Senior Contracts and Grants Analyst - Pre Award (Remote*)

About the Organization

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation, and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It is located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

The Henry Samueli School of Engineering educates more than 4,600 students (3,728 undergraduates and 961 graduates) with an integrative approach that blends fundamentals, research, and hands-on experience. The School's aim is to unleash innovation, create opportunities, and inspire ingenuity. The Samueli School's faculty members are leaders in their disciplines who have achieved worldwide recognition for their research and dedicated teaching. The School includes six academic departments and pursues research that is timely, socially responsible, and cutting-edge, working in partnership with industry, state, and federal agencies. Current research thrusts include Communications and Information Technology, Energy and Sustainability, Human Health, and Advanced Manufacturing and Materials.

The Samueli School of Engineering's Contracts and Grants Unit, named Engineering Research Management (ERM), provides quality assistance to faculty, researchers, and other academic personnel to obtain (Pre-Award) and manage (Post-Award) sponsored awards that support research, training, and other scholarly activities. ERM ensures timely, accurate, and responsible stewardship of funds by carrying out these administrative activities within UC, UCI, Federal, State, and agency policies, procedures, and regulations.

About the Role

This position will have the opportunity to work remotely at times, up to 5 days a week, but must be flexible to come on campus within a day’s notice for meetings, training, and other business needs.

Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced research administrator to independently develop and/or oversee research proposals, awards, and/or transactions related to contract and grant management and maintains contract and grant records in compliance with institutional research sponsor policies. Works on proposals and awards of diverse scope where analysis of data requires thorough understanding of complex regulations. Completes and approves transactions for signature by manager or another authorized institutional official. Guides less-experienced staff. Typically works on complex proposals such as grants/contracts which require task budgets, option years, multiple investigators, and multiple sub-awards.

Under the general supervision of the Contracts and Grants, Pre-Award Supervisor, the position is responsible for preparing complex proposal budgets and support documents required by proposal guidelines, coordinating proposal submissions, providing guidance and counsel on complex research administration matters (including compliance regulations) to principal investigators and department administrators, and participating in special projects. Supports PIs in budget preparations for a broad number of funding opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Independently develop and oversee research proposals, awards, and transactions related to contract and grant management.
• Maintain contract and grant records in compliance with institutional and sponsor policies.
• Work on proposals and awards of diverse scope requiring thorough understanding of complex regulations.
• Complete and approve transactions for signature by authorized officials.
• Guide less-experienced staff in research administration.
• Prepare complex proposal budgets and support documents as required by proposal guidelines.
• Coordinate proposal submissions and provide guidance on complex research administration matters, including compliance regulations.
• Support principal investigators in budget preparations for various funding opportunities.
• Participate in special projects as needed.

Requirements

• Thorough understanding of research administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.
• Thorough knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.
• Ability to manage a significant volume of transactions.
• Ability to perform complex financial analysis and customized reporting.
• Demonstrated competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reports.
• Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas.
• Maintains current knowledge of compliance regulations in all areas of research administration.
• Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal, and reporting principles.
• Demonstrated knowledge of effective grant funding processes, procedures, and techniques.
• Strong writing skills to draft persuasive text for a variety of audiences while ensuring adherence to funding sponsor’s guidelines.
• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications

• UC experience managing multi-million-dollar research awards.
• Experience working as part of a professional team and maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, department heads, faculty, and students of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Demonstrated organizational skills with strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize assignments when faced with heavy workload and competing deadlines.
• Experience administering research funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and Department of Energy.
• Demonstrated skill in understanding, interpreting, and appropriately applying University of California Policies and Procedures as they relate to finance, contracts and grants, sales and services activities, equipment management, and gift administration.
• Proficient in the use of UC Campus financial systems, such as KR, KFS, UCPath, PI Report, GEC, and BAT functions.
• 3-5 years of Contract and Grant Management Pre-Award experience.

Benefits

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks.

Pay

The expected pay range for this recruitment is $75,180 - $89,827.50 (Annual).

Conditions of Employment

• Background Check and Live Scan.
• Employment Misconduct disclosure requirement.
• Legal right to work in the United States.
• Compliance with UCI vaccination policies.
• Adherence to UCI Smoking and Tobacco Policy.
• Drug-Free Environment.
• Additional conditions may apply, dependent upon business unit or job-specific requirements (e.g., California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, E-Verify, Pre-Placement Health Evaluation).