Pre-Award Grants & Contracts Specialist

Universities of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 67,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a Grants Contracts Negotiator to support proposal development, budgeting, and agreement negotiation for pre-award activities. You will help ensure timely, compliant submissions and oversee pre-award operations, establishing workflows for tracking proposals to grow the research portfolio.

The role involves creating budgets, reviewing agreements, and potentially supervising research administration staff, with emphasis on regulatory compliance and

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of experience in contract negotiation, research administration, sponsored programs, grants and contracts administration, or a related field.
• Experience reviewing, negotiating, and administering research-related agreements, including sponsored research agreements, subawards, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, material transfer agreements, and other research contracts.
• Experience interpreting and applying contractual terms and conditions, sponsor requirements, federal regulations, and institutional policies.
• Knowledge of applicable regulations governing sponsored research and research agreements, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), CFR, FAR, research security requirements, export controls, cybersecurity, IP, and data management.
• Experience supporting agreements funded by federal sponsors, including NSF, NIH, DOE, and DOD, and/or industry sponsors.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze contractual risk and negotiate terms aligned with policies and objectives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain complex requirements to diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• May be responsible for new account setup.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates pre-award research administration operational policies and procedures including financial, administrative, staffing, and compliance.
• Serves as a key resource to leadership and staff in the unit as well as a liaison to partners and stakeholders.
• Works with researchers and prepares budgets, proposal submissions, agreements, or other agreements for sponsor consideration.
• May review and negotiate agreements on behalf of the unit.
• May supervise activities of research administration staff.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Research administration

Sponsored programs administration

Regulatory knowledge

Contractual risk analysis

Written and verbal communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, research administration, public administration, law, life sciences, finance, or a related field

Tools

RAMP

Cayuse

Research.gov

Grants.gov

eRA Commons

Job description

University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a Grants Contracts Negotiator to support proposal development, budgeting, and agreement negotiation for pre-award activities. You will help ensure timely, compliant submissions and oversee pre-award operations, establishing workflows for tracking proposals to grow the research portfolio.

The role involves creating budgets, reviewing agreements, and potentially supervising research administration staff, with emphasis on regulatory compliance and