Senior / Lead Contract & Grant Administrator

The Contract & Grant Administrator at a Senior or Lead level will join the Contract & Grant Services department, with a focus on federal assistance grant awards. Experience with other sponsor types is also preferred, including federal government agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, private foundations, and commercial entities.

Under minimal supervision and guidance, the Senior / Lead Contract & Grant Administrator independently performs advanced to highly complex contract and grant administration activities including proposal submission, and negotiation, execution, and administration of sponsored research agreements. Employees at this level perform highly complex work to accomplish business goals and objectives.

Assignments at this level require the use of independent judgment and initiative in resolving problems and making recommendations. This position may also provide training and direction over less experienced Contract / Grant Administrators and other support staff.

Responsibilities

May perform any or all of the following duties :

Review RFPs / RFQs for contractual issues and provide input in support of proposal efforts, including advising research and proposal development staff regarding proposal preparation and interpretation of sponsor requirements.

Draft, coordinate, and execute proposal-related non-financial agreements, such as nondisclosure, teaming, and data use agreements.

Serve as the authorized representative for compliance review and submission of sponsored research proposals.

Review contract and grant agreements to ensure terms and conditions align with policies and mission.

Research and interpret Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Uniform Guidance (UG), and other laws, regulations, rules, guidelines, and terms / conditions to determine compliance, engaging with legal, IT security, and other subject matter experts as needed.

Negotiate the terms and conditions of sponsor agreements (Grant, FFP, T&M, LH, CPFF, IDIQ, Task Orders, etc.) and modifications. Draft agreements or mark up external agreements requiring full understanding of legal concepts and contract law.

Develop negotiation strategies and draft terms / conditions acceptable to both the organization and sponsors.

Monitor active projects for compliance with sponsor and organizational requirements; prepare status reports and change management notices as needed.

Coordinate and manage post-award modification and change requests.

Collaborate with pricing, purchasing, accounting, finance, and operations staff to resolve contractual issues and disputes.

Maintain official contractual communications with sponsors. Serve as primary interface on substantial / sensitive contractual or business matters.

Assist with copyrights, non-disclosure agreements, and intellectual property matters.

Provide advice and guidance to project leaders and staff regarding terms, schedules, and obligations.

Advise management on contractual rights, obligations, and risks.

Monitor external publications for policy / legal developments issued by federal agencies.

Facilitate problem identification and resolution in pre- and post-award areas.

Maintain cooperative working relationships with internal offices and provide advice / assistance as needed.

Act as a resource and mentor for colleagues with less experience.

Maintain accurate electronic files and documentation.

Lead Contract & Grant Administrators may also :

Champion policy and procedure revisions and improvements.

Mentor, lead, and provide subject matter expertise to less experienced administrators and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

Experience with Excel and Adobe Acrobat Professional.

Experience with Workday and / or Salesforce a plus.

Certification in Sponsored Research Administration or Contract Management a plus.

Knowledge of financial and non-financial agreements and their influence on project administration and compliance.

Ability to research, interpret, and communicate requirements to protect organizational rights and obligations.

Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively with internal and external partners.

Ability to manage high volume tasks and competing priorities efficiently.

Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving orientation.

High attention to detail.

Education & Experience Senior Contract & Grant Administrator

Bachelors degree in a related discipline and 6 years of relevant experience preferred.

A combination of education and relevant experience may substitute for a degree.

High School Diploma or GED with 10 years of experience required if no degree.

Education & Experience Lead Contract & Grant Administrator

Bachelors degree in a related discipline and 10 years of relevant experience preferred.

A combination of education and relevant experience may substitute for a degree.

High School Diploma or GED with 14 years of experience required if no degree.