Senior Grants & Contracts, Biomedical Engineering.

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 Job Summary

 UT Southwestern Medical Center is hiring for Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist, Biomedical Engineering.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern Medical Center seeks an experienced Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist to join a strong administrative team. The Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist will focus mostly on pre-award activities, helping the department build a robust grants portfolio. However, some post-award activities such as progress reporting and close-out activities will also be included. The position will work closely with faculty, the Department Administrator, and the Financial Analyst to apply for, monitor, and maximize grant funding. This is an important position in a new department, therefore the Specialist should be ready to help create and advise on best practices related to grants management. Due to the nature of being a new department and working to build a great and inclusive culture, this position is expected to work from campus Monday through Friday.

Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, or related field and four (4) years’ experience in business or public administration with emphasis on customer service in financial or contracting position.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) designation preferred. Applicants without the stated degree, but with significant additional professional applicable experience may be considered in lieu of education requirement. 

Job Duties

Prepare and assemble grant proposals and contracts in compliance with sponsor, institutional, and federal guidelines.

• Conduct extensive monitoring of requirements and deadlines for responses to program announcements (RFAs/RFPs) for application submissions in a proactive manner.
• Assist with multiple applications for multiple applicants under tight deadlines.
• Work and train in a collaborative manner with the Principal Investigator (P.I.), other departments or institutions; and in conjunction with the Sponsored Programs Administration, throughout the application process to achieve a professional proposal for submission.
• Route and obtain appropriate approvals from P.I.(s), Key Personnel, and other department or outside institutions and agencies.
• Assist P.I.s to assemble application prior to submission and insure timely submission.

Prepare budgets. 

• Estimate budgets based on historical spending trends and existing forecasting models from various databases.
• Present, edit, and finalize recommended budget for next grant application with P.I.s and the Sponsored Programs Administration.
• Review direct costs for compliance, accuracy, accountability, reasonableness, and consistency.

Interact with other departments or institutions to facilitate the development, submission, and administration of grant proposals. 

• Work in collaboration with P.I.s and the Sponsored Programs Administration throughout the application process to achieve a professional proposal for submission.
• Track and confirm submission of applications.
• Provide or facilitate requests for Biosketches, Other Supports, budgets, and contracts in a timely fashion.
• Submit non-competing applications or reports to the Sponsored Programs Administration for review and final submission.

Assist with and manage budget responsibilities for grants.

• Work in conjunction with P.I.s on new, competing, and/or revised grant application budgets.
• Review budget details with P.I.s including personnel, effort allocation, and expenses, confirming consistency with agency regulations and institutional guidelines.
• Coordinate with the Sponsored Programs Administration to confirm award and budget adjustments are processed appropriately and timely.

•Serve as a resource for the Department.

• Monitor agency announcements for funding opportunities available to faculty, trainees, and students.
• Disseminate new or updated agency or UT Southwestern policies, procedures, deadlines, and timeframes of new initiatives.
• Work with P.I.s to submit applications for IACUC or IRB approval, quarterly effort confirmation, and re-budgeting requests.

Project implementation and data maintenance. 

• Create and implement grants management best practices.
• Compile data regarding grants awarded to the Department for reporting purposes. Maintain Department records related to grants

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Is an ambitious grant specialist with 2-3 years of experience who wants to make a positive impact in a new department.
• Has prior grants management experience, with experience in biomedical research grants or engineering grants considered a plus.
• Has experience with grant transfers between institutions, especially federally funded grant transfers.
• Understands this role is to relieve faculty of the administrative burden of pre- and post-award activities so they can focus on their research.
• Pays close attention to detail.
• Manages competing demands and deadlines competently.
• Works efficiently with stringent deadlines.
• Creates processes and procedures that maximize efficiency.
• Comports themselves professionally in speech, writing, and deed.
• Exhibits dedication to supporting the vision of the Department Chair.
• Demonstrates continuous learning and honing of grants management skills and principles.
• Shows a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of their work.

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information. UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.

To learn more, please visit: https://jobs.utsouthwestern.edu/why-work-here/diversity-inclusion