Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Grants and Contracts Administration

The Grants and Contracts Administrator analyzes, negotiates, and administers sponsored programs; reviews and processes agreements; negotiates and drafts contract terms and sub awards; informs faculty and college personnel of special contractual requirements; resolves award issues; ensures compliance with university guidelines; and provides training to university personnel on grants and contracts administration. 

• Analyze, review, evaluate, and negotiate agreements, grants, awards, and contracts with government and industry sponsors
• Review any terms and conditions associated with proposal solicitations; interpret and negotiate sponsor requirements; identify the University’s exceptions to the sponsor’s terms and conditions
• Draft and monitor agreements for compliance with contractual requirements, review and process agreement modifications
• Review budgets and budget justifications; provide input to faculty members and proposal preparation staff on appropriateness of budgeted items
• Write and negotiate sub-awards; monitor expenditures to ensure compliance; close out awards
• Collaborate with research teams and investigators to identify appropriate funding strategies; monitor funding trends; provide faculty education programs on all aspects of proposal and grant submission
• Consult with Research Accounting, Intellectual Property Office, Risk Management, Legal Counsel, and other central administration offices regarding special terms and conditions of sponsored programs
• Advise faculty in interpreting and adhering to sponsor and University guidelines, resolve issues related to contract compliance; correspond with sponsors and sub-recipients regarding performance problems
• Develop and deliver training programs on specialized research administration topics for other award staff, research staff and faculty
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Supervisor

Base Description:

– Supervises direct reports, but primarily completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates appropriate knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. Demonstrates baseline planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Reviews completed work of others to verify accuracy and quality. Follows recommended approaches to assigned work. Supervises assigned staff and coordinates routine work activities. Monitors employee interactions and facilitates a productive working environment. Communicates instructions and policies in a consistent, effective and timely manner. Identifies and addresses concerns appropriately. Makes recommendations for possible solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Typically oversees at least 2 full–time direct reports or equivalent team of part–time and/or student workers (for Support track, performs work at Senior Support level or higher; for Professional track, performs work at the Advanced Professional level or higher)

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– May monitor/track budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems with progressively more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows standard operating procedures to resolve problems
– May apply specialized knowledge and skills to resolve complex and/or varied problems
– Applies proven and tries new approaches when solving problems

Independence of Action:

– Works with minimal supervision on difficult work assignments, conferring with manager on unusual matters
– Follows precedents and procedures
– Organizes work of direct reports and may set priorities within general guidelines established by manager
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Collaborates closely with team members; may interact with other staff outside of area
– Utilizes a communication style that is appropriate for a given situation
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials

• Comp Grade – 10
• Minimum – $61,800.00
• MidPoint – $75,700.00
• Maximum – $89,600.00