Senior Grants and Contracts Officer

Senior Grants and Contracts Officer Job Summary The University of Utah is one of the nations premier public research universities, with more than $700 million in annual research expenditures and a strategic trajectory toward $1 billion. The Office of Research Management & Compliance (RMC) serves as the University's central post‑award finance and compliance unit, ensuring that research funding is managed in accordance with federal, sponsor, and institutional requirements while supporting the university's mission of discovery, innovation, and impact. RMC partners closely with the Office of Sponsored Projects, the Controllers Office, and college‑ and institute‑level research administration teams to deliver financial stewardship, compliance oversight, and operational excellence across the post‑award lifecycle. As the university's research enterprise continues to grow, RMC is modernizing its systems, reimagining its service model, and investing in its people and process improvements to support sustainable expansion and innovation. Responsibilities The Senior Grants & Contracts Officer (GCO) is a first‑line supervisory role responsible for the day‑to‑day oversight of sponsored project financial management activities for an assigned portfolio of colleges, institutes, or departments. Reporting to the Senior Manager for Financial Research Administration, this position provides both tactical and operational leadership to a team of 3–8 staff members responsible for project billing, financial reconciliation and reporting, and sponsor liaison functions within the university's post‑award environment. The Senior GCO plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with sponsor and university requirements, fostering a culture of accountability and service excellence, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the department. This position also contributes to maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external sponsors. RMC is committed to cultivating an environment of respect, collaboration, and continuous learning. The ideal candidate will bring experience in grants and contracts accounting and will be comfortable managing a diverse and balanced workload of project management responsibilities while overseeing team operations. Minimum Qualifications EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience). Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience. Preferences Supervisory experience or demonstrated leadership and mentorship. Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a proven ability to foster collaboration across central and college‑level units. Proficiency with large‑scale financial systems, data analytics, and reporting tools; ability to translate data into actionable insights that inform decisions. Strong analytical, communication, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in a complex, matrixed environment. Master's degree or professional certification (e.g., CRA/CFRA, CGFM). #J-18808-Ljbffr The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.