Senior Grants & Contracts Analyst

Description

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is hiring for a Senior Grants & Contracts Analyst to provide dedicated professional level sponsored funds management with specific responsibility for pre-award and post-award functions that includes but may not be limited to: reviewing departmental proposal preparation efforts, proposal preparation, submission, budget development, award account maintenance and oversight, support to billing/invoicing, reporting, compliance, and closeout. The Senior Grants & Contracts Analyst will work independently on a variety of grants/contracts that range from simple to highly complex reporting to the Sponsored Programs and Grants Manager as part of CAS (Central Administrative Services). The primary goal of this position is to ensure timely, effective and efficient functioning of sponsored funding within AURA and among its NSF-funded Centers, NOIRLab (National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory) and NSO (National Solar Observatory).

Essential Functions:

• Understands and utilizes institutional policies for grant processes and sponsor guidelines.

• Reviews all sponsored project proposals for accuracy, content, and adherence to all relevant guidelines prior to forwarding for approval(s).

• Reviews budgets for completeness and accuracy before submitting project setup requests in Deltek's Costpoint. Verifies that funds awarded are setup properly in accordance with AURA guidelines, funding agency guidelines, including personnel costs, merit adjustments, supplies, materials, services, and similar cost categories.

• Prepares non-Center-specific proposal budgets.

• Provides instruction, preparation assistance, and support related to grant application procedures. Serves as a liaison among CAS, Centers, and funding agencies.

• Monitors grants and contracts expenditures regularly to ensure costs are matched appropriately within budget requirements. Reports spending anomalies.

• Reviews billing associated with grants and contracts regularly to ensure costs are accurate, reasonable, allocable, and allowable.

Other Functions:

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in substantive grant/contract administration in federally funded environment (federal assistance environment preferred) to include experience in complex grant and contract functions such as: proposal preparation, proposal compliance, award negotiations, grant/contract administration, and closeout with federal agencies.

• Knowledge of Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and other applicable regulations covering proposal preparation and review, grant and contract administration, and closeout procedures and requirements.

• Must possess the ability to anticipate and resolve complex problems, exercise sound judgment, and plan, organize, and prioritize multiple demands efficiently and effectively.

• Ability to analyze, interpret and evaluate requests for proposals and contractual agreements.

• Excellent customer service skills to both internal and external clients.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and multi-task.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working directly with NSF and NASA grant, cooperative agreement, and contract funding and regulations.

• Experience working with federal agency online portals such as ~~~ (NSF), NSPIRES (NASA), and STGMS (Space Telescope Science Institute).

• Experience with NSF Research Infrastructure Grant regulations.

• Experience working with Deltek Costpoint.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands 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.

This work is mostly conducted in an office environment on-site (subject to availability), hybrid, or entirely remotely as mutually agreed upon. Long periods of sitting and occasional travel may be required.

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), founded in 1957, is a consortium of 49 US institutions and 3 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories for the National Science Foundation (~~~/) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (~~~/) . AURA's role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. In addition, AURA is deeply committed to public and educational outreach, and to diversity (~~~/) throughout the astronomical and scientific workforce. AURA carries out its role through its astronomical facilities.

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment. Details on benefits can be found at ~~~/ .

The position will remain open until it is filled. To be considered in the first round of reviews, please submit your application by March 31, 2024.

• Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: Lastname Docname.

• Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the application may be sent to ~~~ .

• Please enter 3 professional references in your application (references will only be contacted later in the recruitment process).

Veterans, disabled individuals, or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process should request assistance at ~~~ .

As a recipient of U.S. Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and/or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. The statements below as well as any requests for self-identification are required pursuant to these regulations. We encourage your participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements which are included for protection and to assist us in our recordkeeping and reporting. Your responses are kept strictly confidential.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)