Grants and Contracts Specialist at The Ohio State University

Grants and Contracts Specialist at The Ohio State University

Job Type
Full-time
Posting Date
May 31, 2019
Location of Position

Columbus, OH

Company Summary

For 144 years, The Ohio State University's campus in Columbus has been the stage for academic achievement and a laboratory for innovation. It's where friendships are forged. It's where rivalries and revelry are born.

The university's main campus is one of America's largest and most comprehensive. As Ohio's best and one of the nation's top-20 public universities, Ohio State is further recognized by a top-rated academic medical center and a premier cancer hospital and research center. As a land-grant university, Ohio State has a physical presence throughout the state, with campuses and research centers located around Ohio.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Ohio State University Corporate Engagement Office seeks a Grants & Contracts Specialist to oversee and manage all pre- and post-award activities for the Accelerator Awards grant program. The Accelerator Awards grant program is funded through the Ohio Third Frontier Technology Validation and Start-up Fund and is managed by the Corporate Engagement Office. The program awards $1 million in grants annually to Ohio State Principal Investigators (PIs) to advance and further develop promising technologies and bring them closer to the marketplace. In addition to providing programmatic support, a major function of this position will be to provide comprehensive administrative and financial management to PIs awarded Accelerator Award grants.

Examples of Duties:
  • Program Support Duties: updates, organizes and maintains grant files and tracking system; coordinates Accelerator Award meetings and events; provides overall project management support by tracking project timelines; assists in training PIs and their staff on Accelerator Award program operational policies and procedures; ensures compliance with sponsor, university and third party regulations; collaborates with Office of Sponsored Programs with all pre- and post-award activities as needed; provides excellent customer service to PIs and departmental staff and proactively works to resolve any issues; works with Marketing and Communications team to create written content for program marketing materials, including presentations, website, press releases and brochures; drafts internal and external communications for the Accelerator Award program; coordinates submission of required reporting materials from grant recipients, including progress reports, technical reports and metrics reports; facilitates submission of required reporting materials to Sponsor; develops and maintains databases to track project outcomes; prepares monthly, quarterly and/or yearly reports as necessary; suggests and implements improvements to advance effective and efficient grant and project management.
  • Pre-Award Duties: provides proposal assistance to Accelerator Award applicants; assists Accelerator Award applicants with preparation of detailed budgets and justifications following specific program guidelines; manages application intake process; facilitates proposal review process with external selection committee; ensures timely submission of projects to Sponsor for approval; monitors the status of submitted projects; assists in the preparation of award documents; coordinates setup of projects with the Office of Sponsored Programs.
  • Post-Award Duties: works directly with PIs and/or their staff to facilitate management of grant activities; monitors project accounts and prepares financial reports and projections for the projects; reviews budgets and proactively notifies PIs of availability of funds on regular basis; reviews and approves expenses for appropriateness as stipulated by Sponsor and program guidelines; utilizes University financial and procurement systems to complete day-to-day financial transactions for Accelerator Award projects; coordinates with PIs, departmental staff and the Office of Sponsored Programs to facilitate the procurement of supplies, services, and equipment; oversees personnel project appointments and assists PIs with effort certification; facilitates the submission and payment of invoices in a timely manner and resolves any issues with vendors; prepares and submits journal entries; reconciles direct expenses for projects to ensure all appropriate expenses have been posted to project prior to close out process; processes grant and project modification requests, including re-budgeting and no-cost extensions, and communicates requests to Sponsor and Sponsored Program Officer; plans and prepares projects for close out, coordinating efforts with the PIs, departmental staff, Office of Sponsored Programs and Sponsor.
Position Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, research administration, or a scientific and/or relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Three years of grant or contract management experience. Excellent written and communication skills. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Ability to exhibit professionalism and maintain relationships with external partners, faculty and staff. Ability to work both independently and part of a team. Demonstrated problem-solving skills. Effective time management and prioritization skills. Ability to take initiative, multi-task and work well under pressure. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Excellent math, analytical skills, and ability to analyze budgets.
Required Experience

Desired

Two years of experience in research administration. Experience in a university setting working with faculty in an administrative role. Knowledge of federal, state, and university requirements regarding pre- and post-award administration. Knowledge and experience with The Ohio State University Office of Sponsored Program’s policies, processes and regulations.

Apply Here

The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status, or protected veteran status.