Office of Research Administration Contract Administrator, OPEN RANK

at  Colorado School of Mines

Engineering a world of possibilities
Colorado School of Mines has an open rank opportunity for a Contract Administrator.
The Contract Administrator works within the Office of Research Administration (ORA). ORA assists School faculty and staff with the preparation, submission, and administration of research and other sponsored project agreements.
The Contract Administrator is a non-technical, non-financial position. The Contract Administrator reviews, analyzes, and negotiates agreements for compliance with Federal regulations such as 2 CFR 200 and Federal Acquisition Regulations; Colorado State laws; and School policies. The position drafts legal and business language documents. The agreements are based on research and sponsored projects but are not procurement contracts. Agreements include, but are not limited to, funded agreements such as grants and contracts and non-funded agreements including non-disclosure agreements and memorandums of understanding. Work is performed independently without the oversight or assistance of Mines legal counsel. The Contract Administrator will recommend finalized agreements for signature by ORA’s Director.
The position serves as the primary administrative contact and liaison for the School and external organizations. The position communicates with multiple internal business and academic departments and School stakeholders, including Vice Presidents, Deans, Department Heads, faculty, and Administrators. The position communicates externally with a variety of sponsors, including State and Federal agencies, large and small businesses, and other universities and non-profits. The position also provides training for faculty and staff in all research award processes and procedures.
Opportunity for on-campus, hybrid, or alternative work location options may be available.

Contract Review and Negotiation

• Responsible for review of research grants, contracts, and other non-funded agreements, both initial and modifications thereto, received from external organizations to Mines. During the review, the position will analyze the agreement to determine if the terms and conditions meet Federal and State regulations, Mines policies, and project requirements.
• Negotiate unacceptable terms and conditions with the research sponsor. This involves providing alternative language or deletion of certain terms and conditions.
• Determine if additional Mines personnel need to be advised of terms and conditions and if their approval is required in order to accept the agreement. If necessary, this position will consult with other departments, such as the Office of Technology Transfer or the Office of General Counsel, but is solely responsible for identifying any terms or conditions that need to be modified in order to be accepted by Mines.

Contract Administration

• Determine if changes to a research project require prior approval from the sponsor. If prior approval is required, this position will coordinate with the faculty member to create and submit the change request.
• When allowed under the terms and conditions of the agreement, approve faculty requests for no-cost time extensions, budget deviations, and pre-award spending.
• Perform initial reviews on deficit spending requests (At-Risk Spending Requests) to determine if the financial risk to Mines is acceptable under current policy and practices.
• If issues arise during the performance of a research project, work with the applicable faculty, ORA staff, other departments and/or sponsor, as applicable, to address such concerns.

Subawards/Subcontracts

• Initiate, negotiate, and manage research subawards or subcontracts. This includes a review of the subrecipient’s/subcontractor’s proposal; determining which sub template is applicable, determining the applicable prime contract flow-down terms and conditions; negotiating, if necessary, the drafted subaward/subcontract; maintaining subaward/subcontract documentation to meet Federal and State audit requirements; and modifying subawards when required

Communication

• Maintain communication with faculty to ensure they are knowledgeable of the specific terms and conditions of their research agreements and the process to negotiate the agreement.
• Interpret and explain Federal, Mines, or State regulations and policies to faculty and other Mines personnel or sponsor contact in order to help them understand the contracting process and how the regulations apply to individual agreements.
• This position has direct, on-going contact with sponsors, and other external personnel for the purpose of agreement negotiation and management. Often this requires an explanation of Mines policies, business practices, and other applicable regulations.
• Effective communication is critical to success of this position in facilitating research for Mines.

Agreement and Data Management

• Accurately enter agreement and project information and notes into the ORA research system. This position is responsible for uploading all fully executed agreements, modifications, and sponsor prior approvals and/or communications into the system.

Qualifications
Contract Administrator I

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or 4 years’ experience

Preferred

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 1-2 years’ research administration experience

Contract Administrator II

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 3 – 5 years’ research administration experience
• Knowledge and implementation of government regulations

Preferred

• Higher education experience
• Master’s Degree

Contract Administrator III

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 5-7 years research administration experience
• Knowledge and application of government regulations

Preferred

• Master’s Degree or Juris Doctorate
• Ability to critically analyze
• Knowledge and experience with the School or higher education
• Experience drafting and reviewing research agreements

Salary and Benefits
Contract Administrator I: $63,918 - $74,283
Contract Administrator II: $72,000 - $87,075
Contract Administrator III: $85,563 - $99,438
Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the on-campus Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more), equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center and the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP). Coming soon is an on-campus daycare center. For more information about benefits at Mines, go to
mines.edu/human-resources/benefits
.
How to Apply
Applicants must:

Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)

• Upload a resume or CV
• Upload a cover letter

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.
Mines welcomes everyone to our team; in your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).
Application review will begin October 7, 2024. This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice. For best consideration, apply by October 6, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.
It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities to promote diversity and inclusion at Mines. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at
hr@mines.edu
or 303.273.3250 for assistance.
Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position.
About Mines & Golden, CO
When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.
Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 38 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2023).
Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.
At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.
That size – roughly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.
Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, cultural awareness and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.
And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado -with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.
Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a diverse and inclusive community, where our different perspectives, experiences and cultures enrich the educational and work experience?
Look to Mines.
Equal Opportunity
Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.
Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, affirmative action, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a diverse student body and workforce.
Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequity or concerns for safety.
Colorado’s premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and countin

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopas