Post-Award Specialist (University Program Specialist)
Overview
Primary Purpose of Position
The Post-Award Services Specialist supports the Department of Public Health Sciences (PHS) (a department with a highly diverse, sponsored research portfolio) in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS); the position is responsible for management and oversight of the sponsored research funding portfolio and is supervised by the CHHS Research Officer. Coordinates sponsored research; mentors PHS PIs, administrators and project/program coordinators/managers in guidance on the administration of compliance, financial, personnel and other related aspects of post-award research. Serves as a College liaison with the central Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) office. Provides required reports to the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies (AD-RGS), PHS Chair, CHHS Business Officer, PIs, and CHHS Research Officer, as required. Also provides support to the PI and project manager for the Academy for Population Health Innovation (APHI), a unique partnership between UNC Charlotte and the Mecklenburg County Health Department (and administratively housed in PHS). Serves as post-award manager for all PHS and APHI grant-related expenses and scholarships/educational awards – processes all transactions for grants (hiring, incentives, travel, supplies, tuition, etc.). This position also provides support for external awards housed in the CHHS Dean’s Office.
Minimum Education/Experience
Contributing: Graduation from a four-year college or university including 12 hours of accounting.
Journey: Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in accounting or business and two years of accounting experience
Advanced: Graduation from a four-year college of university with a degree in accounting and four years of accounting experience.
Essential Job Duties
Manage all post-award aspects of externally funded grants and contracts and internal awards, through closeout.
Manage financial transactions in accordance with award guidelines and university policies.
Assist new and established PIs in understanding sponsored project requirements, incentive policies and procedures, IRB, Data Use Agreements, and university/agency fiscal policies and procedures.
Coordinate with the central, Contracts Management Office to facilitate contracts and identify gaps.
Prepare financial reports. Monitor awards to ensure that the PI is meeting established milestones, determine burn rate and ensure efficient close out. Review and assess risks prior to submitting assumption of risk (AOR) requests. Process salary release (effort reporting/grant payroll certifications), cost transfers, budget revisions, no cost extensions (NCE), and faculty summer pay requests – after reviewing budget, in accordance with sponsor guidelines and University policies. Track cost share.
Process hiring requests.
Administer and track all grant funded scholarships, student health insurance, student fees, stipends, and tuition through the University scholarship system.
Purchase incentives and monitor use, in accordance with policy.
Maintain and monitor awards in the financial shadow system.
Serve as a liaison between Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) and the CHHS Research Office.
Other Work Responsibilities
Perform all other duties as and when assigned.
Departmental Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education
Bachelor’s with two years of experience in accounts reconciliation and business processing, preferably in an institute of higher education;
Experience in research administration, including IRB and use of incentives in research;
Ideal candidate has strong accounting experience, preferably in sponsored research, and a strong understanding of federal grant funding agencies and contracts;
Competency in the use of Banner, Excel, Word, and Google and an electronic awards management system (e.g., InfoEd);
Ability to work independently and in a team; and
Good communication and analytical skills, excellent writing skills, and good organizational skills.