All required qualifications must be included in the application materials
Required Qualifications:
- BA/BS plus at least two years of professional experience performing scientific, administrative, budgetary or grant duties or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least six years (4 years for the bachelor’s degree plus 2 years of work or education).
- Demonstrated ability to simultaneously work on multiple projects with regularly occurring, fixed deadlines and ability to re-prioritize tasks as needed to meet all deadlines
- Effective team member skills and the ability to effectively interface with all levels of the organization (students, staff, faculty, stakeholders and central administration).
- Demonstrated effective problem identification and problem solving skills.
- Capable of accepting responsibility with a high level of independent initiative, proactivity, and creativity.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently with a high level of accountability, follow-through, and internal drive.
- Effective organizational skills are required to juggle multiple multi-year awards that may have periods of increased activity.
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel) and similar Google tools
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in higher education institution
- Experience working with post-award management, budget, and contract preparation as well as experience with NIH award management, business and industry award management or clinical trial management.
- Experience with electronic systems such as eRA commons, other grant management systems (e.g. MN-GEMS), sponsor grant databases (e.g. NIH RePORTER), or University of Minnesota financial systems
- Demonstrated willingness to learn and grow professionally
- Project management experience
About the Job
This hybrid remote/in-person position provides grant and research support to faculty in the Department of Surgery and reports to the Surgery Grants & Contracts Manager.
The Grants/Contracts Professional 2 will be part of the Surgery Grants & Contracts (SGC) team to manage research grants and contracts following award. This individual will work closely with the other members of SGC, our finance team, and faculty and their teams manage and facilitate grant activities throughout the award lifecycle. See details about grant activities below under Responsibilities. They will offer guidance and expertise on budgeting, compliance, electronic data and file management, and reporting. They will also have an active role in coordinating funded projects by drafting sponsor prior approval letters, preparing subaward documents for SPA, helping to track budgets, and assisting with vendor agreements and other research-related contracts. The frequency of these activities vary across a diverse grant portfolio and across the lifecycle of the award. Many of the awards are multi-year and require organized, detailed tracking to ensure deadlines are met.
Responsibilities
Award Management, 80% effort
- Manage multiple multi-year awards from process notification to closeout.
Responsibilities include: responding to sponsor requests, understanding budget limitations, identifying solutions to sponsor's restrictions, preparing budget and administrative portions of the proposal/progress reports, obtaining subaward documentation, liaising with departmental and collegiate administration and SPA throughout life of the award, preparing other support documents for Department of Surgery faculty, working with the department finance team to manage prime and subaward budgets, and following up with stakeholders, as necessary.
- Understand and communicate sponsor and University policies regarding PI/staff eligibility, cost sharing, F&A sharing, sponsor restrictions, and award terms, and monitor research compliance requirements.
- Track status of submitted applications.
- Work with Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) office on setting up outgoing and incoming subawards and research agreements.
- Manage the completion and submission of progress reports, carry forward, no cost extension, and other prior approval requests.
- Develop budgets for annual grant renewals and requests to carry-forward unobligated balances.
- Work with other departments and institutions on collaborative awards.
- Maintain NIH Other Support documents.
- Assist with new departmental research initiatives as they are developed.
- Manage UFRA submissions, including the processing of Material Transfer Agreements, and with the Privacy Office on Confidentiality and Data-Use Agreements, and other unfunded collaborative research agreements.
- Monitor and review subaward invoicing.
- Liaise and communicate effectively with stakeholders in the grant process, including faculty, researchers, SPA, sponsors, finance teams, internal and external collaborators, and team members.
Development and Planning, 10% effort
- Participate in weekly SGC team planning meetings regarding current issues, policy updates, workload, processes, future tool development, etc.
- Work with SGC team to develop and maintain a library of standard application, award, or management components.
- Provide feedback on templates/job aids and additional guidance for new and experienced PIs thereby making processes more efficient and documents more thorough and accurate
- Continue professional development by attending relevant courses, workshops, seminars, professional society meetings and other training opportunities.
Compliance and Research Project Management, 10% effort
- Ensure that research personnel are compliant with all UMN, state and federal regulations. Continually update records and assist with identifying needed trainings of supported faculty.
- Ensure compliance with University research policies and procedures in all tasks.
Committed to innovation and diversity, the Medical School educates physicians, scientists, and health professionals; generates knowledge and treatments; and cares for patients and communities with compassion and respect. We value excellence, inclusiveness, collaboration, and discovery.
To learn more about the Department of Surgery, please visit https://med.umn.edu/surgery
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.
Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail [email protected] or call (612) 624-8647.
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.
