BSS Research Administrator II

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; Boulder (CO); Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Leave plans

Tuition assistance

Employee assistance programs

Job summary

UCAR, based in Boulder, Colorado, seeks an experienced Lead Proposal Administrator to manage end-to-end proposal development for research grants and contracts. You will work with PIs to build budgets and narratives and coordinate submissions across Grants.gov, Research.gov, and UCAR systems.

Strong knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance and FAR is essential. The role requires independent execution, excellent communication, and the ability to translate complex financial rules for stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience administering federal funds (grants, awards, contracts).
• Knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance and FAR.
• Ability to develop multi-year budgets and narratives.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end proposal development for grants and contracts.
• Coordinate budget proposals and budget narratives with PIs.
• Manage submission packages across federal portals and UCAR systems.
• Perform pre-submission compliance checks and risk assessments.
• Monitor cost allowability, cost-share, and indirect rate applications.

Skills

Grant administration

Budget development

Proposal submission

Compliance & risk assessment

Excel/Spreadsheet modeling

Federal regulations (OMB 2 CFR 200)

Communication & translation of data

Independent execution

Team collaboration

NOAA contracts experience

Education

Master’s degree + 3 years experience

Bachelor’s degree + 5 years experience

Tools

Grants.gov

Research.gov

eRA Commons

Job description

remote type: Location Type: Fully Remote Option Available* ***Lead Proposal Administration***: Manage end-to-end proposal development for research grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, ensuring seamless alignment with UCAR policies and federal sponsor guidelines.* ***Budget & Narrative Development***: Partner directly with Principal Investigators (PIs) and project leads to build comprehensive, multi-year project budgets, cost proposals, and detailed budget narratives.* ***Portal & Submission Management***: Coordinate data entry, document assembly, and formal proposal uploads across UCAR internal systems and federal sponsor portals (e.g., Research.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons).* ***Compliance & Risk Assessment***: Perform thorough pre-submission compliance checks to verify cost allowability, cost-share requirements, indirect rate applications, and sponsor-specific restrictions.- 5 years of experience administering federal funds *(grants, awards, contracts, etc.)* (or a Masters degree and three years of related experience);* Or an equivalent combination of education and experience which qualifies the individual to perform the duties as described.* ***Federal Award & Task Order Administration***: Advanced skill in administering grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and task orders in strict compliance with federal and sponsor requirements.* ***Proposal Development & Submission Systems***: Advanced proficiency in preparing project budgets and submitting proposal packages via federal and institutional platforms (e.g., Grants.gov, Research.gov, UCAR systems).* ***Budget Analysis, Cost Control & Metrics***: Advanced ability to perform multi-year budget development, financial analysis, cost control, burn-rate tracking, and key operational statistics.* ***Spreadsheet Modeling & Status Reporting***: Advanced skill in leveraging spreadsheet applications (Excel or Google Sheets) to perform complex financial analysis, model scenario data, and present executive status reports.* ***Government Regulations & Policy Compliance***: Intermediate working knowledge of federal award requirements (including OMB Uniform Guidance) as well as UCAR policies, guidelines, and procedures.* ***Communication & Data Translation***: Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with a proven ability to translate complex financial data and rules into clear, accessible language for stakeholders.* ***Proactive Problem-Solving & Resourcefulness***: Strong analytical skills, with the ability to locate key information sources, anticipate organizational issues before they arise, and implement effective solutions.* ***Independent Execution & Team Collaboration***: Proven ability to drive work independently with minimal oversight while collaborating effectively within a team environment.* ***Confidentiality & Discretion***: Exceptional sensitivity and discretion when handling confidential financial, personnel, and institutional information.* Experience managing **NOAA contractual vehicles**, grants, or cooperative agreements.Direct experience administering federal awards under **OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200)** and the **Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)**.UCAR offers a: health insurance, dental, retirement plan, leave plans, tuition assistance, and employee assistance programs:NSF NCAR, located in Boulder, Colorado, is one of the world's premier scientific institutions. Our internationally recognized staff and research program is dedicated to **advancing knowledge, providing community-based resources, and building human capacity in Earth system science.** NSF NCAR is sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). Learn more about the work ofmanages NSF NCAR on behalf of the U.S. National Science Foundation. UCAR is a nonprofit consortium of more than 130 North American colleges and universities **focused on research and training in the Earth system sciences.** Founded in 1960 to fulfill this role, we are trusted administrators of the financial, human resources, facilities, and information technology functions that are essential to NSF NCAR's success.### Work with UsLearn more about opportunities for, & .UCAR is committed to providing flexible work arrangements to promote work/life balance. Many positions are eligible for hybrid (three days in office per week) and/or a flexible work schedule. All positions must be performed within the U.S. (excluding U.S. territories).