Award & Contract Specialist, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Award and Contract Specialist (Administrative Professional 1 - MR10 )

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) at UTC seeks to promote scholarship, research, and creative activities by encouraging and providing comprehensive support to faculty and staff in the pursuit of sponsored programs. ORSP is searching for an Award & Contract Specialist with the following areas of responsibility:

Award Intake: Reviews and processes incoming sponsored program awards, coordinating award-related actions with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

Sponsored Programs Contracts & Agreements: Reviews and negotiates sponsored programs contracts and agreements and assists with origination, negotiation, and execution of subawards payable from sponsored programs where UTC is the lead.

Post-Award Compliance: Analyzes individual award requirements and provides advice in routine and non-routine situations. Identifies and designs resources to meet informational and training needs.

Data Analytics, Reporting, and Research Enterprise System Administration: Oversees the integrity of UTC's sponsored program data and other metrics including takes lead on routine and special reporting.

The ideal candidate will possess the following attributes:

• Communication skills - ability to assimilate complex data, convey relevant information in verbal and written form, and provide advice and counsel in a persuasive, encouraging manner.
• Writing skills – ability to craft language that is grammatically correct, reader-friendly, and that constitutes a clear, coherent, and compelling argument for the suggested course of action
• Technology skills - ability to use technology resources, enterprise systems, and software programs to complete complex tasks.
• Interpersonal skills - ability to work effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds
• Reasoning and problem-solving skills- ability to anticipate / identify potential challenges or issues and develop appropriate corrective actions to avoid or minimize problems.
• Analytical skills – ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and to engage in strategic planning and to initiate actions that support strategic plans and goals.
• Project Management - Ability to manage a varied workload including multiple deadline-driven and/or time-sensitive tasks while maintaining on-going tasks.

Review of applications will begin November 23, 2021 and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration.

Minimum Qualifications: Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and two years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in relevant field; experience dealing with grants/research administration, contract negotiation, project management, compliance management or related activities; knowledge of federal regulations governing sponsored programs administration; knowledge of financial and research enterprise systems such as Cayuse, IRIS/SAP, or similar; knowledge of UT policies and ability to apply policy requirements in a variety of fiscal, HR, and research policies to sponsored program and research administration; and knowledge and skill in working with data-sets and producing attractive, detailed reports.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

Qualifications :