NSHE Specialist 1 for Grants - College of Engineering

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or [email protected].

The University of Nevada, Reno is seeking an NSHE Specialist 1 for Grants to join the College of Engineering. This is a full-time position with an anticipated start date of November 16, 2026.

This position plays a vital role in providing guidance, training, and subject matter expertise for pre- and post-award grant administration across the college. The position interprets and communicates grant requirements; coordinates and reviews proposal and award activities; supports contract implementation, budgeting, cost share, and post-award financial management; and ensures compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements. Serving as a key resource for faculty and staff, the incumbent provides training, consultation, and technical assistance on sponsored project policies, procedures, and best practices while supporting grant forecasting and promoting effective, consistent grant administration across the college

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of relevant experience; OR
• Graduation from high school or equivalent education and three (3) years of program support experience equivalent to an Administrative Assistant III in Nevada state service which included applying complex laws and regulations, composing written materials and maintaining records; OR
• An equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with one or more of the following qualifications are encouraged to apply: 

• Knowledge of federal grant regulations (e.g., Uniform Guidance, NIH, NSF), post-award processes, and university research administration practices.
• Experience in pre- and post-award grant management, including budget development, financial reporting, and compliance monitoring.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., Workday, PeopleSoft, Banner), Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, vlookups), and data visualization tools like Power BI or Tableau.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate across teams.

Schedule

The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; this is subject to change based on organizational needs.

Compensation Grade

Grade 31

In classified service, salary is in Grade and Step. The Step is determined based on the Nevada Administrative Code. Salary placement above a Step 01 at initial appointment is determined based on the recruitment, the candidate’s qualifications, internal equity, and budgets. A request to accelerate salary must be approved by Human Resources and abide by the Nevada Administrative Code.

To view the classified compensation schedules, please visit: Classified Compensation. Select Salary schedule, PP01.

For more information, visit the Classified Salary Calculator

The Perks of PERS

Classified Employees are enrolled in The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Nevada (PERS) upon hire. The PERS retirement plan is beyond compare. Please visit the Benefit Estimator Retirement Calculator for more information.

Perks of Working at UNR

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance
• Life insurance, generous annual and sick leave - Classified Benefits
• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options.  E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center
• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.
• Staff Employees’ Council (SEC) represents all Classified employees. SEC holds monthly meetings to provide a forum for employees to participate. SEC

Classified Staff Grants-In-Aid Benefit

For more information about the Classified Staff Grant-In-Aid Benefit, please visit: Classified Staff Grants-In-Aid Benefit

Classified Employee Family Opportunity Program

Additionally, we offer a Classified Employee Family Opportunity Program for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents of classified employees (working at least a 50% full-time equivalent). For more information, please visit: Classified Employee Family Opportunity Program

Department Information

Join the College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno and become part of a team dedicated to innovation, research, and student success. Our classified staff play an essential role in supporting the college's mission through administrative, technical, and operational excellence.

Nevada Engineering is committed to improving the lives of Nevadans through education, research, and economic development. The college fosters a supportive and inclusive workplace through initiatives that promote professional development, employee engagement, and collaboration across departments.

Classified staff enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, participation in the Nevada Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), and Grants-in-Aid tuition benefits for courses within the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). As one of the University's 13 colleges and schools, Nevada Engineering is home to nationally recognized research centers and laboratories that support cutting-edge research and industry partnerships. In FY26, the college recorded approximately $24 million in research expenditures. Student success remains at the heart of everything we do. The college offers 12 degree programs, including new programs in aerospace engineering and industrial engineering, helping prepare the next generation of engineers to meet the needs of Nevada and beyond.

For more information, please visit unr.edu/engineering.

Contact Information

Brandon Weeks - [email protected]

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at [email protected].

Attach the following attachment(s) to your application

Resume/CV – (required) List a detailed description of the major duties that you performed as part of each job. You must demonstrate that you qualify for the position and your education and experience must be clearly documented.

Cover Letter – (required)

Contact Information for Three Supervisory References – (required) Please make a note if you do not want your present employer contacted unless necessary to determine your qualifications for the position.

Transcripts – (optional) If you have not graduated, please attach your transcripts to receive education credit for classes you have taken. Credit is given for classes relevant to the position.

Veteran Interview Consideration – (optional) – To receive interview consideration for veterans and veterans with a service-connected disability, proof is required at the time of application. Please attach proof electronically to your application under the Veteran Document(s) section. (Examples of acceptable documents include DD-214, disability letter from Veteran's Administration, etc).

This posting is open until filled

Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. Lists of eligible candidates will be established and hiring may occur early in the recruiting process. Recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received, or a hiring decision has been made.

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). 

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University’s website.

University of Nevada, Reno