Grants & Contracts Specialist, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering in Cockrell School of Engineering

Join the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering at UT Austin as a Grants & Contracts Specialist. This full-time position is located at UT MAIN CAMPUS and offers the opportunity to support cutting-edge research by managing the administrative and compliance framework that enables faculty-led grant and contract activities.

Position Summary

As a Grants & Contracts Specialist for UT Austin's mechanical engineering program, you will serve as a critical administrator overseeing sponsored research funding. Your work ensures that faculty members, researchers, and the institution maintain full compliance with federal regulations, university policies, and funder requirements. In this role, you bridge research ambition with administrative precision, enabling the department to secure and successfully execute research funding annually.

What You'll Do

• Review, process, and manage grant proposals and contract documents from initial submission through final closeout
• Provide guidance to faculty and research teams on sponsor requirements, compliance standards, and funding opportunities
• Prepare and submit funding proposals, ensuring accuracy of budgets, timelines, and institutional certifications
• Monitor project budgets and expenditures, tracking commitments and costs for ongoing funded research
• Maintain comprehensive documentation and databases for all active grants and contracts
• Communicate with external sponsors, granting agencies, and university offices to resolve issues and provide status updates
• Ensure adherence to federal regulations including cost-sharing, effort reporting, and indirect cost compliance

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, public administration, or related field
• 2+ years of professional experience in grants administration, contracts management, or research administration
• Strong knowledge of federal grant compliance, OMB Uniform Guidance, and sponsored research regulations
• Proficiency with grants management software and Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with ability to explain complex requirements to diverse audiences
• Problem-solving mindset and ability to work independently and collaboratively within a research environment

Working at Utaustin

The University of Texas at Austin is a world-class research institution committed to fostering innovation, discovery, and academic excellence. The Cockrell School of Engineering ranks among the nation's premier engineering programs, and the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering is home to renowned faculty and groundbreaking research. As a staff member at UT Austin, you will contribute to a mission-driven organization that values collaboration, intellectual rigor, and positive impact on society. You will work within a supportive departmental culture that recognizes the importance of strong administrative infrastructure to research success.

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