Job Summary
The College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi is seeking to fill the position of Grant Support Specialist. USM is classified as a Carnegie Doctoral University with Higher Research Activity and, as such, the Grant Support Specialist in the College of Education and Human Sciences serves and important role in supporting the pursuit and management of external funding. The Grant Support Specialist will work alongside the faculty in the college to support both pre- and post-award efforts. Pre-award, this position supports faculty in interpreting funder guidelines, proposal submission and re-submission, and developing proposal budgets. Post-award activities include assisting with the revision of budgets or contracts due to funding changes, assisting with progress reports and faculty’s ability to properly utilize funders’ electronic reporting system software, communicating with ORA and principal investigators to ensure proper spend-down of budgets within specified time periods. The position supports the Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Graduate Affairs in developing and maintaining tracking mechanisms, assembling and maintaining current faculty biosketches, and other materials needed for routine required sections of proposals.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide pre- and post-award support to faculty within the College of Education and Human Sciences for externally funded research and sponsored projects. 
2. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of USM policies and procedures as well as sponsor, state, and federal regulations governing submission of proposals for external funding. Interpret and explain sponsor guidelines and federal policies and procedures governing awards to staff, faculty, and administrators as needed.
3. Assist PIs in grant proposal writing, including drafting meeting notes, helping to create timelines, budget development, proofing and editing.
4. Track and manage timelines and deadlines to achieve timely proposal submissions. Assist PIs in assembling required sections of proposals, coordinate between research team members so the proposal is submitted on schedule via internal and external portals. Initiate and upload documents to InfoEd. Assist with monitoring budget spend-down within specified time frames; and assist with progress reporting, budget revisions, etc. in funders’ electronic reporting system software.
5. Assist PI's in preparation of forms, budgets and justifications for proposals and awards. Maintain working knowledge of sponsor systems and forms, as well as ORA forms and processes, e.g., MDRs and budget revision forms. Assist with IRB applications. Serve as liaison to ORA as required.
6. Assist faculty in research compliance activities including tracking the completion of Responsible Conduct of Research training, human subjects and animal care training and approvals, and conflict of interest policies. Monitor agency announcements related to upcoming RFAs, LOIs and other funding opportunities to notify faculty of opportunities in a timely manner.
7. Assist Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Graduate Affairs by tracking submission and awarding of proposals and to promote faculty development in the area of scholarship.
8. Performs other duties as assigned.