Grants & Contracts Professional III, St. Paul Campus

About the Job

Working Title: Grants & Contracts Professional III

Job Classification: G&C Pro 3-G&C Generalist (8223GG), Civil Service

Appointment: Full-time, 100% FTE (40 hours/week)

Office location: Coffey Hall, St. Paul Campus; Hybrid option available with a minimum of 2 days a week in the office

Pay Range: $76,000 - $94,000 ($36.54 - $45.19/hour); depending on education, qualifications, experience

Apply by: May 25, 2026

About the Job

The Grants and Contracts Professional serves as the primary subject matter expert and strategic advisor for Extension employees navigating the complexities of external funding. This role is specifically designed to provide specialized leadership for charitable grants, serving as the primary bridge between Extension and the University of Minnesota Foundation. Additionally, you will act as a key expert in program agreements and external sales, ensuring these contracts are negotiated to mitigate risk.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer within the Finance and Planning (F&P) unit, you will manage the full pre-award lifecyclefrom identifying revenue classifications to drafting technical proposal narratives. While your focus is on charitable and programmatic revenue, you will also serve as a critical backup for sponsored project grants, providing seamless continuity for federal and state applications. This is a high-impact, collaborative role for a professional who can balance meticulous regulatory compliance with a user-centered approach to educator support.

Location and Work Environment

Coffey Hall, St. Paul Campus, hybrid option available with a minimum of 2 days a week in the office.

Work Schedule

Core work hours are 9:00 am to 2:30 pm with additional hours to be scheduled between 6 am and 7 pm, as determined by employee and supervisor. Once to twice a year, travel and overnight stays are required, including some evening work. The employee may need to adjust their work schedule to meet specific organizational needs.

Primary Responsibilities

Grant and Contract Classification, Development, Negotiation, and Management (70%)

• Serve as Extensions subject matter expert and the first point-of-contact for employee questions on new revenue sources and determine if revenue should be received and managed as a gift, charitable grant, event sponsorship, external sale, or sponsored project. Consult with Universitys classifications team when needed.
• Advise Extension faculty and staff in the development and negotiation of Extension program agreements and external sales agreements. Evaluate and assess agreements to ensure mitigated risk and reasonable return on investment. Negotiate contracts directly as necessary. Finalize and sign eligible contracts that bind the University to legally enforceable obligations.
• Facilitate relationships and data/information flow for charitable grants work in partnership with Extensions development team and the University of Minnesota Foundation. Coordinate and guide Extension Educators through the charitable grant application and submission process for local/county projects, including supporting budget development.
• Serve as the backup to collaborate with Extension faculty and educators in the development of sponsored projects, and subawards by leading budget development and overseeing the submission process in the Universitys electronic grants management system. Serve as a liaison to key agencies and University offices regarding sponsored award applications. Transition awards to post-award accountants and PIs.
• Partner with University experts to ensure accurate interpretation and implementation of policies, develop/update standard Extension contracts and resources, review and revise external party agreements, and resolve grant/contract issues.

Internal Communication & Training (20%)

• Monitor, provide feedback, and communicate changes in University policies regarding grants and contracts.
• Develop tools, training, and procedures to increase Extensions capacity, efficiency, and competency in preparing successful grants and contracts. Maintain a working knowledge of the contract types and the nuances between the various revenue sources.
• Ensure content regarding grants and contracts is up-to-date on the Extension intranet.
• Provide onboarding and staff training to Extension faculty, educators, and support staff regarding the development of budgets and the submission process for grants and contracts.
• Draft and send email communication to University employees and partners.
• Document, retain, and share information for reporting.

Administration (10%)

• Facilitate meetings with Extension educators/ PIs and unit contacts on grant submissions and agreement processes or escalated issues.
• Attend and contribute to F&P staff meetings.
• Provide guidance and feedback to the staff team responsible for receiving and processing contracts including attending meetings of administrative support specialist - finance staff.
• Participate in University-wide opportunities for networking and staff development related to grants and contracts.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS in business administration, public administration, or a related field plus 4 years of related professional experience, or a combination of related education and professional experience to equal 8 years.

• Experience in each of the following:

• Project management

• Budget development, tracking, and reporting

• Preparing and reviewing grants and contracts

• Communicating complex information in simple terms

• Networking with partners, internal and external to the organization, to accomplish tasks

• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills

• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications.

Additional Requirements

• Reliable internet when working remotely
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including occasional evening or weekend work, and overnight stays.
• Valid drivers license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance. Travel is required a few times per year.
• Ability to work on a computer for prolonged periods of time
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• BA/BS in business administration, public administration, or a related field.

• Demonstrated commitment to contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

• Work experience in higher education, governmental agencies, or the public sector.

• Demonstrated ability to:

• anticipate business needs, develop and analyze alternatives, and make recommendations.

• independently manage and prioritize work with competing demands.

• proactively identify and resolve problems with a customer service focus.

• communicate clearly and effectively to financial and non-financial audiences, both verbally and in writing.

• plan and facilitate small group meetings.

• prepare and present information in an educational setting.

• Knowledge of:

• Regulations, policies, procedures, and programmatic requirements of federal, state, local, and foundation grants.

• University of Minnesota policies and procedures.

• Extension and its programs.

• Experience with electronic grants management systems used by higher education and the federal government (MN-Gems, grants.gov, sam.gov, EZFed, eRA Commons).

About the Department

About Finance and Planning

The Finance and Planning unit, a team of 12 finance professionals, is responsible for acquiring, managing and dispersing all Extension funding sources. The team designs and implements strategies that ensure our services are efficient, cost-effective, consistent and user-centered. We serve as an expert resource for employees across Extension on financial policies and procedures.

About Extension

University of Minnesota Extension is a major outreach arm of the University of Minnesota with a mission to serve the public through applied research and education. Our mission is to make a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota. Extension strives to attract and retain high-quality, passionate employees, and weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of Extensions programming and employee engagement https://extension.umn.edu/.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $76,000 - $94,000 annually ($36.54 - $45.19/hour); depending on education, qualifications, experience. This is an hourly not salaried position.

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

How To Apply

Please note: This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click on the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position. Please attach the following required application materials:

1. Cover letter

2. Resume - Your resume must include all your education and experience as it relates to the required qualifications. The initial HR screening process focuses primarily on the resume.

Names and contact information for three professional references will be required during the interview process.

Additional documents may be attached after the application by accessing your My Job Applications page and uploading documents in the My Cover Letters and Attachments section. See full application instructions.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.