Asst VP, Grant

Title: Asst VP, Grant & Contract Admn

Employee Classification: Asst VP, Grant & Contract Admn

Campus: University of North Texas

Division: UNT-Research & Innovation

SubDivision-Department: UNT-Research & Innovation

Department: UNT-Grants & Contracts Admin-190100

Job Location: Denton

Salary: Salary to commensurate with experience

FTE: 1.000000

Retirement Eligibility: ORP Eligible

About Us - Values Overview:

Welcome to the University of North Texas System. The UNT System includes the University of North Texas in Denton and Frisco, the University of North Texas at Dallas and UNT Dallas College of Law, and the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. We are the only university system based exclusively in the robust Dallas-Fort Worth region. We are growing with the North Texas region, employing more than 14,000 employees, educating a record 49,000+ students across our system, and awarding nearly 12,000 degrees each year. We are one team comprised of individuals who are committed to excellence, curiosity and innovation. We are transforming lives and creating economic opportunity through education. We champion a people-first values-based culture where We Care about each other and those we serve. We believe that we are Better Together because we foster an inclusive environment of respect, belonging, and access for all. We demonstrate Courageous Integrity through setting exceptional standards and acting in the best interest of our communities. We are encouraged to Be Curious about opportunities for learning, creating, discovering, and innovating, and are encouraged to learn from failure. Show Your Fire by joining our team and exhibiting your passion and pride in your work as part of our UNT System team. Learn more about the UNT System and how we live our values at www.UNTSystem.edu.

Department Summary

Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) within the Division of Research & Innovation supports the University of North Texas, a tier 1 research university, in its endeavor to excel in its research mission. GCA aspires to be a model organization in the field of research administration, providing exceptional service to the university community. We are charged with the Pre Award and Post Award administration of externally funded sponsored projects and envision an environment that facilitates the University of North Texas’ commitment to research and encourages continued efforts to attract additional research funding.

Position Overview

This position is responsible for overseeing and providing leadership for the Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) unit including the planning, designing and implementing successful administration of the GCA. Areas of oversight responsibility will include pre-award, post-award, cost accounting, research accounting, research reporting, and research information technology. To provide excellent customer service to the UNT research community, this position will collaborate with other units within the division of research and innovation and provide guidance and organization of externally funded sponsored projects. This position will ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, sponsor and university policies and regulations. To support the UNT research enterprise, this position will work in partnership with other UNT central offices and UNT System.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and eight years of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and ten years of relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Administrative / Managerial:

• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze, develop, and implement specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work to meet applicable deadlines.
• Ability to analyze and prepare documents, reports, and correspondence.

Technical:

• Ability to learn and utilize office and university-specific software and operating systems.
• Skill in using analytical software tools, data analysis methods, and other computer applications.

Communication:

• Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
• Ability to work successfully as a member of a team and independently with moderate supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Ability to establish and maintain a good rapport with university faculty and staff, students, and the general public.
• Ability to work effectively within a complex organization structure.

Critical Thinking / Problem-solving / Analysis:

• Skill in active learning by understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Skill in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
• Ability to analyze complex information, develop plans to address identified issues, and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to develop objectives, evaluate effectiveness, and assess needs.
• Ability to recognize, analyze, and problem solve a variety of situations.

Financial / Accounting / Budgetary:

• Knowledge of accounting, budgetary, and management principles, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting procedures and principles.
• Knowledge of accounting procedures and methods, and the ability to apply them to difficult or complex transactions.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations pertaining to financial operations.
• Ability to compile, organize, interpret, and communicate accounting data and results in a concise format.
• Ability to manage and work within the constraints of the unit budget.

