Grants & Contracts Officer

Grants And Contracts Officer

Salary: $75,000 - $90,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications

Position Summary

The Office of Sponsored Research at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science invites applications for a full-time Grants and Contracts Officer. The GCO will manage pre and post-award and research accounting activities for the life cycle of awards. Will provide assistance and guidance to investigators and departmental/centers administrators in proposal review and submission and award fiscal management. Will ensure compliance requirements and approvals from areas such as cost sharing commitments, Environment and Health Safety (EHS), IRB and ACUC, are met. Will facilitate the audits performed by external university auditors and funding agencies. The University encourages applications from individuals belonging to groups underrepresented in their field and those that can add new and valuable perspectives to the academic environment.

Our generous benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision plans; paid parental leave; short term and long-term disability plans; life insurance; flexible spending accounts; and a 403(b) retirement plan which includes an 8% employer contribution after 2 years of service. RFUMS is committed to employee wellbeing and work-life balance. Full-time staff are eligible for 3 weeks of vacation/ personal leave, 15 sick days, and 9 paid holidays, paid winter break, plus two floating holidays.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement.

Who We Are

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) is a graduate health sciences university committed to serving the population through the interprofessional education of health and biomedical professionals and the discovery of knowledge dedicated to improving wellness. The university embodies the spirit of inquiry and excellence modeled by its namesake Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose Photo 51 was crucial to solving the structure of DNA.

Today, the university's 6 colleges continue Dr Franklin's legacy through rigorous academics, pioneering research, and innovative community service. Our unique interprofessional education model allows students to learn from and with each other in a variety of settings, including our simulation labs, the student-led Interprofessional Community Clinic, and through partnerships with area hospitals and clinics. RFU is a national leader in interprofessional research and practices, and is nationally recognized for its research in areas including neuroscience, brain-related diseases, inherited disorders, proteomics, cancer cell biology and immunology, and gait and balance.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide assistance and guidance to faculty and departmental administrators, in a collegial and collaborative manner, during the lifecycle of an award and assure adherence to university and agency procedures and requirements.
• Respond to inquiries from investigators, administrators and funding agencies.
• Provide support to investigators in proposal review and submission and other correspondence with sponsors.
• Serve as a resource to investigators in identifying funding opportunities through the SPINPlus subscription system and finding proposal information in the Grants.gov system.
• Assist faculty in the process of submitting proposals electronically to Grants.gov using the InfoEd System to System.
• Identify problem areas such as cost sharing, IRB, ACUC, Significant Conflict of Interest and Effort Time requirements before submission of proposals and during post-award administration.
• Be responsible for reconciling the general ledger with NIH Federal Financial Reports and with other sponsors financial statements, for withdrawing funds from sponsors.
• Review awards budgets and rebudget accounts as needed, assuring that correct indirect costs are posted to sponsored accounts.
• Manage the review of cash flows, A/R, and quarterly reports across research awards. Manage the process of invoices and collection of all grants and contracts revenue.
• Monitor and approve personnel action forms to assure adherence to grant commitments.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate balances of accounts, working with Research Coordinators and PIs in avoiding future overdrafts or clearing overdrafts.
• Perform all aspects of post award financial management of sponsored projects including financial reporting, monitoring expenditures and processing reimbursement documents adhering to sponsoring agency deadlines.
• Maintain continuing liaison with funding agencies contract officers.
• Stay informed of changes in sponsor regulations, requirements and policies and disseminate sponsor information as needed.
• Prepare salary distribution and effort certification reports verifying that effort commitments are accurately reported in effort certification reports
• Assist Assistant Director OSR, Associate VP for Research Administration/Director OSR and Vice President for Research (VPR) in the development of new policies and revisions of existing policies
• Back up support for Assistant Director OSR and Associate VP for Research Administration/Director OSR when they are absent, such as providing approval for post-award documents and endorsing proposals.
• Perform other related job duties as assigned and/or delegated.

Conditions of Employment

• Must achieve satisfactory results from a background check.

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting or related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired.
• At least five years of work experience in pre-award, post award and grants management in a sponsored research administration setting at a higher education institution.
• Complete working knowledge of General Accounting Principles and Practice (GAAP), regulations, laws, policies and procedures related to research administration.

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and planning abilities.
• Proven ability to manage details and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Comprehensive knowledge of GAAP, as well as regulations, laws, policies, and procedures related to research administration.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel; experienced with electronic proposal submissions, Internet research, and relational database applications such as Access and Oracle.
• Familiar with grants submission management systems such as InfoEd.
• Comfortable using Zoom and other remote meeting platforms.
• Extensive experience with rebudgeting project budget categories, including between Direct and Indirect Costs.
• Strong experience in preparing SF-425 financial reports and invoices with accompanying backup documentation.
• Skilled in working with multiple reporting systems, including SQL-based and non-integrated financial platforms.
• Ability to perform manual financial calculations for data entry, invoicing and reporting.
• Knowledge of compliance requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.
• Familiarity with the priorities, procedures, and policies of major funding agencies such as NIH, HRSA, NSF, DOD, and NASA.
• Experience working with other funding sources, including foundations and industry partners.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Demonstrated discretion, sound judgment, and high integrity.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Comfortable working in and contributing to a diverse environment.
• Dependable, with a strong work ethic.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least five years of work experience in pre-award, post award and grants management in a central sponsored research administration setting at a higher education institution.
• MBA or Master of Sciences Degree in Business, Accounting or Management.

Typical Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• Selected candidate must have the mental and physical capabilities to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

EOE, Including Disability / Vets