Sponsored Program Specialist - JR26441-3800

at University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

• Works directly with PIs or their delegates to facilitate management of grant activities. Management includes expenditure and budget reviews, audit of invoices and billings, monitoring accounts and preparing financial reports and projections for grants and other sponsored agreements.
  
• Notifies PIs of availability of funds while assisting and advising faculty in financial and project activities by implementing fiscal reporting process. Meets established account management expectations, identify deviations and resolve problems.
  
• Prepares monthly, quarterly and/or yearly reports as necessary.
  
• Interact with participants, external entities, sponsors, faculty, and other University of Chicago offices including departmental staff and central research administration staff to gather relevant information for the operation management of the sponsored project portfolio.
  
• Assists in training personnel who report to the PI on research administration operational policies and procedures.
  
• Works with pre-award staff to follow projects from the pre-award stage to the post-award stage.
  
• Assists with answering key operational questions on behalf of the PI.
  
• Participates in multi-disciplinary projects related to goals of Post-Award Services in a very dynamic environment.
  
• Makes decisions independently with minimal supervision.
  
• Coordinates with faculty by organizing risk analysis sessions and conduct statistical analysis of data.
  
• Tracks project timelines, ensure follow-up, and provide timely reports to PIs and sponsors with proactive support of award management.
  
• Work with faculty and administration from multiple universities, organize projects and execute them independently. Work with faculty to develop plan for account management. Assist with technical reporting as needed.
  
• Assists with maintaining compliance for Animal and Human Subjects protocols and regulatory policies by being aware of and advising others of policy and procedures, and by facilitating any tracking or training requirements.
  
• Assists central pre-award staff as needed with support in the preparation of grant proposals, including gathering and organizing necessary information from faculty across the University of Chicago and other institutions, writing and coordinating letters of support, and providing other information as required.
  
• Communicates and collaborate with university departments/units, URA pre-award team and URA Post-award, technology transfer and compliance teams/units to facilitate smooth transition throughout the full life cycle.
  
• Updates AURA as necessary when are not funded, withdrawn or not routed.
  
• Provides faculty and administrators with application preparation, analyzing possible solutions to problems that arise using standard procedures. Reviews, interprets, and negotiates contract and grant terms to determine compliance and/or conflict with federal regulations and procedures.
  
• Maintains correspondence between the agency and University community to obtain and process necessary pre- and post-award information. Reviews and processes various pre- and post-award activities.
  
• Performs other related work as needed.
  

• Bachelor's degree in business or liberal arts field.
  

• Minimum three years of experience working with sponsored research administration in an academic environment.
  
• Participation interpreting sponsored research grants and contracts, and working with budgets, ledgers, invoices and fiscal reporting.
  

• Knowledge of Federal Circulars applicable to universities (OMB A-21, A-110, A-133 or the Uniform Guidance) or interpretation of similar regulations.
  
• Background with the University of Chicago systems such as AURA, FAS, ACCTS/PETS, and Business Objects.
  
• Rapid proficiency in the use of University of Chicago systems such as AURA, FAS, Workday, ACCTS, PETS, GEMS, e-Payments, Business Objects and a high level of proficiency in Excel.
  
• Strong computer skills including word processing, database management and spreadsheet skills.
  
• Proactive, solution-oriented, with exceptional communication and analytical skills necessary to review a sponsored award agreement; determine the type of award, payment terms, reporting requirements, budget limitations, and establish accordingly per departmental guidelines.
  
• Work with various sponsor electronic systems.
  
• Interpret sponsor guidelines and regulations to ensure accurate response.
  
• Incumbents are expected to review Sponsor guidelines and process or manage awards in compliance with university and sponsor policies and assist with other grants and contracts activities.Escalate issues accordingly within the office of University Research Administration.
  

• Customer service is a high priority of the office with a demeanor of civility and professionalism at all times.
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  
• Develop and manage interpersonal relationships.
  
• Good negotiation skills.
  
• Make decisions independently that will have downstream impacts on the management of sponsored projects.
  
• Manage detail-oriented workload, to organize and prioritize during high-pressure, high-volume periods and manage stress.
  
• Exercise sound judgment and absolute discretion regarding confidential matters with tact.
  
• Handle multiple, concurrent tasks.
  
• Interact by phone, email or in person with faculty and administrative staff at the University and occasionally with staff of federal government, non-federal sponsors, and other institutions and organizations.
  

• Sit for 4 hours or more.
  
• Use computers extensively for 4 hours or more.
  
• Travel to various on-campus locations on a daily basis.
  
• Use standard office equipment.
  

• Resume/CV (required)
  
• Cover Letter (preferred)
  
• References Contact Information (3) (preferred)