Grants & Contracts Analyst

The Whiting School of Engineering's Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR) is seeking a meticulous and qualified Grants & Contracts Analyst. This position will be instrumental in facilitating the research administration and financial activities of both pre and post award for faculty within LCSR, particularly in relation to complex sponsored projects funded under applied or restricted research classifications by the US Government.

The Grants & Contracts Analyst will provide dedicated professional level sponsored funds management for more than 80% of time with specific responsibility for pre-award and post-award functions that include, but may not be limited to: proposal preparation, submission, budget development, account maintenance and oversight, billing/invoicing, reporting, compliance, and closeout. Works independently on a variety of grants/contracts that range from simple to moderately complex.

While this role may assist with some aspects of non-sponsored funds, the primary goal of this position is to ensure timely, effective and efficient functioning of sponsored funding. This is an exempt position.

Job Scope/Complexity:
Will work independently most of the time, with support from Principal Investigator (PI) and/or senior/management level grants & contract professionals on increasingly more complex grants/contracts. Will provide standard professional administrative level guidance on protocols, regulations and guidelines to PI and other scientific/research professionals within the department. May interact with external research/administrative professionals.

Types of sponsored awards for which the position is responsible:
This role functions at an intermediate level, with responsibility for independent management of simple to moderately complex grants/contracts, including those from NIH, NSF, DOD and NASA. These grants, contracts and awards may involve detailed budgets, subawards and special instructions in RFA, career awards, training awards, multi-project grants, complex foundation grants, subawards from other institutions on their federal pass-through grants and pharmaceutical company clinical trials.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

* Partner with departmental faculty and/or budgetary staff and the Office of Research Administration toward the planning and development of application submissions to various federal offices, private agencies/foundations and commercial companies.

* Understand and utilize institutional policies for pre-award grant process and sponsor guidelines.

* Review all sponsored project proposals for assigned faculty prior to them being forwarded to the Grants & Contracts Manager and ORA for signature. Review involves accuracy, content, adherence to all relevant guidelines.

* Provide instruction, preparation assistance and support related to grant application procedures.

* Serve as liaison between research units, central offices and funding agencies.

* Review budgets and related justification for appropriateness and completeness of content. Ensures that all applicable and indirect costs have been applied. May also provide groundwork for subcontract negotiations.

* Ensure compliance in all other areas related to grant and contract management, including sponsoring organization guidelines, internal protocols, accurate protocol information within grant documents, conflicts of interest, etc.

* Manage all assigned grant submissions to ensure timeliness and accuracy.

* Maintain ongoing updates and communications related to current grants and contracts, this includes regular auditing and reporting to principal investigators and departmental leadership. Assist with closeouts as needed.

* Coordinate the process of setting up awards in designated department/division after grant number is assigned, including reviewing award, verifying award set-up and ensuring personnel is set up appropriately.

* Ensure that post-award responsibilities are completed, including budget distribution, account reconciliation, e-form setup, effort reporting, cost transfers, paying invoices and paperwork finalization related to subcontract setup.

* Conduct complex award management activities and…