Contracts Professional

Job ID: 360628 About the Job
This position is a member of the Research Advancement (RA)team in the Research and Innovation Office at the University of Minnesota. Research Advancement runs a number of internal grant competitionsand award programs designed to seed research and help maintain the U of M as a leading public research institution in the US. In this role,the incumbent interfaces with faculty, research administrators, and research associate deans in all disciplines. They are entrusted to bethe lead administrator for two continuous RA programs (i.e. Limited Submissions and Matching Funds), and they team up with RA colleagues onall other RA activities so that competitions can be run through their complete cycle smoothly and efficiently. The role reports directly tothe RA manager and it collaborates closely with the Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives and a FacultyDirector. **Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship.** 
If offered thisposition, you must be able to demonstrate authorization to work in the United States at the University of Minnesota by the start date. Anyemployment offer would be contingent upon verification that you will meet this requirement.
Position Duties andResponsibilities
Limited Submissions Program Lead - 50% Serve as the lead facilitator and process expert of the LimitedNominations Process for extramural competitions, working in close collaboration with the Faculty Director (FD) for Limited Submissions andthe Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives (EDSI). Manage and coordinate the day to day activities of the program, owning thelimited submission process end to end and making improvements as determined with the FD. Harvest limited submissions opportunitiesfrom various sources; ensure their timely posting on RIO's website and their prompt advertisement to the researchcommunity.  Monitor open competitions, anticipate deadlines, respond to inquiries, and audit applications. Facilitatecompetitions and applications review when needed, seeking direction and recommendations from the FD to ensure the determination andselection process is rigorous and consistent.  Track and organize the activities of the reviewers, identify potential conflicts ofinterest, and coordinate with the Limited Submissions standing review panel and the directors (FD & EDSI). Notify principalinvestigators (researchers) of competition results and correspond with grant administrators in the Sponsored Projects Administrationunit. Work with RIO's shared services, in particular the Communications team to coordinate announcements, website changes, and othercommunication-related needs, and ORIS for technology changes and configurations. AdHoc Seed Grant Funding Competitions Facilitation- 20% Manage internal seed grant funding competitions sponsored by Research Advancement. Define, review or orchestrate theschedule of competition cycles and key deadlines. Guide the configuration of workflow systems that facilitate and automate aspectsof the seed grant information management and processing. Monitor open competitions, anticipate deadlines, respond to inquiries, andaudit applications. Identify and recruit potential faculty reviewers who are subject matter experts and have appropriateprofessional experience. Assess potential conflicts of interest, Track and cross reference the participation of reviewers on all ourcommittees to carefully calibrate and distribute the burden placed on faculty resources. Gather and distribute nominationmaterials, coordinate all meetings, create summaries of data (Excel documents and Google Spreadsheets), record discussion and decisionsduring review meetings, and compose outcome notices. Send notification letters and manage post-award activities such as sendingreminders and collecting / acting on activity reports. Work with RIO's shared services, in particular the Communications team tocoordinate announcements, website changes, and other communication-related needs, and ORIS for technology changes andconfigurations. Research Advancement Programs Support and Improvements - 20% Triage and respond to email inquiries fromfaculty and research team members related to the various programs offered by Research Advancement. Ensure all questions are answered in atimely fashion. Serve as a backup to teammates and collaborate on other RA grants programs as needed to ensure continuity of serviceduring planned and unplanned absences. Develop, document, and maintain up to date job aids, processesses and procedures tofacilitate team operations and service resiliency. Identify work efficiencies; collaborate with the team and partners participatingin the RA programs to streamline activities and operations. Provide support to program directors or program owners, complete tasks,and facilitate small projects as assigned. Matching Funds Program Lead - 10% Serve as the lead facilitator and processexpert for the Matching Funds program. Monitor, review and track incoming matching funds request. Gather and review requiredsupporting materials, and determine eligibility for the program. Respond to inquiries and questions, and work with external partieson requests requiring special coordination. Route eligible requests for approval and signature in a timelyfashion. Electronically store matching funds letters for documentation purposes and potential audit; manage file storage followingdocument retention guidelines. Work With Flexibility Options
The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) and theResearch Advancement team endorse a "work with flexibility" approach that offers a welcoming and flexible work environment where everyone isinspired to do their best.  Work Schedule: While our goal is to offer as much flexibility as possible and let staffcontrol when they complete their work while meeting set deadlines, the nature of the services provided by the Research Advancement team tothe research community comes with the expectation that services are provided during regular university business hours. The team workstogether to ensure continuity of services. Work Location: This position was designated as eligible for a wide rangeof options, from working fully remote (Profile 4), to partially remote (Profiles 2-3), or entirely in the office (Profile 1). The incumbentwill be asked to choose. Note that regardless of the profile selected, this role comes with the requirement to occasionally attend on-campusmeetings and on-site events for professional development, collaboration and team effectiveness. Required on-site/on-campus presence isexpected to typically be = 4 days / month after the onboarding and training period. Because we are a land-grant institution that serves thestate, the University will continue to- in most cases- expect employees to live in Minnesota. RIO management retains the right to modifyflexible work arrangement agreements on a temporary or permanent basis for any reason at anytime. Qualifications
Required Qualifications Bachelor's Degree plus at least two years ofexperience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least six years. Strong organization skills;ability to plan, organize and manage a variety of assignments with limited guidance. Demonstrated ability to communicate with tact,and strong customer service skills. Excellent collaboration skills; ability to work as a team. Strong task management andpersonal organization; ability to establish a timeline and meet project deadlines. Demonstrated ability to promote a diverse,inclusive, and respectful workplace. Fluency in using a variety of collaboration software (in particular Google Workspaceapplications and Microsoft suite of tools)  Technology curiosity and interest in making the best use of tools to support personalefficiency, improve service effectiveness, promote the efficiency and accuracy of workflows, and ensure the quality of the informationcollected to provide services. Preferred Qualifications Experience managing seed grants or other competitive fundingcompetitions. Process improvement experience. Familiarity with research activities at a large, public researchinstitution. About the Department
Research Advancement supports interdisciplinary initiatives, administersUMN research grant programs, guides research infrastructure planning, and directs research policy and review. The Research and InnovationOffice (RIO) provides approximately $5 million in funding and awards annually to support and nurture the University's systemwide researchenterprise.
See RIOfunding. Benefits
Working at the University
At the University of Minnesota, you'll find aflexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing youto invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.
The University also offers a comprehensive benefits packagethat includes: Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off Continuous learning opportunities through professionaltraining and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition BenefitProgram Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans Healthcare and dependent care flexible spendingaccounts University HSA contributions Disability and employer-paid life insurance Employee wellbeingprogram Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity Financialcounseling services  Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regardingbenefits. How To Apply **Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Cardsponsorship.** 
If offered this position, you must be able to demonstrate authorization to work in the United States at theUniversity of Minnesota by the start date. Any employment offer would be contingent upon verification that you will meet thisrequirement.
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow theinstructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter andresume.
Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documentsin the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail or call . Diversity
The University recognizesand values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academicmission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The Universityof Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed,religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genderidentity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: Employment Requirements
Any offer of employment is contingentupon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminalconvictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment. About the U of M TheUniversity of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest publicresearch universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study andresearch. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses inMinneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, governmentagencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by theStar Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018,2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).