewed by the institutional central Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). Under minimum supervision, this role is responsible for ensuring proposals and awards are compliant with laws, regulations, policies, and terms and conditions. This role provides high quality service, attention to detail, and excellent customer service.

Job Duties:

• Coordinates the routing of industry clinical trial budgets and agreements to the Clinical Trials Office and the OSP.

• Prepares and submits to OSP transfer grant applications for new incoming faculty.

• Partners with faculty and prepares budgets for proposal submissions, assists in the development of budget justifications.

• Develops uniform procedures to compile and catalogue sponsored account documentation in support of the grant submissions and initial project creation.

• Keeps current on applicable federal guidance on sponsored projects including OMB Uniform Guidance updates.

• Supports Principal Investigators (PIs) in understanding sponsored program administration, policies, and compliance on an ongoing basis.

• Determines subcontracting need and coordinates subaward budgets and documents for proposal submissions.

• Proactively identifies, recommends, and implements process improvement opportunities.

• Develops monthly financial forecast reports for PIs, reviews documentation for cost transfers, and assist with being the main lead liaison with the OSP.

• Monitors sponsored program award budgets to actual expenditures and ensures research support costs are compliant with sponsor guidelines.

• Assists faculty with completing and processing documentation of compensation via the institution’s effort certification system (ECRT).

• Performs ad-hoc monitoring reviews and communicates review findings to unit.

• Contacts the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) regarding re-budgeting requests, carry-forward requests, work with administrative units regarding late payments and/or late invoicing.

• Develops closeout report to ensure all outstanding items are addressed prior to budget/project end date, streamline reconciliation process, and communicate to Principal Investigators.

• Reconciles direct and indirect expenses for projects to ensure all appropriate expenses have been posted to the project, reviews, and reconcile all invoices.

• Reviews financial expenditures for accuracy on sponsored grants and contracts, prepares forecast reports, inclusive of a review of revenue, expenditures, and available balances.

• Meets with Principal Investigators on a regular basis to review award status and assist in the resolution of problems as they occur.

• Administers financial forecasting, and effort certification compliance and assist the OSP project closeouts.

• Attends regular meetings, training sessions, and professional development workshops to keep current on policies and procedures relevant to position responsibilities, as requested and approved by the Sponsored Programs Support Center Specialist - Supervisor.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree is required. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

Four (4) years of sponsored programs administration experience is required (education can substitute up to two years of experience)

Additional Licenses and Certifications:

Certified Research Administrator (CRA). Pre-Award (CPRA) certification

Supervisory Requirements:

None.