Government Contract Officer

About the Role

The Contracts Officer is responsible for preparation, drafting, review, and negotiation of outgoing and incoming agreements, and development, compilation, and submission of proposals for research, public service, and other contracts assigned by the supervisor. The Officer works independently to assess complex grant, contract, and subcontract transactions requiring in-depth evaluation of variable factors. This position uses advanced contracts and grants concepts to manage high-volume and high-complexity transactions and may review and guide others in financial and administrative management requirements to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor policies.

The Officer may review and sign transactions for less experienced staff and serve as a technical specialist in a particular area as needed. During award negotiation and proposal development, the Officer coordinates with faculty and campus offices, including Legal Affairs, Risk Management, Privacy, and Department managers, to interpret internal guidance, negotiate stakeholder requirements, and complete assignments professionally and timely.

The Officer demonstrates expertise in research administration and is authorized to sign and approve specified contract and grant agreements in accordance with UC policies and procedures.

About the Department

The Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) is an advocate for all researchers at UCSF, providing comprehensive pre-award services. OSR, a $23M operation, comprises eleven shared service teams, including 151 Proposal and Grants Specialists and Officers, Contract and Award Specialists and Officers, Associates, and Assistant Team Managers and Team Managers supporting over 2,000 faculty. OSR is responsible for all pre-award grant activity for the campus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, draft, review, and negotiate outgoing and incoming agreements.
• Develop, compile, and submit proposals for research, public service, and other contracts.
• Assess complex grant, contract, and subcontract transactions requiring in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Manage high-volume and high-complexity transactions using advanced contracts and grants concepts.
• Review and guide others in financial and administrative management requirements to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor policies.
• Review and sign transactions for less experienced staff.
• Serve as a technical specialist in a particular area as needed by the department.
• Coordinate with faculty and campus offices (Legal Affairs, Risk Management, Privacy, Department managers) during award negotiation and proposal development.
• Interpret internal guidance and negotiate inclusion of stakeholder requirements into agreements.
• Complete assignments in a timely and professional manner.
• Demonstrate requisite knowledge to sign and approve specified contract and grant agreements in accordance with UC policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Five or more years of related work experience demonstrating analytical, problem-solving, initiative, judgment, decision-making, organizational, and communication skills.
• Extensive knowledge of program administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.
• Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation, Code of Federal Regulations, sponsor-specific policies, intellectual property policy, conflict of interest requirements, publication rights, and application of indirect cost rates or other complex concepts in research administration.
• Experience researching and interpreting policies or regulations.
• Knowledge of current compliance regulations relating to research administration.
• Ability to manage high-volume and complex transactions.
• Demonstrated leadership or resource management skills: ability to coach, mentor, develop others, provide feedback, and distribute work.
• Independent judgment, strong organization and communication skills, and customer service focus with the ability to set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating contracts or requisite knowledge to be assigned signature authority.
• Skill in analyzing information and objectives to define problems, identify relevant issues, formulate alternatives, and select resolutions.
• Proven ability to write reports, prepare presentations, or other documents conveying information and ideas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to perform highly complex financial analysis and customized reporting.
• Ability to interpret policy for others.
• Knowledge of policies relating to sponsored research, compliance, academic personnel, and appropriate use of University facilities.
• Experience with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of distinctions between various contract mechanisms and the ability to interpret varying objectives and needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal, and reporting principles.
• Advanced competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software for financial analysis and budget development.
• Ability to use a variety of database applications and software.
• Ability to work collaboratively with OSR staff to identify areas for improvement in office procedures and policies and implement new methods.
• Ability to support change management objectives, including learning and processing a variety of awards.
• Ability to work independently under pressure and know when to seek guidance.
• Ability to manage responsibilities of signature authority, considering impacts on the University, sister campuses, faculty, students, and programs.

About Us

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. UCSF brings together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health and is home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging, and stem cells.

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity, and excellence—also known as our PRIDE values. UCSF is committed to equity in delivering care and building a broadly diverse workforce, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care.

Benefits

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: UCnet Benefits.