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Assistant Director - Grants, Contracts, & Agreements
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Position Number: 5045177
Location: El Paso, TX
Position Type: Sponsored Programs, Grants, and Contracts

Assistant Director - Grants, Contracts, & Agreements

Job ID: 11425
Location: El Paso, TX
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: $RegTemp

About UTEP

UTEP is a comprehensive public research university that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve.

The University of Texas at El Paso is America's leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 24,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 172 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.

Position Information

Hiring Department: Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

Posting End Date: Open until filled. This posting may close once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

Hours: 40 hours per week, standard Monday- Friday 8:00am- 5:00pm, flexibility is occasionally required on evenings and weekends

FLSA status: Exempt

Earliest Start Date: As soon as possible.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Required Application Materials:

Resume
Cover Letter
List of three references

The primary accountabilities are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or some of the primary accountabilities listed. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented in the incumbents' performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents' immediate supervisor or manager. This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. A valid driver's license issued by the State where the applicant resides and insurability as defined in UTS 157 may be required to perform the position's essential functions.

Purpose of Position

The primary purpose of this position is to efficiently and timely review, negotiate and resolve contract terms and other related contract administration issues primarily with Federal agencies involving research agreements processed by the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP).

Essential Functions

Oversees the development, implementation, and monitoring of policies and procedures, related to all levels of contract review for research agreements of all levels of complexity processed by the University sponsored project award administration group.

Acts as liaison between principal investigators, research sponsors, and various university offices and committees, ensures that all sponsored agreements and awards are processed in a timely and effective manner, are accurately documented, and negotiated non-standard terms and conditions of awards, grants, and contracts with government or private contract officers are communicated to relevant personnel.

With minimal oversight, efficiently and timely administers sponsored agreements (grants and cooperative agreements under 2 CFR Part 200, contracts under 48 CFR Parts 1-53, common law of contracts and Uniform Commercial Code Article 2 contracts, non-sponsored agreements (master agreements, task order agreements, collaborative research agreements, nondisclosure agreements, data access/use/sharing agreements), subawards (subawards and subcontracts), procurement actions (contracts for services, purchase orders, equipment loans/donations/disbursements), and certain other agreements (intellectual property license agreements, releases of liability, surplus//excess property disposition agreements, clinical trial agreements) (all, collectively, "Sponsored Project Agreements"):

Prepares, reviews, and negotiates terms and conditions with Federal, State, local government, university, for-profit, non-profit, foundations, and foreign entities.
Collaborates with UTEP's Department of Legal Affairs to ensure legal terms and conditions do not violate applicable laws, regulations and policies.
Coordinates with all academic and non-academic departments to discuss terms and conditions and ensure post-award compliance with accepted terms and conditions.
Compile, maintain, track and disseminate status information and other research administration data, and act as a liaison with internal/external contacts. Ensure the award requirements are accurately documented and communicated to relevant personnel.
Prepares clauses, reports, agreements, training materials, tools, checklists, and other documentation or correspondence required to administer research agreements. Assist with review of documents/spreadsheets/data for accuracy and compliance with relevant regulations.
Documents legal terms and conditions into department software in a manner that is understandable to University faculty and staff.
Flows down applicable terms and conditions from the University's prime awards to other applicable agreements.
Review/negotiate terms for DOD, Federal, State, and other contracts/subcontracts/agreements at all levels of complexity. Acquire and maintain knowledge of FAR/DFARS, Uniform Guidance and other federal regulations to support ORSP functions.
Work with research staff to develop, compile, and process proposals through the university to meet government/sponsor guidelines and timeframes. Assist in development and maintenance of ORSP staff training materials.
Acts as liaison between department and internal or external customers.
Participates in various committees, professional training, industry conferences, and conventions.
Knowledge of all Microsoft Office software and able to learn and use institutional software systems.
Act as Liaison between ORSP and UTEP's Office of Legal Affairs.
Understands department's role in accomplishing the University's mission.
Compiles and submits reports as required by management, state, and local and federal regulatory agencies.
Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's objectives, policies, and applicable laws.
Other related functions or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree in Business or Public Administration, Social Sciences, or a technical/scientific field

and

Experience: Three (3) years' experience in contracts, agreement development, and the negotiation of contract terms/conditions.

Applicants Should Demonstrate:

Understanding of contract law, federal and state regulations.

Ability to exercise sound decision making and problem-solving skills during proposal preparation, contract negotiation, and award administration.

Experience in the preparation, processing, and submission of research proposals to a variety of sponsoring organizations.

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills.

Ability to interact tactfully and professionally with a diverse group of people stressful and time sensitive conditions, to be supervised, and to work independently as well as part of a team.

High level of proficiency in use of spreadsheet and word processing applications (including MS Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat Pro).

Ability for accuracy, attention to detail, and ability to follow established guidelines and office protocol are critical.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with federally-funded research grants and contracts.

Juris Doctor degree.

Supervisory experience.

Excellent professional/business writing skills.

Experience with federal acquisitions/contracting.

Familiarity with Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS), and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200). Veterans with experience in MOS 51C, Navy 310x, AFSC 6C, or AFSC 6F.

Related experience is experience in the following areas: research administration, regulatory policy and policy formulation, contract negotiation, and grant budgets.

Additional Information

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must frequently stand and walk. The employee must regularly sit; use hands to feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must lift and move up to 25 pounds.

The noise level for this work environment is usually moderate.

In keeping with its access, excellence and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu.

To apply, visit https://zahr-prd-candidate-ada.utshare.utsystem.edu/psp/ZAHRPRDADA/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=2&JobOpeningId=11425&PostingSeq=1