Grants & Contracts Coordinator II (Engineering - Hybrid Opportunity)

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued-and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Administration and Finance with a dotted line to the Associate Dean for Research, the Grants & Contracts Coordinator II position will provide specific expertise and support for all post-award activities occurring in the College of Engineering (CoE) Dean's Office. This position requires extensive knowledge of school and university policies, procedures, systems; federal, state, and private grant policies and compliance issues, as well as a high level of discretion when handling confidential material and information.

Essential Functions

• Provide oversight and tracking of newly funded grants (and associated subcontracts) through the various UMass central offices and systems from receipt of Notice of Award through actual spending and project closeout.
• Provide up-to-date and accurate information on grant spending.
• Develop and provide routine budget analysis reports showing grant expenditures (to date / per period / per year) by relevant grant category versus what was proposed and / or awarded.
• Provide reports of faculty and employee efforts across multiple grants and overtime as needed.
• Assist with decisions and activities related to tracking of faculty effort on grants, including teaching buyouts, academic year salary recovery (including faculty bonuses) and summer salary.
• Process subcontractor invoices, including creating and amending purchase orders and maintaining account ledgers.
• Develop and maintain up-to-date grant-related faculty "Other Support" documents.
• Prepare forecasts of spending to keep projects on track and to assist in completing grant progress reports (e.g., RPPR) and no-cost extensions (NCE).
• Assist with rebudgeting of sponsored funds as needed.
• Assist with annual effort certification.
• Assist in grant and contract closeout process.
• Interpret and apply principles, rules, regulations, policies, precedents, or other guidelines specific to the assigned research project(s) and its sponsor to resolve problems, answer questions and provide information and advice.
• Work with the Research Administration Office (RAO), the Office of Pre Award Support (OPAS) the Office of Post-Award Management (OPAM) and the Controller's Office to respond to problems / concerns and find appropriate and timely solutions.
• Work with OPAS / OPAM and the Controller's Office on compliance with federal and private cost and administrative principles (Uniform Guidance, etc.) and assist in preparing and presenting responses to audit findings.
• Work with other departments with research grants tied to our faculty to develop processes to provide up-to-date data on grant expenditures and remaining funds (both for a single grant, and for tracking personnel efforts spread across multiple grants). Supports the CoE Assistant Dean of A&F to develop fiscal management processes for faculty to expedite paperwork and reduce investigator burden.
• Provides pre-award administration support in the absence or overflow from College of Engineering's Research Development Services as assigned by the Associate Dean for Research.

Other Functions

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

Salary Information

Grade 16 USA / MTA.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.