Grants and Contracts Specialist, Applied Health Sciences

Laseagrant; Urbana (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is seeking a Grants and Contracts Specialist for the College of Applied Health Sciences. The role supports faculty with external funding proposals, budgets, and sponsor compliance, collaborating with SPA and LAS units to ensure timely, accurate submissions.

This 100% full-time Civil Service position (5040 - Grants and Contracts Associate) is based on the Urbana campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, economics or related field.
• Experience in administrative support for research, grants, or similar activities.

Responsibilities

• Pre-Award: review sponsor guidelines, develop submission plans, coordinate documents, and maintain records.
• Post-Award: assist with financial management, rebudgets, and SPA liaison for grant setup and close-out.
• Training: stay current with SPaRC policies and maintain CRA designation.
• Maintain complete award documents and post-award records in repositories.

Skills

Sponsored research administration

Budget development & interpretation

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration / related field

Tools

Banner

myResearch Portal

EDDIE

Agency proposal systems

Job description

Grants and Contracts Specialist, Applied Health Sciences

Grants and Contracts Specialist

College of Applied Health Sciences

Job Summary

This Grants and Contracts Specialist provides research administration support for the College of Applied Health Sciences (AHS), serving as a key partner to faculty and research teams in the development and submission of competitive external funding proposals. Responsibilities include interpreting sponsor guidelines, developing proposal budgets and submission plans, coordinating proposal materials, and ensuring compliance with sponsor and university requirements. The position also collaborates with designated units in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) to provide targeted proposal support during periods of peak activity and for selected proposal programs.

Duties & Responsibilities

Pre-Award

• Carefully review all relevant sponsor statements and announcements regarding proposal submissions to ensure adherence to sponsor guidelines and procedures; interpret funding announcements and submission instructions.
• Develop proposal submission plans and timelines for faculty.
• Act as a liaison between faculty PIs, co-PIS, investigators, collaborators, and subaward institutions to gather and develop required proposal documents and information for submission.
• Coordinate proposal submissions to the sponsor with Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA)
• Act as a liaison between the investigator and sponsor contacts as it pertains to instructions for submitting proposal (non-scientific inquiries only)
• Development of the budget and budget justification for grant proposal submissions in consultation with PI
• Complete online proposal forms and upload all proposal documents to federal sponsor agencies or assist in the finalization of submissions for faculty to upload for non-federal submissions.
• Maintain records of complete grant submissions in electronic repositories.

Post-Award Financial Management

• Assist faculty/PIs with the management of their funded research programs, including preparing financial information and rebudgets. Review and approve use of grant funds for expenses such as employee appointments, purchases, and travel reimbursements. Review expenditures to awarded budget to ensure allowability. Take appropriate action to move unallowable/questionable charges to an appropriate funding source.
• Liaison with Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) with regard to grant fund setup, management, budgets, billing, multi-year grant needs, and close-out activities. Request and monitor anticipation accounts, subaward agreements, no-cost extensions, and other contract extensions as necessary. Assist with the completion of sponsored project close-out reviews and work with SPA to ensure completed projects are closed in a timely manner.
• Assist PIs with the semi-annual expenditure confirmation process to obtain certifications on time.
• Maintain complete award documents and post award work in electronic repositories.
• Other duties related to post-award as assigned.

Training

• Remain current with university and sponsoring agency policies, regulations, and procedures and ensure compliance by attending various meetings and trainings offered by Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance (SPaRC) and the University/campus Office of Business and Financial Services. Maintain active Illinois Certified Research Administration (CRA) designation once certified.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, economics or a field related to the position
• Demonstrated experience in administrative support related to research, grants, and/or similar activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in higher education administration.
• Experience supporting the development and submission of grant and contract proposals to federal agencies, foundations, and other external sponsors.
• Experience with pre-award and post-award management. Experience developing proposal budgets and budget justifications and interpreting sponsor guidelines and submission requirements.
• Illinois Certified Research Administration designation.
• Experience using enterprise financial, reporting, and research administration systems, including Banner, myResearch Portal, EDDIE, and agency proposal submission systems, or comparable systems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of sponsored research administration principles and applicable sponsor, university, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to interpret funding announcements, proposal guidelines, and submission requirements and communicate them effectively to faculty and staff.
• Ability to do detailed work, organize, prioritize tasks, manage competing deadlines, problem solve, and multi-task in a high-volume time-sensitive environment while maintaining accuracy.
• Exceptional professional service skills including; discretion in professional judgment, maintain confidentiality, and communicate effectively with others.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision, while contributing effectively as part of a collaborative team.
• Excellent customer service, interpersonal, and computer skills.
• Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Outlook.
• Self-motivated with a high degree of personal initiative.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5040 - Grants and Contracts Associate position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 10/12/2026. The previously determined salary range for this position is $55,000 - $65,000. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints.

This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

This position will be in-person at the Urbana campus.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx .

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits . This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal , or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [e-mail] .

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Champaign-Urbana

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - the state’s flagship public university and one of the world’s leading research institutions - every staff member helps shape what’s next. Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you’re empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence - where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.