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OPEN RANK: SPA Contracts Administrator I or II - ORD Sponsored Programs Admin

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Baltimore, MDFull-time$60–72K/yrSeen 2 days agoSeen in employer's feed 2 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$60–72K/yr
Location
Baltimore, MD
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree

Job overview

The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Office of Sponsored Program Administration seeks a Contracts Administrator at level I or II. The role supports investigators and departmental administrators throughout the sponsored-project lifecycle, reviewing and negotiating contracts and agreements for compliance with applicable laws, regulations, university policies, and sponsor requirements. The selected level depends on the candidate’s education and experience.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Contract ReviewContract NegotiationAnalytical SkillsProblem SolvingKuali ResearchData WarehousingReporting ToolsUniform GuidanceFederal Policy InterpretationNIH RegulationsTechnology SystemsVerbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationCollaborationIndependent Work

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Business Administration or Related1+ Years Administrative ExperienceFinancial Disclosure Reporting

Full job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The University of Maryland Baltimore's (UMB) Office of Sponsored Program Administration (SPA) is looking for a Contract Administrator at level I or II. SPA provides oversight and administrative support to investigators and departmental administrators throughout the life cycle of sponsored projects. The Contracts team is responsible for reviewing and maintaining grant and contracts for compliance and consistency with federal and state laws and regulations, University policies and practices, and research compliance restrictions and guidelines. These positions work closely and collaboratively with department investigators and administrators and are their liaisons with sponsoring agencies.

The level will be determined based on the selected candidate's education and experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

PRIMARY DUTIES - Contracts Administrator I

  • Under the supervision of a Contracts Manager, provide basic technical guidance to principal investigators and/or department administrators on contracts and submissions for compliance with federal and state laws

  • Review awards related to contracts and agreements for completeness, accuracy, and ensure compliance with University and State policies, guidelines and practices, research compliance restrictions and guidelines, financial and academic requirements, and sponsor policies and procedures

  • Negotiate basic terms and conditions within contracts and agreements with sponsors.

  • Analyze and problem solve to provide basic technical guidance on agreements and submissions.

  • Communicate directly with department staff, faculty, and internal and external stakeholders to facilitate completion of contracts and agreements

  • Identify and alert department of potential issues in the contract or application process

  • Provide basic knowledge of non-financial post award management and actions. Apply basic knowledge of sponsor policies on cost principles

  • Ensure all closeout documents are complete and accurate

  • Identify and suggest improvements/solutions of team's workflow and processes.

  • Perform other duties as assigned.

PRIMARY DUTIES - Contracts Administrator II

  • Under the supervision of a Contracts Manager, provide basic to intermediate technical guidance to principal investigators and/or department administrators on contracts and submissions for compliance with federal and state laws

  • Review awards related to contracts and agreements for completeness, accuracy, and ensure compliance with University and State policies, guidelines and practices, research compliance restrictions and guidelines, financial and academic requirements, and sponsor policies and procedures

  • Negotiate basic to intermediate terms and conditions within contracts and agreements with sponsors

  • Communicate directly with department staff, faculty, and internal and external stakeholders to facilitate completion of contracts and agreements

  • Using analytical and problem-solving skills to provide basic technical guidance on contracts, agreements and submissions

  • Identify and alert department of potential issues in the contract or application process. Evaluate processes to determine trends to improve routing of contracts and agreements

  • Provide basic troubleshooting and problem solving to identify answers and solutions to common issues on contracts, agreements and submissions

  • Provide basic to intermediate knowledge of non-financial post-award actions. Apply basic to intermediate knowledge of sponsor policies on cost principles

  • Review and submit all closeout documents ensuring completion and accuracy

  • Identify and suggest improvements/solutions to teamwork flow and processes

  • Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or other discipline appropriate to the position.

Experience: 1-2 years of administrative experience within a business office setting or administrative experience in the area of research administration or sponsored programs; Contracts I (1 year) and Contracts II (2 years).

Other: Financial disclosure reporting required by State of Maryland Ethics Committee.

May consider combination of directly related experience and education.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

  • Experience working in Kuali Research, data warehouse, and reporting tools is helpful.

  • Knowledge of Uniform Guidance and ability to interpret and apply US Federal Agency policies to grant applications and awards is helpful. Knowledge of applicable NIH requirements, regulations, and laws is helpful.

  • Skill in effective use of applicable technology/systems. Ability to effectively communicate both verbal and written thoughts, ideas, and facts. Ability to work cooperatively with others and independently.

ABOUT US

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Maryland’s public health, law, and human services university. Six professional schools and the interdisciplinary Graduate School confer the majority of health care, human services, and law professional degrees in Maryland each year.

Our goal is to support the University’s mission of education, research, clinical care, and public service by amplifying UMB’s voice as a thought and action leader, and to enhance goodwill in the communities and people with whom we engage. UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland.

UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, or any other legally protected classification.

If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request (https://umbforms.wufoo.com/forms/umb-job-applicant-accommodation-request/) . You may also contact [email protected]. Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read the UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination (https://www.umaryland.edu/policies-and-procedures/library/administration/policies/vi-100c.php) for more information.

UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland. Regular and contractual employee are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package (https://www.umaryland.edu/media/umb/hr/new-employees/pdfs/summaryofbenefits-05.09.23-final.pdf)

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Office of Research and Development (ORD) is the chief administrative unit and catalyst for advancing research and economic development at UMB. In addition to managing research administration and intellectual property protection and licensing, ORD fosters new research and clinical initiatives with federal and local sponsors. ORD also manages the University of Maryland BioPark, a 14-acre commercial research park, which provides private-sector life science and technology companies with space on UMB’s campus.

Job Identification: 485

Job Category: Research Administration

Job Schedule: Full time

Expected Salary $60,000 - $72,000

SOAPF 105-05200000-URDSPA-00000000-630

JobType Regular

How this job compares

Set against the 471 open Contract Administrator jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$60–72K/yr
  • US median$90–125K/yr321 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $66K, is 39% below the US median midpoint ($108K) — in the lowest quarter of Contract Administrator salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 34 open Contract Administrator jobs in Maryland and 471 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Contract Administrator postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 431 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 141 of the 471 open Contract Administrator jobs (30%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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