Policies & Procedures:

• Knowledge of, or the ability to learn, University policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, policies, procedures, and guidelines established by professional organizations and/or governing agencies.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local laws, statutes, regulations, codes, and standards related to the area of responsibility.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the administration of federal or state funds.
• Ability to develop, interpret, and evaluate policies and procedures.
• Ability to explain policies and procedures to staff and to the public.
• Ability to identify and incorporate continuous changes in federal and state policies and procedures, ensuring University and department compliance.
• Ability to research, interpret, summarize and apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience and knowledge in coordinating and supervising federal financial reporting requirements at a research university, including 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards), NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedure Guide, NIH Grants Policy Statement, and Federal Acquisition Regulations.
• Previous experience in all aspects of pre-award and post-award services.
• Certified Public Accountant or other related certification.

Required License/Registration/Certifications

N/A

Job Duties:

• Leadership: Contribute to the collaborative senior leadership within the Division of Research and Innovation that serves the mission and values of UNT. Provide leadership and vision for Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) staff. Demonstrate service leadership by working across the university, with principal investigators, departmental and college staff, and unit administrators whose work involves sponsored projects.
• GCA operations: Work with the pre-award and post-award directors and staff to streamline processes, sustain excellent communications, comprehensive division staff training, and excellent customer service to the research community. Work across the division to ensure streamlined and well communicated processes are in place. Ensure coordination occurs between the pre-award and post-award teams within GCA. Work with the research division staff and the broader UNT research personnel, within academic colleges and other affected units, to ensure that processes and procedures are in place for essential sponsored project operations.
• Post award oversight: Maintain internal controls for an effort reporting system to certify that the salaries charged or cost shared to sponsored awards, are reasonable and consistent with the work performed. Oversee post-award activities including accounts receivable, cash management, follow-up with sponsors to collect and deposit payments for sponsored projects, including expediting overdue payments and negotiating or recommending legal action, when necessary. Oversee the post-award closeout activity for sponsored projects, including the transferring of residual accounts.
• Training and advisory role: Advise principal investigators, departmental and college staff, and unit administrators on university, state, federal, and private guidelines governing expenditures and other award activities through division website, trainings, meetings and other communication tools. Train principal investigators, departmental staff, college research offices, and other internal stakeholders on compliance with Uniform Guidance, Federal Cost Accounting Standards, and other applicable University, State, and Federal policies.
• Pre-Award and Proposal submission oversight: Oversee the pre-award unit and process to ensure that all proposal submissions and awards adhere to federal, state, university and sponsor guidelines. Work collaboratively within the division and provide guidance for award setup, flow through awards, and contract setup.
• Compliance: Oversight of the compliance aspects of the pre-award and post-award processes, including proposal submission requirements, coordinate with research division units (e.g. Research Integrity and Compliance, and Research Commercial Agreements) to facilitate post-award compliance requirements. Assist internal and external auditors with data requests and reports. Work collaboratively with other UNT service units to ensure the institutional policies and procedures comply with Uniform Guidance.
• Financial Oversight: Ensure the oversight, financial control, and available documentation of sponsored projects to all University faculty and staff (e.g. College research officers, research and budget administrative support) that have financial interactions on sponsored programs. Review of expenditure allowability, allocability, reasonableness and consistency with funding agency regulations. Ensure the accuracy of all recorded grant and contract financial data within the university enterprise information system; including account attributes, budgets, direct and indirect expenses, expended effort, revenues, and cost sharing. Oversee the post-award management of grants and contracts awards for compliance with sponsors financial guidelines, terms and conditions, including the preparation and submission of invoices, financial reports, or other reports as required by sponsors.
• Reporting, records, and documentation: Provide financial reports and reporting tools to principal investigators and research personnel within academic colleges as needed to assist in award oversight. Maintain and monitor records, encumbrances, and invoice and process payments associated with the University subcontractors. Supervise preparation and submission of annual reports of university sponsored programs activity, including reports to federal and state agencies, and dissemination of information to other stakeholders.

Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm. Some evenings and weekends as needed.

Driving University Vehicle:

No

Security Sensitive:

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions:

N/A

Benefits:

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement:

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit -- and takes actions to prevent -- discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence) and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities and employment practices. The University of North Texas System immediately investigates complaints of discrimination and takes remedial action when appropriate. The University of North Texas System also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist or participate in an investigative proceeding or hearing.

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