Grants & Agreements Specialist

Portland State University; Portland (OR); Híbrido; USD 58.000 - 71.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Flexible scheduling

Remote work option (up to 1 day/week)

Healthcare benefits

Tuition benefits

Descripción de la vacante

Portland State University is seeking a Grants & Agreements Specialist in the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration. The role focuses on review, negotiation, and stewardship of sponsored project agreements, including subawards, with authority as an AOR and Institutional Signing Official.

The position supports a large portfolio of federal and non-federal awards, offering flexible scheduling and potential limited remote work in line with university policy.

Formación

• Bachelor's degree and 2–4 years of related professional experience; Master’s or other advanced degree may substitute for part of experience.
• Experience in sponsored projects administration or roles involving review, negotiation, administration of sponsored awards.
• Ability to organize workload priorities, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills for explaining sponsor requirements and policies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word; ability to learn research administration systems.

Responsabilidades

• Review, negotiate, and accept sponsored awards and research agreements.
• Draft and issue subaward agreements and ensure compliance with sponsor terms.
• Interpret sponsor requirements, regulations, and institutional policies.
• Apply knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), FAR, and related research administration principles.

Conocimientos

Organization & prioritization

Interpersonal communication

Independent judgment

Collaboration across units

Technical writing/interpretation

MS Office (Excel/Word)

Educación

Bachelor's degree

Herramientas

Kuali Research

Banner Finance

OnBase

Descripción del empleo

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Portland State University

Position Summary

The Grants & Agreements Specialist is a professional staff member in the office of Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA), the centralized administrative unit at Portland State University (PSU) responsible for University-wide administration of external funding received by the University in the form of grants and agreements for research and other scholarly activity. SPA staff provide expertise and professional support to faculty and staff throughout the sponsored projects lifecycle.

The Grants & Agreements Specialist utilizes specialized knowledge and exercises discretion and independent judgment to perform work directly related to the review, negotiation, acceptance, and stewardship of sponsored project agreements at PSU, having a large, diverse, and complex portfolio of federal and non-federal sponsored projects. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing, negotiating, and accepting sponsored awards and research agreements to ensure the terms and conditions accepted can be met by the University. The Grants & Agreements Specialist is also responsible for the drafting, issuing and executing subaward agreements related to PSU sponsored projects and for documenting non-standard terms, award management requirements, and funding attributes as well as the proper documentation of non-standard terms, award management requirements, funding attributes, and other relevant award information necessary to support institutional stewardship, compliance, financial management, and effective award administration.

The Grants & Agreements Specialist serves as an authorized Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) and Institutional Signing Official for sponsored projects, authorized to execute sponsor-required certifications, assurances, representations, and other institutional approvals related to sponsored projects. In accordance with PSU’s Delegated Signature Authority Policy, the incumbent also has delegated authority to execute sponsored project agreements and other authorized documents that legally bind the University to financial and administrative commitments.

This position is based at Portland State University’s vibrant urban campus in downtown Portland, where you’ll be part of a welcoming and collaborative community. We offer flexible scheduling options and, when operational needs allow, the possibility of limited remote work (typically up to one day per week) under an approved remote work agreement in line with University policy.

In accordance with the AAUP collective bargaining agreement this position is open only to current PSU AAUP academic professionals. Article 17 Section 11 refers.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and two (2) to four (4) years of related professional experience; a Master’s or other advanced degree in a related or relevant field may substitute for a portion of the required experience. Related experience includes professional experience in sponsored projects administration or other positions involving the review, interpretation, negotiation, administration, or management of sponsored awards, research agreements, contracts, cooperative agreements, subawards, or related research administration functions.

• Ability to organize workload priorities, manage multiple projects simultaneously, adapt to changing priorities, respond effectively to unexpected demands, and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships across organizational units and with individuals at all levels of the University, including faculty, departmental administrators, academic leadership, and central administrative offices.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and demonstrate problem-solving and decision-making; anticipate the consequences of decisions, proactively resolve issues, and recommend practical, well-reasoned solutions.
• Demonstrated written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to interpret, explain, negotiate, and advise other regarding complex regulations, sponsor requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated skills with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word, and the ability to learn and effectively utilize research administration and other enterprise information systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing responsive, professional, and solutional-oriented service to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to accurately interpret, analyze, and document complex sponsor requirements, agreement terms and conditions, and award information to support institutional stewardship, compliance, and effective award administration.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in a related field with one (1) or more years of related professional experience.

Direct experience in sponsored projects administration, research administration, contract administration, or a similar professional role involving:

• Reviewing, interpreting, negotiating, and accepting sponsored awards and research agreements.
• Drafting and issuing outgoing subaward agreements.
• Interpreting and applying sponsor requirements, federal and state regulations, and institutional policies.
• Applying knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), sponsor policies, and research administration principles and practices.

Experience working in an institution of higher education or other research organization.

Experience using electronic research administration, financial management, and document management systems, such as Kuali Research, Banner Finance, OnBase, or similar enterprise systems.

Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or other relevant professional certification preferred.

Key Cultural Competencies

• Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental Stewardship

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Work Days/Hours

Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week, Schedule to be determined

Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement

Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.

The starting annual salary for this position will be $64,584, but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.

• 95% premium paid healthcare
• a generous retirement and vacation package
• reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools

Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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