OPEN RANK: SPA Contracts Administrator I or II - ORD Sponsored Programs Admin

University of Maryland, Baltimore; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland Baltimore's Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) is seeking a Contracts Administrator I or II to support investigators and departmental administrators through the life cycle of sponsored projects. The Contracts team ensures compliance with federal/state laws, university policies, and sponsor requirements, and serves as the liaison with sponsoring agencies.

The role involves reviewing awards, negotiating terms, and guiding submissions, with responsibilities

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or related field.
• 1–2 years of administrative experience in a business office setting or research administration.
• Knowledge of federal/state policies and NIH requirements is helpful.
• Experience with Kuali Research or data warehouses is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide basic technical guidance on contracts and submissions for compliance.
• Review awards for completeness and ensure compliance with policies.
• Negotiate basic terms with sponsors.
• Communicate with faculty, staff, and sponsors to finalize contracts.
• Identify issues in contract or application processes.
• Support post-award actions and cost-principle knowledge.
• Ensure closeout documents are complete and accurate.
• Suggest improvements to workflows and processes.

Skills

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Independent work

Policy interpretation

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or related field

Tools

Kuali Research

Data warehouse

Reporting tools

Job description

Job Description

The University of Maryland Baltimore's (UMB) Office of SponsoredProgram Administration (SPA) is looking for a ContractAdministrator at level I or II. SPA provides oversight andadministrative support to investigators and departmentaladministrators throughout the life cycle of sponsored projects. TheContracts team is responsible for reviewing and maintaining grantand contracts for compliance and consistency with federal and statelaws and regulations, University policies and practices, andresearch compliance restrictions and guidelines. These positionswork closely and collaboratively with department investigators andadministrators and are their liaisons with sponsoringagencies.

The level will be determined based on the selected candidate'seducation and experience.

Responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES - Contracts Administrator I

• Under the supervision of a Contracts Manager, provide basictechnical guidance to principal investigators and/or departmentadministrators on contracts and submissions for compliance withfederal and state laws
• Review awards related to contracts and agreements forcompleteness, accuracy, and ensure compliance with University andState policies, guidelines and practices, research compliancerestrictions and guidelines, financial and academic requirements,and sponsor policies and procedures
• Negotiate basic terms and conditions within contracts andagreements with sponsors.
• Analyze and problem solve to provide basic technical guidanceon agreements and submissions.
• Communicate directly with department staff, faculty, andinternal and external stakeholders to facilitate completion ofcontracts and agreements
• Identify and alert department of potential issues in thecontract or application process
• Provide basic knowledge of non-financial post award managementand actions. Apply basic knowledge of sponsor policies on costprinciples
• Ensure all closeout documents are complete and accurate
• Identify and suggest improvements/solutions of team's workflowand processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

PRIMARY DUTIES - Contracts Administrator II

• Under the supervision of a Contracts Manager, provide basic tointermediate technical guidance to principal investigators and/ordepartment administrators on contracts and submissions forcompliance with federal and state laws
• Review awards related to contracts and agreements forcompleteness, accuracy, and ensure compliance with University andState policies, guidelines and practices, research compliancerestrictions and guidelines, financial and academic requirements,and sponsor policies and procedures
• Negotiate basic to intermediate terms and conditions withincontracts and agreements with sponsors
• Communicate directly with department staff, faculty, andinternal and external stakeholders to facilitate completion ofcontracts and agreements
• Using analytical and problem-solving skills to provide basictechnical guidance on contracts, agreements and submissions
• Identify and alert department of potential issues in thecontract or application process. Evaluate processes to determinetrends to improve routing of contracts and agreements
• Provide basic troubleshooting and problem solving to identifyanswers and solutions to common issues on contracts, agreements andsubmissions
• Provide basic to intermediate knowledge of non-financialpost-award actions. Apply basic to intermediate knowledge ofsponsor policies on cost principles
• Review and submit all closeout documents ensuring completionand accuracy
• Identify and suggest improvements/solutions to teamwork flowand processes
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance,or other discipline appropriate to the position.

Experience: 1-2 years of administrative experience within abusiness office setting or administrative experience in the area ofresearch administration or sponsored programs; Contracts I (1 year)and Contracts II (2 years).

Other: Financial disclosure reporting required by State of MarylandEthics Committee.

May consider combination of directly related experience andeducation.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Experience working in Kuali Research, data warehouse, andreporting tools is helpful.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance and ability to interpret andapply US Federal Agency policies to grant applications and awardsis helpful. Knowledge of applicable NIH requirements, regulations,and laws is helpful.
• Skill in effective use of applicable technology/systems. Ability to effectively communicate both verbal and writtenthoughts, ideas, and facts. Ability to work cooperatively withothers and independently.

About Us

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Maryland’s publichealth, law, and human services university. Six professionalschools and the interdisciplinary Graduate School confer themajority of health care, human services, and law professionaldegrees in Maryland each year.

Our goal is to support the University’s mission of education,research, clinical care, and public service by amplifying UMB’svoice as a thought and action leader, and to enhance goodwill inthe communities and people with whom we engage. UMB is a publicuniversity and constituent institution of the University System ofMaryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physicallywithin the State of Maryland.

UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforceand is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. Allqualified applicants will receive consideration for employmentwithout regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or nationalorigin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation,gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical ormental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, orany other legally protected classification.

If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for adisability under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), duringany part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request. Youmay also contact [e-mail]. Please note that onlyinquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodationwill be responded to from this email address.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discriminationin any education program or activity that it operates. Individualsmay report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read the UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination for moreinformation.

UMB is a public university and constituent institution of theUniversity System of Maryland. All employees are expected to workprimarily physically within the State of Maryland. Regular and contractual employee are eligible for acomprehensive benefits package

About the Team

The Office of Research and Development (ORD) is the chiefadministrative unit and catalyst for advancing research andeconomic development at UMB. In addition to managing researchadministration and intellectual property protection and licensing,ORD fosters new research and clinical initiatives with federal andlocal sponsors. ORD also manages the University of MarylandBioPark, a 14-acre commercial research park, which providesprivate-sector life science and technology companies with space onUMB’s campus.