Pre-Award Grants and Contracts Officers

Pre-Award Grants and Contracts Officers

The Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) seeks a collaborative and service-oriented Pre-Award Grants & Contracts Officer (GCO) to join a centralized college research administration team supporting pre-award activities across multiple departments, centers, and research initiatives. This position provides comprehensive proposal development and research administration support to faculty pursuing external funding from federal agencies, industry sponsors, foundations, and other entities.

Working closely with Principal Investigators (PIs), department leadership, the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), and college research administration partners, the GCO assists with all aspects of the pre-award lifecycle, including proposal preparation, budget development, sponsor guideline interpretation, submission coordination, and award transition support.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, collaborative, and able to manage multiple complex deadlines in a fast-paced research environment. This role requires strong communication skills, analytical thinking, and the ability to provide excellent customer service to faculty and research teams across a broad portfolio of disciplines.

LAS is home to a dynamic research enterprise spanning multiple disciplines, centers, and industry partnerships. As part of a centralized college pre-award support model, this position partners with departments across the college to expand research capacity, improve consistency in proposal development processes, and enhance the faculty experience in securing external funding. The role offers the opportunity to work closely with innovative faculty and research teams advancing impactful engineering research and technology development within a collaborative environment that emphasizes professional growth, operational excellence, and high-quality faculty support.

The University of Utah offers outstanding benefits, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative environment committed to advancing research, innovation, and student success.

This position is not eligible for work visa sponsorship.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

Responsibilities

• Facilitate the grant process pre-award for the university.

• Coordinate cross-departmentally to research, prepare, finalize, submit, and follow-up on industry, foundation, and/or government grants.

• Research and draft proposals, develop budgets, and manage the submission process ensuring deadlines are met.

• Maintain records, and communicate with funders.

• Establish relationships with foundations and private contributors.

• Independently complete pre-award administration of research grants &/or contracts, including both basic and complex proposals.

• Minimum Qualifications

• EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

• Pre-Award Grants & Contract Officer (GCO), III: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.

• Preferences

• Type Benefited Staff

• Special Instructions Summary

• Additional Information

• The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems. 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 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 or University Human Resource Management 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 possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

• 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.

• Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah 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 Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the University of Utah Non-Discrimination page.