Senior Grants and Contracts, School of Public Health

WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Grants & Contracts Specialist provides comprehensive pre-award and post-award management support for research grants and contracts across assigned Principal Investigator (PI) portfolios. This role involves supporting all phases of the grant lifecycle, from funding identification and proposal preparation to budget monitoring, compliance, and reporting, ensuring alignment with institutional and sponsor requirements. The specialist acts as a liaison between PIs, Sponsored Program Administration (SPA), and other central administrative units, delivering expert guidance on grant policies, budgetary compliance, and financial reporting.

BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Required

• Education
  Bachelor's Degree In business administration, public administration, or related field

• Experience
  4 years Experience in business or public administration with emphasis on customer service in financial or contracting position and
  Applicants without the stated degree, but with significant additional professional applicable experience may be considered in lieu of education requirement.

Preferred

• Licenses and Certifications
  (CRA) CERT RETINAL ANGIOGRAPHER Upon Hire

JOB DUTIES

• Gathers and provides information regarding funding opportunities and application procedures to applicants by reading newsletters and announcements, search directories, funding files, and other relevant resources.
• Provides guidance to researchers for proposal development and submission by interpreting and ensuring adherence to sponsor and university announcements and guidelines.
• Provides grants management support to researchers by negotiating and processing awards, interpreting award conditions, obtaining approvals for award modifications, and completing required reports.
• Negotiates contracts with various agencies (state and federal government, private organizations), pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnological companies to achieve agreements satisfactory to all parties.
• May draft entire contracts of various types following state laws and Board of Regents' guidelines.
• Provides working supervision to Grants and Contracts Specialist and administrative positions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Duties:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & FUNCTIONS

• Proposal Development and Pre-Award Support (30%) Research and communicate funding opportunities, reviewing relevant resources such as newsletters, announcements, and funding directories. Guide PIs in proposal preparation, ensuring adherence to sponsor and university guidelines, and assist in developing budgets, budget justifications, and supporting documents. Coordinate with PIs and university stakeholders to secure necessary approvals for submissions and prepare applications with accuracy and compliance.
• Post-Award Financial and Project Management (30%) Manage grant accounts and oversee budget allocations, tracking expenditures, processing amendments, and generating financial forecasts. Ensure compliance with sponsor and institutional policies by reviewing and approving project-related expenses, including invoices and travel reports. Process non-competing continuations, progress reports, supplements, and amendments to maintain active project funding and compliance.
• Contract Negotiation and Award Management (20%) Negotiate and interpret terms for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements with various agencies, including state and federal entities, private organizations, and industry partners. Provide support in contract administration and budget compliance, ensuring terms align with sponsor and institutional guidelines. Facilitate approvals for award modifications and complete necessary reporting to maintain compliance throughout the grant lifecycle.
• Compliance, Reporting, and Collaboration (20%) Maintain in-depth knowledge of sponsor terms, university policies, and federal regulations, including OMB Uniform Guidance, ensuring all projects meet compliance standards. Collaborate with SPA pre-award, post-award, and compliance teams, along with Accounts Receivable and Financial Analysis units, to address invoicing and outstanding payments. Prepare summary reports, maintain accurate grant records, and assist with audits or other compliance reviews as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

* Manages and prioritizes multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.

* Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing.

* Possesses strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, effectively prioritizing complex projects in a deadline-driven environment.

* Contributes a positive, solution-oriented attitude to foster a collaborative and supportive work environment.

* Exhibits strong interpersonal skills, showing a commitment to teamwork, open communication, and mutual support within the department.

* Demonstrates proficiency in grant management software and financial systems (e.g., eRA Commons, PeopleSoft).

SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

EEO Statement
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.

UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare - no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!