The Specialist performs everyday grants management tasks and responsibilities. The incumbent interfaces between SAO and Federal government officers and public and private organizational representatives that provide funds for sponsored activities. Represents Sponsored Program Section (SPS) at internal project and program meetings and exercises a proactive approach with organizational departments and divisions.

Duties

The Specialist supports the SAO community with the development and maintenance of preproposal and proposal activities and assumes the principal responsibility for the administration of grants and cooperative agreements awards from receipt and acceptance through final closeout activities, including any organizational, Federal sponsor audits. Specific duties include: a) The preparation of proposals for submission to governmental agencies, foundations, corporations, and other funding institution; b) Provides information to Principal Investigators about sponsor guidelines as well as necessary forms or alternative options. c) Meets with supervisor and departments to discuss proposal preparation time-frame and for general pre-proposal submission and coordinate proposal development. d) Acts as Authorized Organizational Representative [AOR] to officially submit proposals to sponsoring Federal agencies and other sponsors, and ensuring all required proposal data is correctly entered into the PeopleSoft ERP Grants Module. e) Acts as a liaison between SAO and sponsoring organizations during pre- and post award activities. f) Provides SAO’s research community with information on potential funding opportunities from industry wide searches, Federal Register and other written sources and preparing funding opportunity announcements for SAO-wide distribution. g) Tasks related to award administrative activities of grants and cooperative agreements supported by public and private sponsors, including negotiation of awards with sponsors. h) Assigns fund numbers by way of preparing, generating, distributing and maintaining Award Modification Reports (AMR) utilizing the PeopleSoft Grant Module System and, as required, generate management reports and prepare proposal and award summary reports. i) Prepares routine requests to sponsors such as approvals for foreign travel, equipment purchases, changes in budget or key personnel and other document actions. j) Maintains knowledge of sponsor award guidelines, any changes or updates and acting as a resource as necessary. k) Acts as final liaison between the organization and the principal investigator, departments and the sponsor's grant representative to complete any award closeout activities.

Requirements

Qualifications

One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level (Grade 7) in the normal line of progression for the position. Experience at this level normally would have equipped the applicant with skills in negotiating and issuing rants; monitoring awards performance at an educational, nonprofit, or government institution. Substitution of Education for Experience: Masters or equivalent graduate degree related to the position. or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree (related to the position) or LL.B. or J.D.,   Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the job opportunity announcement closing date. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Education

Conditions of Employment

• Pre- and post-appointment background investigation
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer

Contacts

• Address SMITHSONIAN Human Resources Deparment 60 Garden Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 United States
• Name: HR Specialist
• Phone: 617496-8327
• Email: [email protected]