Grants Specialist

Job Summary

About the role

The Grants Specialist supports contract and grant proposal development, funding, administration, and budget development. They also analyze research funding trends and sources, forecast, plan, and manage research portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates proposal submissions for approximately 80-100 proposals per year of varying volume and sponsor requirements.
• Develops professional relationships with sponsor representatives, serving as institutional liaison when clarification is needed on application instructions and providing information as appropriate.
• Previews and approves submission of pre-award update information requested by sponsor representatives before issue of awards and submission.
• Provides support to assigned PIs and ensures they have access to resources to identify funding sources and successfully prepare their portions of the proposal.
• Guides less experienced staff and provides guidance and counsel on complex research administration matters, including compliance regulations, to principal investigators and department administrators.
• Organizes, plans, establishes and monitors fiscal budget control of contracts and grants administration, gifts, endowments, and privately funded projects for faculty research programs.
• Reviews proposal at various stages of development and at completion for appropriate and accurate content, grantsmanship, and compliance with sponsor, School and UCSF regulations.
• Interprets, informs, and educates PIs and administrators about grant and contract terms and conditions of their awards and their implications, including change in work scope versus awarded budget.
• Maintains a thorough understanding and knowledge of policies, guides, and regulations related to research administration, including CAS (Cost Accounting Standards), and the Uniform Guidance, the Research Policy Handbook, and UCSF processes impacting the administration of sponsored research and gift funding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in research administration or a related field.
• Experience with proposal development, contract and grant administration, and budget development.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.