Grant & Contract Officer II

Overview

The Sponsored Programs Office is looking for a motivated, dynamic, highly organized individual to join our team as a Grant and Contract Officer (GCO) II. The GCO II provides support for the administration, negotiation, processing, and close out of grants, contracts, and other agreements for externally sponsored research projects across the University. The GCO Lead also manages a few members of the Sponsored Programs team and provides coaching and leadership support.

This position is telework eligible within the state of Utah. Telework outside of the state of Utah is subject to review and approval by the University prior to a job offer being extended.

 

As a full-time, benefitted employee of USU, you will receive 13 paid holidays annually, 22 days of annual vacation, 12 days of annual sick leave, 14.2% of gross income paid into a retirement account, excellent health and dental insurance benefits, tuition assistance, and more.  Please see https://www.usu.edu/hr/benefits/index for all benefits available as a USU Employee.

Responsibilities

Post-Award Team Responsibilities 55%

• Provide and coordinate centralized administrative and technical guidance and support to a diverse client set of USU faculty and staff seeking extramural funding for research and sponsored projects.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on awards and administrative processes.
• Analyze awards and agreements for compliance and consistency with federal and state laws and regulations, university policy and practice, research compliance restrictions and guidelines, financial and academic requirements, and agency policies and procedures.
• Negotiate terms and conditions with external sponsoring entities for proposals, awards, and cooperative agreements.
• Provide training and mentoring to other Grant & Contract Officers within the Sponsored Programs Office.
• Operate with signature authority for USU for entering into sponsored programs.
• Evaluate processes for compliance, effectiveness, and efficiency.
• Assist with process mapping and procedure development.
• Perform work using various databases and electronic systems.
• Engage in professional development and educational opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory/Leadership Responsibilities 25%

• Provide supervision and leadership for the Subaward Assistant(s) and Subaward Officer(s) within Sponsored Programs. This includes hiring, training, assigning duties, and evaluating performance.
• Coach and lead team members to develop them as research administrators and as they strive to reach their professional goals.

Flex Responsibilities 20%

• Assist with urgent needs of the office including training new employees, data analysis, report creation, office staff back-up coverage, assist with closeouts, serve on search committees, complete quality control checks, and other duties as needed.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree plus three years full-time job experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Work experience in a higher education setting.
• Work experience in grant administration or in an office dealing with legal or regulatory compliance.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and leading employees.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA), NCURA, or SRAI certifications.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work independently, effectively, and efficiently under tight time constraints.
• Effective written and verbal interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to cultivate positive relationships with faculty and staff.
• Knowledge of federal requirements as it relates to sponsored projects.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to effectively manage fully remote and hybrid staff, in addition to in-person staff.
• Knowledge of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance and Federal agency guidelines as they relate to sponsored projects.
• Knowledge of Federal, state, and/or private funding sources and mechanisms.
• Proven ability to negotiate contracts effectively.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

 

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”2. Cover Letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Minimum $60,000; Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights

The Sponsored Programs Office is a unit within the Office of Research that facilitates research and other sponsored activities by providing the USU community with professional and effective administrative expertise in the management of sponsored programs, while preserving the rights and interests of USU, the researcher, the sponsor, and the community.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant and space-grant university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion. USU serves approximately 27,500 students throughout the state at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online has served students from all 50 states and 55 countries for over 25 years, and USU Extension provides outreach and service to all counties in Utah.  

 

As a land-grant university, USU engages communities and empowers people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. As an R1 research institution, USU provides a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price. Washington Monthly has consistently ranked USU in the top 10 among public universities for contribution to social mobility, research, and public service.  

 

Utah State is committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where different perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

 

*updated 7/2023

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023

Salary : $60,000