Grants And Contracts Specialist II

The University of Texas at Arlington; Arlington (TX); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Arlington seeks a Grant and Contract Specialist II to provide intermediate pre-award support for sponsored research proposals. You will review opportunities, develop budgets and justifications, coordinate multi-investigator submissions, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional requirements.

You will train and advise faculty and staff on proposal development and sponsor guidelines, maintain accurate records, and support timely submissions using

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of related experience in sponsored programs, research administration, grants administration, grants accounting, or a related field; OR six (6) years of an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide intermediate pre-award support for sponsored project proposals and submission.
• Review funding opportunity announcements and develop budgets, budget justifications, subrecipient documentation, and administrative components; ensure compliance and submit proposals through sponsor systems.
• Coordinate complex, multi-investigator proposal submissions; establish timelines and monitor progress to ensure timely submission.
• Identify, evaluate, and coordinate resolution of compliance, regulatory, and institutional requirements for sponsored projects.
• Serve as a resource to faculty, staff, and students on sponsored project administration and sponsor requirements; develop and deliver training.

Skills

Sponsored programs

Budget development

Regulatory compliance

Proposal submission

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Grants.gov

Research.gov

ASSIST

ProposalCentral

Job description

Purpose of Position

The Grant and Contract Specialist II provides intermediate-level pre-award research administration support to faculty, staff, and students. The position reviews and coordinates grant and contract proposals, develops budgets and supporting documents, confirms institutional and sponsor compliance, and submits complete and accurate applications. Working under the general direction of senior PreAward staff or the PreAward Director, the position supports timely, compliant proposal submissions and advances the University’s sponsored research activities.

Essential Functions

• Provides comprehensive pre-award support for sponsored project proposals.
• Reviews funding opportunity announcements; develops and reviews proposal budgets, budget justifications, subrecipient documentation, and administrative proposal components; ensures compliance with sponsor and university requirements; and submits complete and accurate proposals through sponsor electronic research administration systems.

Complex Proposal Coordination and Project Management.

• Coordinates complex, multi-investigator, and multidisciplinary proposal submissions.
• Establishes proposal timelines, monitors progress, coordinates internal and external stakeholders, tracks deliverables, and manages competing deadlines to ensure timely and compliant submission of proposals.

Compliance Review and Risk Assessment

• Identifies, evaluates, and coordinates resolution of compliance, regulatory, and institutional requirements associated with sponsored projects.
• Reviews proposals for issues related to research security, conflict of interest, foreign involvement, export controls, cost sharing, facilities use, human subjects, animal subjects, and other compliance considerations.
• Secures required approvals and escalates issues as appropriate.

Faculty Consultation, Training, and Customer Support

• Serves as a resource to faculty, staff, and students on sponsored project administration, proposal preparation, sponsor requirements, and university policies and procedures.
• Interprets federal and state regulations, sponsor guidelines, and institutional requirements and provides guidance to ensure compliant proposal development and submission.
• Develops and delivers training and educational resources related to pre-award research administration.

Proposal Tracking, Documentation, and Records Management

• Maintains accurate, complete, and timely proposal records in shared filing and university research administration systems.
• Verifies the accuracy, consistency and completeness of proposal data, approvals, budgets, compliance information, and submission records.
• Ensures documentation is complete and audit-ready and supports institutional reporting, workload management, proposal tracking, and research performance metrics.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of related experience in sponsored programs, research administration, grants administration, grants accounting, or a related experience; OR six (6) years of an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA), or other relevant research administration certification.
• Experience in sponsored programs or research administration within the central office of a college, university, or a research institution.
• Experience developing and reviewing sponsored project budgets and budget justifications.
• Experience interpreting and applying federal regulations, state regulations, sponsor guidelines, and institutional policies related to sponsored projects.
• Experience preparing and submitting proposals through electronic research administration systems such as Grants.gov, Research.gov, ASSIST, ProposalCentral, or similar sponsor submission platforms.
• Experience coordinating complex or multi-investigator proposal submissions.
• Experience using electronic research administration systems.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations, sponsor guidelines, and institutional policies governing sponsored programs.
• Knowledge of proposal development, budget preparation, budget justification development, and proposal submission processes.
• Skill in interpreting funding opportunity announcements, sponsor requirements, regulations, and institutional policies. \\
• Skill in reviewing proposal documents and identifying compliance, budgetary, and administrative issues requiring resolution prior to submission.
• Skill in managing multiple projects, competing priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Skill in analyzing information, exercising sound judgment, and solving complex administrative problems.
• Skill in communicating effectively with faculty, staff, students, sponsors, and institutional stakeholders.
• Skill in delivering training and providing consultation on sponsored project administration matters.
• Skill in maintaining accurate and complete records and ensuring data integrity within electronic research administration systems.
• Ability to work independently while exercising professional judgment and discretion.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and complete assignments with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.

Work Schedule

• Monday through Friday; 8:00am through 5:00pm.
• Hybrid work environment (remote & office).

Additional Information

• Applicants must include in their online resume the following information:
• Employment history: name of company, period employed (from month/year to month/year), job title, summary of job duties.
• Education: school name, degree type, and major.

Benefits Information

Position is benefit eligible: Yes

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to our employees at the University.

https://www.uta.edu/hr/employee-benefits