Contract Administrator III - Direct Awards

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR); Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 96,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

PSLF eligible

Job summary

UCAR is seeking a Contract Administrator III to lead the administration of complex prime contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements in support of Direct Awards. You will liaise with fund sources, internal teams, and general counsel while mentoring junior staff and ensuring compliance with UCAR policies and federal regulations.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in business or public administration and at least eight years’ experience in research administration and government contracts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration is required.
• Eight years of research administration and government contracts experience or equivalent.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating complex contracts and grants.
• Knowledge of FAR, OMB Uniform Guidance, and related regulatory regimes.
• Ability to mentor and train other contract administrators.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, negotiate, and administer complex prime contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements.
• Liaise with fund sources, internal management, and counsel.
• Mentor contract administrators and coordinate with budgeting, finance, and lab staff.
• Draft terms and conditions aligned with UCAR policies and federal regulations.
• Provide training on processes, compliance, and contract tracking systems.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Contract administration

Risk management

Communication skills

Microsoft Office (Word/Excel)

Time management

Not-for-profit accounting knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or public administration

Certified Research Administrator (CRA)

Law Degree (JD)

Tools

Kuali

Job description

Position Type: Regular

Visa Sponsored Job: No

Relocation Assistance Eligible: No

Hiring Range: 96,266.00 USD - 120,331.00 USD

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Closes at 12:00am MST on: 2026-09-09

About the Role

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is looking for a Contract Administrator III for our Direct Awards team.

Job Description

Application Deadline: This position will be posted until 12 am MDT on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

Required application materials: (preferably uploaded as a PDF)

• Resume
• Questionnaire (embedded in application)

Background Checks: Conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.

Work Location: Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

What You Will Do

They will be responsible for the preparation, review, negotiation and administration of complex, multi-phased prime contracts, grants and cooperative agreements, and other contractual instruments for the financial/programmatic support of UCAR activities. They will be a liaison with outside agencies, other funding sources, as well as with internal management, corporate attorneys, and other UCAR personnel. They will also serve as a mentor for other Contract Administrators and work closely with contract, financial, budget, and lab/program professionals to resolve issues related to contract provisions.

Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and administers complex, multi-phased prime contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, teaming agreements, and multiple types of zero funded agreements which are directly or indirectly related to funding. Reviews and analyzes terms and conditions and negotiates changes or modifications, including the composition of alternate language and new provisions, where appropriate. Reviews contracts and agreements for export, liability and risk, intellectual property, legal sufficiency, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and UCAR policies. Advises internal program managers, general counsel and risk management staff on contractually related issues. Provides guidance to UCAR personnel, including upper management, of risk associated with contract acceptance. Has the ability to draft terms and conditions for new agreements that are consistent with UCAR policies and federal regulations. Serves as a UCAR liaison with lab/program personnel for sponsor funded activities. Works closely with entity budget and planning offices, UCAR's Office of General Counsel, and budget and finance personnel for the coordination of all incoming funds.

Serves as a UCAR representative for communication with fund source providers to protect UCAR's interest and minimize risk to the organization. Interprets UCAR agreements, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), OMB Uniform Guidance, and other applicable regulations and laws. Helps to ensure UCAR's compliance with these laws and regulations on direct contracts and interagency agreements by monitoring award conditions and filing appropriate reports and certifications. Provides support to UCAR staff in the review of federal and non-federal request for proposals and other solicitations, including review of outgoing proposals for consistency with UCAR established policies.

Provides training for Contract Administrators and other UCAR personnel on processes, procedures, compliance issues, contract tracking computer modules, and other related topics. Makes presentations to management and to the lab/program personnel regarding contractual issues and other related topics. Serves as mentor for lower-level Contract Administrators and performs peer reviews of their work. Serves as a backup to the Contracts Manager and may oversee distribution of work to Contract Administrators. Works with other departments, UCAR personnel, and outside sponsors on special projects.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration
• At least eight years' research administration and government contracts experience in handling direct funding arrangements such as grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Desired, but not required:

• Expert knowledge of Awards Management System (Kuali).
• Current Experience working with federal agencies
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
• Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)
• Law Degree (JD)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Expert knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), Code of Federal Regulations, contract/purchasing procedures, and other research-related regulations.
• Expert knowledge in grants and cooperative agreements administration.
• Expert skill in reviewing and analyzing non-standardized terms and conditions of contractual instruments.
• Advanced skill in negotiating terms and conditions of non-standardized contractual instruments.
• Skill in identifying liability, risk, export, and intellectual property issues, and proposing solutions.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with a wide range of people at all levels of an organization.
• Advanced skill in managing time-sensitive, high-volume workload.
• Advanced skill using Microsoft Office products, specifically Word and Excel.
• Working knowledge of basic not-for-profit accounting, budgeting and proposal processes, including the application of indirect rates and fees.
• Skill in preparing and giving presentations to UCAR personnel and other contracting personnel.
• Extensive level of attention to detail is required

Preferred Qualifications

Hiring Salary Range: $96,266 - $120,331

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role.

Application Requirements

Questionnaire, Resume/CV

For full consideration, all application materials must be submitted by 12am (MST) at the start of the application deadline. These should highlight how your skills and experiences align with the responsibilities of this position. We recognize that no candidate will meet 100% of the listed qualifications. If you believe your background has prepared you for success in this role, we encourage you to apply.

Supplemental questionnaires are often requested in lieu of a cover letter, where you address critical skills needed for the position. Your answers will be read and weighed equally to your resume and should provide specific, detailed, and informative responses based on your direct and previous work experiences.

Background checks and/or federal screenings are conducted for candidates selected for hire.

Benefits Overview

UCAR offers a comprehensive benefits package: health insurance, dental, retirement plan, leave plans, tuition assistance, and employee assistance programs:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
• Generous retirement plan - UCAR contributes of 10% of base salary
• Time Off Plans
  • Minimum 20 days of annual PTO
  • 10 paid holidays
  • 12 weeks of paid parental leave
  • FAMLI Leave
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer

UCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants are not required to provide age-related information (like date of birth or graduation dates) in initial submissions.

For sponsored positions: UCAR can sponsor individuals for H-1B status only if they are already in the U.S. in H-1B status or another visa status that allows them to change to H-1B status within the U.S. UCAR is unable to sponsor new H-1B visas for individuals who are outside the U.S. and need to obtain H-1B status through Consular Processing.

While UCAR does not prohibit the use of AI tools in job applications, we strongly recommend that applicants submit primarily original work.

All roles require compliance with U.S. export control regulations and work location requirements. All hybrid staff are expected to work on-site approximately 3 days per week.