Provide support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Compliance Assistance and Research Administration Support (CARAS). The primary objective of CARAS is to provide services and deliverables to assist applicants and award recipients with guidance about required documentation, reporting, compliance and award maintenance. Candidates will provide assistance to officials at organizations including, but not limited to, under-resourced institutions and institutions in states that historically have had low levels of NIH funding, as well as NIGMS program and grants management staff.

• Provide customer service to grantees navigating NIH systems, policies and grant requirements. - Ad-Hoc

• Develop external and internal materials to assist in information dissemination to NIGMS staff, applicants and grantees. - Ad-Hoc

• Develop emails to PIs and Authorized Organization Representatives (AORs) about upcoming trainings and/or new policy resources available on developed website and/or at NIH. - Ad-Hoc

• Assist applicants and grantees with submitting accurate and complete competing and non-competing grant applications 1
• Educate grantees about systems and resources; Assists with navigating requirements throughout the grant life cycle. Examples of systems include X-Train, Payment Management System and eRA Commons. 2 
• Generate internal guidance and training materials to educate NIGMS staff about CARAS, including a list of issues that are within and outside CARAS purview. These activities will identify when it’s appropriate for staff to refer tasks to CARAS. 3
• Advise and provide technical assistance and policy clarification and interpretation to staff, grantee organizations, and potential applicants, of new or revised Institute and HHS documents. 4
• Create new content for and maintain an external website that links to NIH and NIGMS policy and currently existing training materials (videos, podcasts etc.) (e.g. OPERA YouTube Page and All About Grants podcast). 5

• Provides technical assistance developing and analyzing the organization’s grant program.

• Educate grantees about systems and resources; Assists with navigating requirements throughout the grant life cycle. Examples of systems include X-Train, Payment Management System, and eRA Commons.

• Assists with reviewing grant applications and preparing responses.

• Initiate correspondence to grantee institutions regarding grant-related questions and problems, clarification of policy and procedures, or requests for additional information.

• Assist applicants and grantees with submitting accurate and complete competing and non-competing grant applications.

• Develop an external website that links to NIH and NIGMS policy and currently existing training materials (videos, podcasts etc.) (e.g. OPERA YouTube Page and All About Grants podcast). Creates and maintains a database for grant activities.

• Develop an internal database of case studies that document solutions to grantee problems. This database can be used as guidance when new grantee-related issues emerge.

• Provides support and routine updates to staff.

• Remain informed of current and new NIH policies and procedures that impact NIGMS applications and awards.

• Create monthly emails to all PIs and AORs about upcoming trainings and/or new policy resources available on developed website and/ or at NIH.

• Develops procedures for the grant review and approval process.

• Develop public-facing and internal web sites, SOPs and other materials to assist in the dissemination of information of common questions and problems. Materials include developing videos, webinars, websites etc.

• Generate internal guidance and training materials to educate NIGMS staff about the DEA Service Center, including a list of issues that are within and outside the Service Center purview. These activities will identify when it’s appropriate for staff to refer tasks to the DEA Service Center.

• Serves as an expert resource in facilitating the grant management process.

• Provides expertise and coordinates pre and post award administration for a large range of funding mechanisms.

• Initiate correspondence to grantee institutions regarding grant-related questions and problems, clarification of policy and procedures, or requests for additional information.

• Provides expertise and guidance in interpreting and applying business management policies and quality control procedures to complicated grant issues.

• Develop draft SOPs based on current business processes and a general understanding of the overall mission and functions of the branch.

• Advise, apply, and formulates and implements policies and procedures.

• Remain informed of current and new NIH policies and procedures that impact NIGMS applications and awards

• Create emails to all PIs and AORs about upcoming trainings and/or new policy resources available on developed website and/or at NIH.

• Provides expertise and coordinates the administrative and financial review.

• Maintain official grant file(s); prepare electronic documents; convert to PDF images; upload images directly into the appropriate IMPAC II eAdditions file groups.

• Coordinates and assess outreach and marketing activities.

• Identify new outreach strategies to defined target applicants and customers or customer segments, such as engaging small businesses operating in the scientific research and development marketplace, small business incubation associations, early-stage investors, small business associations and chambers of commerce.

• Track outreach activities and work with operational and program staff to identify and operationalize metrics that reflect the strategic aims of the grants management program.

• Develop targeted marketing and outreach resources and campaign materials to existing and potential applicants and customers, optimizing a mix of media, media platforms and media formats including, but not limited to, email, direct mail, and social media.

• Perform specialized tasks requiring continuing responsibilities for projects, questions and issues that arise pertaining to grant functions based on applicable policies and procedures.

• Serve as point of contact within assigned area and furnish authoritative explanations of the regulations and procedures pertaining to grant functions and applications.

• Provide interpretation of grant policies to grantees and program officials.

• Acts as an expert resource for inquiries concerning grant management policies, procedures and award status.

• Act as an expert resource for queries concerning grants management policies and procedures, status of individual awards, on a one-on-one basis.

• Respond to inquiries concerning grants management policies and procedures, status of individual awards, on a one-on-one basis.

• Develop and provide quality control review of completed grant actions and completed eAdditions uploading actions.

• Keep abreast of current and new NIH policies and procedures affecting the smooth operation of the grants program.

• Conduct public speaking and presentations to announce new products to deliver training and technical assistance to recipients, ensuring clear communication of technical details Develop and implement grants management training programs.

• Advise executives and administrators on current performance of grants programs in terms of meeting organizational mission and public program requirements and recommend strategies for improvement.

• Provide guidance in interpreting and applying business management policies, procedures and practices to complicated grants and/or cooperative agreement-related situations.

• Interpret and apply business management policies, procedures and practices to grants created situations.

• Deliver workshops, training sessions, and 1:1 mentoring to NIGMS recipients to ensure understanding of and compliance with grants management policies, procedures, and practices.

Certifications & Licenses

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Candidates without the required Certifications Licenses are allowable if the candidate is within the Range of Minimum Experience Preferred

Field of Study

• General Business

• Business Management and Administration

• Finance

• Less Than a bachelor’s degree

• Public Administration

• Community and Public Health

• Public Policy 

Software

• Grant systems

• MS Office

• IMPAC II

• SharePoint Skills

• Grants compliance and auditing experience

• Analytical and creative problem-solving skills

• NIH grants experience

• Communication skills

• Grants policy and regulations

• Grants involving human subjects