Contracts & Grants Specialist II

College of Engineering and Computer Science :

As Florida's premier engineering and technology university, UCF is among the nation's largest producers of engineering and technology talent. The UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science offers students a world-class education and research opportunities alongside unrivaled partnerships with industry leaders such as L3Harris Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Duke Energy, Siemens, Walt Disney World and NASA. Focused on addressing society's biggest challenges, faculty and alumni are national leaders in energy, aerospace, computer vision, cybersecurity, transportation, health care and the environment, areas of focus that will drive the college's future growth. UCF is the nation's No. 1 provider of talent to the aerospace and defense industries, and the college is home to the national champion student cyber defense team and one of the nation's top computer programming teams.

The Opportunity :

UCF's College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) seeks applications for a Contracts and Grants Specialist II to join their team. This position works as a liaison with the Office of Research and College of Engineering and Computer Science faculty in the Institute of Artificial Intelligence (IAI) and the Advanced Processing Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC) for both proposal submission and research project assistance and proposal preparation.

This is a reposted position. Previous applicants are still being considered and do not need to reapply

Responsibilities :

Advise and interact with the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), IAI faculty, and their departmental administrators on interpretation of sponsor guidelines, forms, regulations & policies related to proposals & budgetary requirements.

Prepare sponsor forms, including budgetary, application forms, and ancillary submission documents for inclusion with the proposal submission, as well as internal administrative forms, as appropriate.

Review and ensure accuracy of approved cost share requirements, including the source, amount, and authorized signatures of committed cost share, wherever necessary.

Ensure that research proposals, related documents routed through the University routing system, special considerations (i.e., budget, cost share, release time, indirect reduction, space and renovation needs, etc.) are reviewed and approved by appropriate University officials (Chairs, Dean / Director, VP, etc.).

Act as a liaison between the Office of Research (OR), departments, faculty members of CECS / IAI / AMPAC, collaborators, and sponsors with all aspects of sponsored research proposal / administration, and negotiation of sponsored research agreements, including but not limited to grants, contracts, NDAs, and MOUs.

Prepare multi-institutional proposals; communicate with sponsored research departments at other institutions in multi-university proposals; pay specific attention to the appropriate sponsor format of the proposals and budget.

Facilitate follow-through of proposals and award just-in-time requests to make changes / corrections to award documents, as appropriate.

Responsible for approving proposals on behalf of CECS in Huron, approving credit split forms and budget set-ups on new and modified awards, and all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications :

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 2+ years of relevant experienceor an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6) .

Preferred Qualifications :

Minimum of 4 years of experience in pre-award administration, proposal submission, and budget development within a higher education or research-intensive environment.

Experience submitting proposals to federal sponsors such as NSF, NIH, NASA, or similar agencies.

Experience with Huron Research Suite for proposal development and tracking.

Familiarity with electronic research administration platforms, including Research.gov, NSPIRES, and ProposalCentral.

Advanced Excel skills for developing and managing complex budgets and financial reports for sponsored projects.

Proven ability to collaborate with external entities (e.g., subcontractors, consultants, vendors) to ensure compliance, commitment, and accuracy of financial documentation.

Exceptional attention to detail and ability to interpret and apply complex sponsor guidelines and instructions.

Self-motivated, highly organized, and able to manage multiple deadlines in a high-volume office setting.

Special Instructions to the Applicants :

Applicant must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer, as sponsorship is not available for this position.

This is a reposted position. Previous applicants are still being considered and do not need to reapply

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

W orking at UCF has its perks!UCF offers :

Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program

Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

Retirement savings options

Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions

Education assistance

And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide .

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions :

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

Department

College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) Dean's Office

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8 : 00am - 5 : 00pm

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

$48,722.00 to Negotiable

Job Posting End Date

11-24-2025-12-00-AM

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu .

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu .