Grant & Contract Specialist III

Position: Grant & Contract Specialist III (2026-49560)
Grant & Contract Specialist III

Job Number:

Category:
Research

Location:

Worcester, MA

Shift: Day

Exempt/Non-Exempt:
Exempt

Business Unit: UMass Chan Medical School

Department:
School - ASG - W715510

Job Type: Full-Time

Union Code:
Non Union Position
-W60
- Non Unit Professional

Num. Openings: 1

Post Date:
April 16, 2026

Work Location:

Hybrid

Salary Minimum: USD $68,000.00/Yr.

Salary Maximum: USD $84,000.00/Yr.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Under the general direction of the Sr. Department Administrator, or designee, the Grant and Contract Specialist III is responsible for performing diversified and complex administrative, financial, and pre- and post-award budgetary functions in support of departmental activities, to include both responsibilities for both restricted and unrestricted departmental funds. The Grant and Contract Specialist III will display a high degree of initiative and independent judgment and collaborate closely with laboratory leadership to continually assess and direct a wide range of issues including research program operations, personnel management, regulatory, quality improvement, long range financial planning.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

* Lead effort in management of all pre-award administration, to include, but not limited to, advising Sr. administrator and PI of sponsor guidelines, participation in application assembly, budget preparation, faculty guidance, e-submission processes, UMMS required paperwork, etc. and other administrative requirements for the submission of all federal and non-federal grants and contracts

* Working knowledge of NIH and other federal, state and foundation regulations and requirements.

* Identifies, proposes and implements creative solutions to potential fiscal issues.

* Develop and manage the division's annual budget and report variances and recommend corrective action. Provide high level fiscal analysis on forecasts as needed

* Verify that funds are available for all equipment, personnel and major purchases. Assure compliance with federal purchase and contract requirements.
• Coordinate with central grant accounting and department staff on deposits, electronic transfers and cost transfers to funds/contracts

* Manage division(s) funding sources by monitoring revenue and expenditure activity

* Represent the department at administrative meetings within and outside of the Medical School applicable with their assigned divisions.

* Develop, lead and train junior staff which include (administrative assistants, financial assistants, and lower level grants and contracts specialists)

* Serve on Institutional committees established to improve school operations and system implementations

* Assist in determining space and facility needs for the unit faculty

* Advise faculty and staff on compensation and benefit policies and procedures

* Monitor regulatory and compliance requirements for all sponsored research activity, keeping detailed files and a tracking mechanism for annual renewals. Inform Sr. administrator of variances

* Assist in analytical studies of existing or proposed clinical trials to provide the economic basis for management decisions to improve operational/financial performance and to realize productivity improvements

* Monitor all clinical trial funding sources for assigned divisions by tracking revenue and expenditure activity and monitoring of trial milestones, identify variances and assist in resolving account variances

* Monitor contracts, extensions, and amendments with outside vendors, private agencies, and consultants in conjunction with Purchasing and legal offices; monitor the contracts for cost effectiveness and quality performance standards

* Prepare data for financial reports, budgets, budget and research fund reconciliations, forecasting, analysis, and ad-hoc reports for Sr Administrator and PI" s as needed. Perform analysis of data as required

* Work with the Sr. Administrator, principal investigators, and staff to resolve problems and to optimize the use of funds as required; finalize all expenditure activity of expired grants; deposit checks to any income and service fund accounts

* Manage all phases of post-award grants and contracts administration, to include…