Position Function:
Provides administrative and technical guidance and support to faculty and staff seeking outside funding for research, public service, and special sponsored institutional projects. Researches and interprets relevant regulations, guidelines, and standards. Prepares and reviews proposal budgets and oversees the processing of contracts and grants.
Salary Grade: 13
Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.
Department Profile:
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (http://www.cse.msstate.edu) is seeking a Contracts and Grants Specialist I, II, III, or Senior. Mississippi State University is designated as both an R1-Very High Research Activity Doctoral University under the Carnegie Classification and as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations, Cyber Defense Research and Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering has 28 faculty members and approximately 1000 undergraduate and graduate students. The department offers undergraduate programs in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence, and jointly administers a program in Computer Engineering with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The Computer Science program offers concentrations in Artificial Intelligence, Systems, Human and Visual Computing, Computational Science, and General Computer Science. In addition, the department offers a B.A.S. in Cybersecurity and three minors: Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence. An accelerated B.S./M.S. program allows students to complete a B.S. in Computer Science or Software Engineering along with an M.S. in Computer Science in four academic years plus one calendar year. At the graduate level, the department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science as well as M.S. degrees in Cyber Security and Operations, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science. The faculty also direct graduate students in Computational Engineering. Certificates in Information Assurance, Cyber Operations, and Computational Biology are also available. In the last fiscal year, research expenditures amounted to over 4.6 million dollars. Core research areas for the department are cyber security, artificial intelligence, computational science, visualization and graphics, bioinformatics, parallel and distributed computing, software engineering, human-robot interaction, augmented and virtual reality, and computer science education. Faculty in the department are active in many university research centers such as the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, the Center for Cyber Innovation, the Center for Computational Science, and the Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing & Biotechnology.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Guides and facilitates faculty and staff in the development and preparation of research proposals, contracts, sub-contracts, and agreements, to include budgets, documentation, and interpretation of funding requirements.
2. Analyzes and evaluates contract and grant budgets for correct calculation of expenditure categories such as salaries, percent of effort, salary adjustment increases, fringe benefits, indirect costs, materials, and equipment.
3. Analyzes and evaluates proposals, awards, contracts, and subcontracts for compliance with funding agency, federal, state, and university requirements.
4. Coordinates receipt of awards and contract documentation; maintains proposal and funding records in database systems, and prepares scheduled and special reports, studies and analyses.
5. Participates and/or assists in special projects, and performs associated administrative duties, as assigned; may provide functional direction to lower level technicians on assigned work.
6. Serve as the liaison between PI and the Office of Sponsored Projects concerning proposal submission and awards.
7. Maintain current and pending grant and contract information on behalf of faculty and staff within the unit.
8. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
1. Bachelor's degree in related discipline.
2. One year experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified
Preferred Qualifications:
Three years’ experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Knowledge of the Uniform Guidance (OMB Circulars) and standard cost accounting.
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 in a diverse community.
• 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:
Applicants must apply online at www.jobs.msstate.edu by attaching the following as a PDF: cover letter, copies of transcripts of all degrees, diplomas, and the complete contact information for at least three professional references. Applicant should redact their social security number if it appears on their academic transcript prior to submitting it online. Incomplete applications will be ineligible. MS Teams/video conference Interviews may be requested.
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.
