Contract & Grant Officer

The Contract & Grant Officer is a technical leader who shares knowledge and provides advanced level advice and guidance to UCLA faculty and staff including complex concepts in proposal development and award management. The Officer authorizes and oversees the submission of proposals and negotiates, accepts, and executes complex agreements from government and non-profit sponsors. Manages a portfolio of non-routine research, public service and training projects supported by government (federal, state, county, city, international), and domestic and international non-profit entities (foundations and charitable organizations). While delivering excellent customer service, primary responsibilities include but are not limited to: 1) guide and advise faculty researchers and campus staff regarding the development of complex proposals and sound stewardship of sponsored project funds in accordance with University and Sponsor Policy; 2) identify, analyze and communicate complex terms and conditions as well as policies and procedures in a helpful and professional manner; 3) analyze a broad range of multiple factors to negotiate and manage complex research contracts and grants, incoming and outgoing subawards, clinical trial contracts and grants, and multi-party agreements; 4) participate in the development of large scale complex projects; 5) verify compliance approvals from campus compliance committees.
This position has institutional signature authority as delegated by the Regents of the University of California, at thresholds implemented through operational policies, and is authorized to sign and review transactions for junior staff.
Based on the organizational structure of OCGA there are three main areas of responsibilities. This position will have primary focus of responsibilities in one of the following areas assigned:
Contract & Grants. The team responsible for negotiation and management of contract and grant proposals, awards and non-financial post-award activities.
Outgoing Subawards. The team responsible for drafting, negotiating, executing and maintaining third party agreements where UCLA is the prime awardee. Including non-financial post-award activities.
Proposal & Award Intake Team. The team responsible for receipt, recording, review, assignment, tracking and communications (internal and external) related to all proposals and awards.
OCGA is a part of the Office of Research Administration (ORA), the central institutional department that is responsible for campus-wide research administration and compliance functions related to pre- and post-award and financial management of sponsored activities; human research regulatory review and compliance; research administration data management and stewardship; and campus-wide research administration systems that support ORA operations. Within ORA, OCGA manages $1.6 billion in contract and grant awards and more than $5 billion in funding requests per year. Under delegated authority from the Regents of the University of California, the Office of the President, and the UCLA Chancellor, OCGA has institutional authority to solicit, accept, and execute research agreements and related documents for government and non-profit sponsored project activities. OCGA serves as the institutional point of contact for funding agency representatives and relevant regulatory officials. OCGA has primary responsibility for the interpretation of University-wide and campus policy, sponsor guidelines, and applicable federal and state laws and regulations related to sponsored activities.
Percentage of Time:
100
Shift Start:
8:00 am
Shift End:
5:00 pm
Qualifications for Position
14
Records
Qualifications
Required/Preferred
1. High degree of knowledge of federal, state and local regulations, university policies and procedures, sponsor guidelines and terminology pertaining to extramural research in the context of a large institution of higher education with a teaching hospital. Understanding of Federal Uniform Guidance, funding agency policy and procedure, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and agency supplemental clauses.
Required
2. Advanced working knowledge and proven capability to identify and resolve complex grant and contract issues related to federal, international, city, county, state, and non-profit agreements.
Required
3. Substantive experience in contributing to and supporting group meetings and internal/external work groups. Support team members through periods of change in personnel, business processes, procedures, and policies and actively seek opportunities to promote positive outcomes.
Required
4. Advanced skill and demonstrated experience to independently negotiate complex sponsor project agreements with the understanding of the consequences of acceptance or denial; identify key issues and propose alternative language that is acceptable to all parties; analyze terms and conditions and assess risk, while protecting the high priority interests of the University.
Required
5. Strong computer skills and proven ability to use a variety of computer applications supporting campus administrative processes, including the most current version of the Microsoft Suite software and electronic research administration systems.
Required
6. Proven interpersonal skills to deliver effective, helpful, cooperative, professional research administration expertise to all levels of faculty, staff and external sponsor entities. Develop and maintain positive and effective interactions, demonstrating respect for the views of others. Treat others with dignity and foster the value of diversity and inclusion. Demonstrate tact and diplomacy in all interactions.
Required
7. Demonstrate the ability to act as a positive role model of enthusiasm, constructive problem solving, commitment and loyalty to the profession and the organization.
Required
8. Advanced written and oral skills to compose and deliver documents and communications that clearly convey advanced concepts and procedures to individuals at various knowledge levels.
Required
9. Advanced problem-solving skills to identify issues in procedures and business processes, isolate root cause of the problem, and provide possible solutions.
Required
10. Demonstrated experience to deliver high quality customer service to a diverse group of colleagues both within the organization and in the campus research community with a particular focus on: customer needs, negotiating mutually beneficial workflow and communication toward a common goal, establishing service expectations, and delivering accurate and complete suite of services.
Required
11. Independently prioritize work and determine need for escalation to senior leadership.
Required
12. Independently manage and prioritize a diverse portfolio of proposals and awards using worklist reports to meet fixed sponsored deadlines.
Required
13. As a technical leader with advanced training skills, effectively deliver on-going training and guidance in research administration concepts to junior staff to continually develop advanced skills and assist team members to navigate processes, procedures and policies to meet operational standards.
Required
14. Bachelor's degree preferred with generally 12 or more years' experience in research administration or a related field with equivalent transferrable skills/knowledge.
Required
Additional Posting Information
Bargaining Unit:
99-Policy Covered
Application Deadline:
03-25-2024
External Posting Date: