Job Description 

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) has an exciting opportunity for a Contracts and Grants Specialist or Senior Contracts and Grants Specialist within the department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research (P- SHOR). The selected candidate will assume either position commensurate with their education and experience. The selected candidate will work closely with the Accounting Director to manage the department’s contracts and grants, budgeting, and accounting functions. This individual will also be expected to provide counsel to department faculty and staff regarding pre- and post- award procedures and policies and develop timelines for submissions and invoicing.

Established in 1841, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) is the fourth oldest school of pharmacy in the United States. As a leader in pharmacy education, scientific discovery, patient care, and community engagement; the school conducts cutting-edge research and engages in a wide variety of professional practice activities to improve the health and well-being of citizens in the state of Maryland and beyond.

BENEFITS:

UMB offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes wellness, work/life balance, and professional development, along with additional exciting perks that employees can take advantage of. This position participates in a retirement program (pension or optional retirement plan/ORP) that must be selected and is effective on your date of hire. Exempt regular staff receive a generous PAID leave package that includes over 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year, 15 paid holidays, 3 personal leave, unlimited accrual of sick time, and comprehensive health insurance; professional learning and development programs; tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any University System of Maryland school; and flexible work schedules and teleworking options (if applicable per job).

UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland.  All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland.

UMB CORE VALUES: 

Respect & Integrity, Well-Being & Sustainability, Equity & Justice, and Innovation & Discovery  

PRIMARY DUTIES – Contract and Grants Specialist:

• Serves as department point of contact for pre- and post-award activities.
• Maintains accurate documentation for department sponsored project activities including subawards.
• Prepares grant and contract budgets.
• Adheres to safeguards to ensure integrity of grant administration and contracts by ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures regarding internal, business, fiscal and operational accountability, and compliance.
• Provides contract and grant preparation review to understand requirements for the application process. Prepares guidelines for the submission. Provides the groundwork for the application required documents. Works with management to identify priorities of gathering and processing documents and develops contract requirements containing quantifiable specifications and measurable performance criteria. Reviews application forms, contract templates, correspondence, and selected agreements for appropriate presentation of compliance information. Develops timeline to meet submission deadlines and checklist of required documents. Generates required documents checklist for grant application.
• Acts as point of contact and develops relationships with UMB parties, sponsors, and sub-contractors to ensure the contract or grant short- and long-term milestones are met. Safeguards the integrity of the grant or contract administration.
• Navigates the Subcontract process through university systems and provides groundwork to partners to ensure partnership is in compliance with University standards.
• Collaborates with the principal investigator (PI) and management to develop project plan by interpreting policy and procedure.
• Reconciles budget based on approved budget by sponsor. Provides current and historical budget data to project expenditures and forecast income. Works with staff on identified potential ledger variances.
• Prepares and reviews financial status reports and invoices. Organizes the close out procedures with Faculty. Sets timelines to have the documents complete. Reviews final closeout.
• Ensures all results are completed and submitted to sponsor. Identifies and assists in issue resolution and escalates as needed.
• Acts as point of contact and advises PI on all financial transactions, such as travel, purchasing or subcontracting.
• Interprets and applies Federal, State, and sponsors guidelines and requirements.
• Reviews applications for funding and process. Prepares grant and contract budget and application in line with university and federal policy.
• Maintains and tracks required training documents and ensures all parties are in compliance with regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

PRIMARY DUTIES – Senior Contracts and Grants Specialist:

