Grant & Contract Associate

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); Hybrid; USD 66,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Cornell University’s Office of Sponsored Programs seeks a Grant Contract Associate to join its Operations Team. This fixed-term appointment supports pre- and post-award activities, data entry, compliance review, and deliverable preparation in a fast-paced environment.

You will triage incoming work, assist with training requirements, review contracts, process no-cost extensions, and help improve workflows across proposal, award, and non-financial agreement intake.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree and 2-4 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Excellent organizational, communications, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, databases, and reporting applications
• Excellent customer service skills
• Excellent track record in following through on details
• Ability to accurately review detailed contract documents, written procedures, and correspondence
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality concerning office and organizational transactions
• Proven ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated use of sound judgment when referring issues to higher organizational levels for review and consideration
• Ability to oversee multiple files simultaneously and efficiently within tight timeframes
• Demonstrated skills in conducting research and using analysis and critical thinking
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial review and data entry for grants and contracts, triage incoming work, and collect needed information for Grant Contract Officers
• Assist with compliance checks, such as completion of training requirements, resolution of conflict-of-interest issues, and implementation of necessary research protocols
• Processing post-award and subaward actions and change requests, such as no-cost extensions
• Reviewing monthly reports to identify projects ready for closeout and coordinating with the campus unit, Sponsored Financial Services, and Center for Technology Licensing to verify final deliverables have been submitted and documented
• Creating and processing monthly reports related to award activity
• Performing quality assurance reviews and ensuring the accuracy of system data
• Contributing to continuous improvement of our procedures for proposal, award, and non-financial agreement intake

Skills

Organizational skills

Customer service

Data entry

MS Office

Communication skills

Education

Associate’s degree

2-4 years relevant experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Databases

Reporting tools

Job description

The Office of Sponsored Programs at Cornell University seeks a Grant Contract Associate to join its Operations Team. This position will contribute to a highly effective group providing support within OSP on a variety of pre- and post-award activities. The successful candidate will possess great organizational skills and a strong customer service orientation and will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment. This is a fixed-term position with an initial appointment of two years, renewable based on available funding and successful performance.

The Opportunity

As Grant Contract Associate, you will perform vital operational tasks that ensure OSP delivers exceptional service to Cornell units in proposal submission, and award execution. You will work as part of a team for proposal and award intake and data entry, compliance review, collection and review of project deliverables, intake of incoming non-financial agreements, project revisions, and project closeouts. You also will assist with operational process improvement efforts.

Duties Will Include

• Conducting initial review and data entry for grants and contracts, monitoring office mailboxes to triage incoming work, and collecting needed information and documents to Grant Contract Officers
• Assisting with compliance checks, such as completion of training requirements, resolution of conflict-of-interest issues, and implementation of necessary research protocols
• Processing post-award and subaward actions and change requests, such as no-cost extensions
• Reviewing monthly reports to identify projects ready for closeout and coordinating with the campus unit, Sponsored Financial Services, and Center for Technology Licensing to verify final deliverables have been submitted and documented
• Creating and processing monthly reports related to award activity
• Performing quality assurance reviews and ensuring the accuracy of system data
• Contributing to continuous improvement of our procedures for proposal, award, and non-financial agreement intake

What We Need

When evaluating your candidacy, we will look for evidence of the following:

• Associate’s degree and 2-4 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Excellent organizational, communications, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, databases, and reporting applications
• Excellent customer service skills
• Excellent track record in following through on details
• Ability to accurately review detailed contract documents, written procedures, and correspondence
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality concerning office and organizational transactions
• Proven ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated use of sound judgment when referring issues to higher organizational levels for review and consideration
• Ability to oversee multiple files simultaneously and efficiently within tight timeframes
• Demonstrated skills in conducting research and using analysis and critical thinking
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members

Additionally, Although Not Required, The Following Could Be Helpful

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience with sponsored programs and related systems such as RASS
• Knowledge of federal, state, and industry sponsors
• Understanding of applicable government regulations and university policies

About Us

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) oversees the administration of sponsored programs at Cornell University, including sponsored research, instruction, and extension. OSP is a part of Cornell Research & Innovation. Cornell Research & Innovation creates an environment that unifies and advances Cornell’s scholarship, research, and discovery through state-of-the-art facilities, domain expertise, and partnership to enable innovation and impact. We leverage external funding and partnerships, enable interdisciplinary research, and ensure regulatory compliance. We collaborate to successfully translate and commercialize research through large and small companies, including startups launched by our entrepreneurial faculty, staff, and students.

Rewards And Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with weekly work on campus expected. Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions, we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.
• Cornell’s impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.

University Job Title

Grant Contract Associate

Job Family

Administration

Level

E

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Range

$66,123.00 - $76,845.00

Remote Option Availability

Hybrid

Company

Endowed

Contact Name

Kathy McKee

Contact Email

[e-mail]

Non-Union Positions

Noted Pay Ranges Reflect The Potential Pay Opportunity For Each Job Profile. The Hiring Rate Of Pay For The Successful Candidate Will Be Determined Considering The Following Criteria

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

Current Employees

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EEO Statement

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of ... any person ... any study. No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.