Sponsored Projects Grants & Contracts Officer

Sponsored Projects Grants & Contracts Officer

Open Date  | 09/10/2025
Requisition Number  | PRN43072B
Job Title  | Sponsored Projects Grants & Contracts Officer
Working Title  | Sponsored Projects Grants & Contracts Officer
Job Grade  | F
FLSA Code  | Administrative
Patient Sensitive Job Code?  | No
Standard Hours per Week  | 40
Full Time or Part Time?  | Full Time
Shift  | Day
Work Schedule Summary  | Hybrid Work Schedule: Minimum of 16 hours (2 business days) a week in the office.
Regular Office Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:00 am– 5:00 pm
VP Area  | President
Department  | 00644 - Office of Sponsored Projects
Location  | Campus
City  | Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment  | External Posting
Pay Rate Range  | $47,600 to $85,000
Close Date  | 12/10/2025
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)  |

Job Summary  | Sponsored Projects Officers (SPO) on the Federal and Foundation Grants and Contracts Team provide centralized support to University of Utah faculty seeking external funding for research, public service, and sponsored institutional projects. SPOs are the university’s authorized liaisons for administrative and contractual matters with award sponsors. This position provides support for most phases of the research project life cycle, including application review and submission, award negotiation, and providing expertise and policy guidance in the administrative management and closeout of sponsored awards to faculty and staff. The value of being an employee at the University of Utah goes far beyond your base salary, so we encourage you to carefully consider and compare our total package offer. This package includes a variety of excellent employee benefits, including health care coverage, retirement plans, and paid leave time as well as other valuable benefits, services, and programs such as tuition reduction. One example is the U’s retirement benefits which amount to a 14.2% contribution in addition to your annual salary. You may view the U’s total compensation estimator to calculate the approximate value of your total compensation at www.hr.utah.edu/comp/totalcomp.php. If you have any questions on how to use the estimator tool, please contact Human Resources at 801-581-7447.

Responsibilities   
Provides expert advice to faculty and staff in regards to sponsor and University policies and requirements for sponsored project application development and award administration. Negotiates terms and conditions with sponsoring entities for awards, inbound and outbound subawards, and other agreements. Advises faculty and staff on and helps resolve issues that arise in the administration of applications and awards. ·Provides formal and informal training to faculty and staff. Manages sponsored projects data via database. Facilitate the regular collection of information and metrics related to the contracting and sponsored project management process, including preparing and submitting reports, analyzing and preparing data of work performed, compile reports, and other tracking and reporting tasks as identified. Respond to faculty, staff, and sponsor inquires. Act as OSP liaison with the University’s Office of General Counsel on legal matters pertaining to sponsored contract agreements. Act as an OSP liaison with University leadership and other research administration and compliance offices. Use information systems to track and manage sponsored agreements through the project lifecycle. Record preliminary, contract, and award information in the sponsored project infrastructure, including financial and other compliance systems. Serve as the primary resource for campus-wide research administration professionals and external interested parties and provide expert advice on University policies and procedures, work process and practice, the sponsored programs lifecycle, IT systems, contacting, compliance issues, reporting, and stewardship. Ensure that University practice and policy related to sponsored contracts reflect current state and federal laws and regulations for sponsored program activity and provide training and updates to faculty, leadership, and research administration professionals across campus.

Other duties as assigned. 
Comments: This position provides support in highly specialized areas of Research Administration. The Office of Sponsored Projects is a customer service organization dedicated to supporting a diverse client set including University administration, faculty, support staff and sponsoring entities.

Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically required: Nearly Continuously: Office environment
Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required: Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead

Minimum Qualifications  | Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field or equivalency required (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience). Two years experience working with federal or private funding agencies on grants, contracts or other agreements required. The ability to work independently, effectively and efficiently under extreme pressure and demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills also required.

An advanced degree in Public Administration, Law or a related field and five years of increasingly responsible experience within an academic or higher education environment preferred. Computer literacy in data management, document preparation and management, spreadsheet creation and presentation software is also preferred.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences   
Bachelor’s degree General knowledge of sponsored projects research administration in an academic/university setting Two (2) years of experience in central office research administration in a university/academic setting Experience understanding, interpreting, and applying federal policies and guidelines related to federal grants and contracts; experience interpreting and applying Uniform Guidance and major agency policy guidelines preferred Ability to understand and analyze complex federal policies and regulations and appropriately apply them to grant and contract applications, in award negotiations, and in post-award actions Ability to communicate knowledge and ideas both verbally and in writing with clarity and effectiveness to internal and external audiences Proactively drive change and continuous improvement through individual contributions and group project work Robust planning and organizational skills Strong service orientation and exceptional customer service skills Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, action-oriented, customer-focused
Type  | Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary  |
Additional Information  | The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patients.

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

Posting Specific Questions

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Applicant Documents

 University Human Resource Management 
 250 East 200 South, Suite 125 Salt Lake City, UT 84111
 Contact us: (801) 581-2169 By Email: employment@utah.edu