• Prepares grant and contract budget and application. Finalizes documents for submission. Validate proposal error and/or warnings. Knowledgeable in all funding mechanisms and interprets of federal, state, University, sponsor policies and regulations and requirements to ensure compliance and adherence to those policies.
• Provides consultation, advice, and directions to all level staff and faculty regarding grant and/or contracting issue resolution.
• Translates program requirements into contract terms in consultation with principal investigator (Pl) and management. Identifies, develops, and ensures contract requirements contain quantifiable specification and measurable performance criteria. Validates the performance criteria will meet the requirements. Ensures all results are completed and submitted to sponsor.
• Reviews sponsor guidelines and request for proposals, interpret and communicate compliance and eligibility information to research faculty and staff. Seeks information to obtain better understanding of processes. Identifies inconsistencies in process and develops suggestions for improvements to ensure higher quality processes in conjunction with the Office of Research of Development.
• Maintains all close documentation for the department and the sub awards. Seeks approvals for invention statement and publications have been completed in ERA commons.
• Interprets data for the purpose of determining past financial performance to develop and prepare financial reports for financial analysis, forecasting, and trending. Devises financial reporting tools and reports. Recommends overall adjustments in effort allocation and spending across investigator portfolio. Provides Pl and management with ad hoc reports in support of strategic plan.
• Develops safeguards to ensure the integrity of grant administration or contracts and protects the University from financial losses. Ensures sub- awards are also in compliance with terms and conditions of the award.
• Identifies issues and resolves independently. Anticipates roadblocks and able to independently resolve proactively.
• Develops evaluation criteria for review of grant and contract applications. Reviews and interprets funding agency guidelines and regulations and advises faculty as to policies and procedures of those agencies as well as those of the state and the University.
• Develops timeline to meet submission deadlines and checklist of required documents and independently adjusts timeline to adapt to change. Adheres to set timelines. Independently prioritizes processes to ensure timelines are met.
• Provides guidance on staffing and budgetary requirements. Reviews and maintains documentation related to cost transfers, requests for expenditures, effort reporting, budget revisions, and fund statements. Coordinates invoicing, accounts receivable, and deposits in the financial system and ensures payments are applied correctly. Anticipates spending to ensure contract funds are fully utilized within contract date.
• Interacts directly with designation sponsor representatives to clarify ambiguous terms and conditions, and to request supplemental funding, no-cost extensions, and other administrative requests.
• Identifies future funding opportunities and works with Pl to identify research components.
• Acts as point of contact for all UMB parties and sponsors involved in the negotiation process.
• Maintains, identifies, and resolves any delinquent training, conflict of interest, and any other institutional compliance requirements.
• May provide work coordination or oversight of others.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS – Contacts and Grants Specialist:

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree.

EXPERIENCE:  Three (3) years of accounting, budget, contract, or research administration experience.

OTHER: Financial disclosure reporting required by State of Maryland Ethics Commission. Related experience may be substituted for education.

Completion of a 12-credit Research Administration graduate certificate program can be considered for the equivalent of one (1) year of relevant research administration work experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS – Senior Contracts and Grants Specialist:

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree. Master's degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE: Five (5) years of directly related contract, grant, or research administration.

OTHER: Financial disclosure reporting required by State of Maryland Ethics Commission. No substitution of experience for minimum education.

Completion of a 12-credit Research Administration graduate certificate program can be considered for the equivalent of one (1) year of relevant research administration work experience.

Except for qualifications established by law, additional related experience and formal education in which one has gained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for full performance of the work of the job class may be substituted for the education or experience requirement on a year-for-year basis with 30 undergraduate college credits being equivalent to one year of related experience. In instances where specific education and/or experience is required only directly related education and/or experience may be substituted. 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of position requirements.
• Knowledge of all applicable requirements, regulations, and laws.
• Skill in effective use of applicable technology/systems.
• Ability to effectively communicate both verbal and written thoughts, ideas, and facts.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others and independently.
• Ability to demonstrate, understand, apply, and adhere to the UMB Core Values of Respect and Integrity, Well-being and Sustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation and Discovery.

HIRING RANGE: $77,000 - $83,000 per year for C&G Specialist/ $89,000 - $97,000 per year for Senior C&G Specialist (Commensurate with education and experience)

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration of employment without regard of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law or policy. 

If you need a reasonable accommodation for a disability, for any part of the employment process, please contact us a HRJobs@umaryland.edu and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for a reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. 

The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read the UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination for more information.