Contract & Grant Specialist I, II, III, or Sr

Contract & Grant Specialist I, II, III, or Sr

• 510625
• Main Campus - Starkville, MS
• Mississippi - Main Campus
• 182500 - CVM ORGS
• Professional
• Full-Time 12-Month
• Opening on: May 14 2026

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Position Function:

This position manages and provides support for pre and/or post-award activities within a department for extramural projects including proposal development assistance, accounting reconciliations and forecasts, contract and grant management. Rankings and qualifications within levels (I, II, III, Senior) are based on education and experience.

Employees hired into Intermittent positions are limited to working no more than 720 hours per fiscal year.

Salary Grade: 13

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Area of Specialization:

Office of Research and Graduate Studies

Anticipated Appointment Date:

Tenure Track Status:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists Principal Investigators (PIs) in the development, preparation, and submission of grant and contract proposals.
• Ensures all applications comply with agency and university guidelines.
• Assists PI with adherence to funding agency requirements (budget requirements, bio sketches, current & pending support, other required forms, cost sharing obligations, etc.) for consistency, accuracy, and completeness.
• Coordinates with PI and pre-award and/or post-award support staff at collaborating institutions to secure necessary subaward documents for proposals.
• Ensures proposals are entered and routed in a timely manner for further review.
• Provides monthly sponsored account reports and balances, reviews expenditures for compliance, resolves accounting issues, and prepares spending projections for awards.
• Monitors proposal and award (non-financial/financial) status and advises PI on requirements and deadlines associated with reports, research protection and protocols.
• Advises the PI and assists with budget adjustments, modifications, and revisions necessary to meet the sponsor requirements.
• Assists PI with navigating search tools and communicates funding opportunities and proposals.
• Stays informed of sponsor updates and changes relative to grants administration.
• Knows policies and procedures applicable to assigned duties.
• Provides guidance, training, and support for departmental staff.
• Performs similar or related duties as assigned or required.

Supervisory Responsibility:

May supervise the work of others.

Minimum Qualifications:

Contract & Grant Specialist I - Bachelor's Degree in a related field. One year of relevant experience.

Contract & Grant Specialist II - Bachelor's Degree in a related field. Three years of relevant experience.

Contract & Grant Specialist III - Bachelor's Degree in a related field. Five years of relevant experience.

Senior Contract & Grants Specialist - Master's Degree and a Professional Certification related to Research Administration (CRA, CPRA, CFRA, or PMP). Five years of relevant experience.

Substitution for Education: Two years of experience may be substituted for a master's degree at the senior level.

Substitution for Experience: None.

ABDs or degree pending considered (all but DISS):

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to analyze budgetary line items for compliance with budget guidelines.
• Ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Information research skills.
• Database management skills.
• Organizing and coordinating skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies
• Spreadsheet, database, and word processing skills mandatory.
• Knowledge of mathematics.
• Ability to provide technical advice and information to faculty and staff in area of expertise.
• Knowledge of federal, state and/or community funding sources and mechanisms.
• Records maintenance skills.
• Knowledge of grant funding policies and procedures and applicable local, state, federal and university regulations.
• Knowledge of the Uniform Guidance (OMB Circulars) and standard cost accounting.
• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments.
• Attention to detail.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

1. No unusual physical requirements.

2. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.

3. Frequent - Externally imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one's control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; irregular hours may be anticipated; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position.

4. Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands

5. Job requires standing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 10 pounds

6. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically

7. Hearing requirements: Heavy telephone contact requires ability to hear and respond to telephone conversations

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Applicants must apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu. Please include a cover letter and resume along with names and addresses of at least three references.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

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