Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist, SPAR Research

Overview

Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist, SPAR Research - (900121)

WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals.

Our competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and more. You are invited to be part of the UT Southwestern team where you ll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!

JOB SUMMARY

The Department of Surgery Research (SPAR) Clinical Research Unit is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Sr. Grants & Contracts Specialist to support pre- and post-award functions for a complex research portfolio spanning seven departments:
Surgery, Neurological Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. This role functions as a strategic liaison across multiple departments with varied administrative structures, serving as a trusted resource for investigators, departmental leadership, and cross-functional teams. The position also facilitates coordination with UT Southwestern s Sponsored Programs Administration and a diverse array of external sponsors.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a high-impact research enterprise within a nationally recognized academic medical center, supporting innovative investigators and working alongside a skilled grants administration team.

Team Structure

The SPAR Clinical Research Unit within the Department of Surgery at UT Southwestern is a collaborative and high-performing team that manages a complex, multi-departmental research portfolio. This position is part of the grants team within the SPAR Clinical Research Unit, which provides comprehensive grant support to seven departments—including Surgery, Neurological Surgery, Orthopaedics, Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

The SPAR grants team is composed of a Manager of Research Programs and six experienced full-time Grants & Contracts Specialists, each with duties in both pre- and post-award grants administration. The SPAR grants team portfolio includes a wide range of research—from basic and translational science to large, multi-site clinical trials—supported by diverse funding sources. Investigators secure grant funding from sponsors including the NIH, Department of Defense CDMRP, CPRIT, TRC4, NIDILRR, PCORI, and a wide array of foundations and professional societies.

Managing these proposals and awards requires a deep understanding of sponsor requirements, institutional policies, financial models, and the ability to navigate nonstandard budget structures, effort commitment management outside of institutional salary and wage confirmation, subaward management, and regulatory coordination.

Operating as strategic partners across multiple clinical departments at UTSW with varied administrative structures, SPAR grants team members navigate distinct departmental processes to streamline research operations and provide consistent, high-quality grants support.

Benefits

UT Southwestern offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits support overall wellbeing and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer

Qualifications

• Bachelor s Degree in business administration, public administration, or related field
• Experience:
  
  4 years in business or public administration with emphasis on customer service…