UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

Position Description

TITLE: Specialist, CELS/Land Grant Programs

DIVISION: Academic Affairs (CELS)

REPORTS TO: Dean/Director, Associate Dean/Director, and Director, Finance & Administration

GRADE: 11

SUPERVISES: Research Assistant IV; graduate assistant and students as required.

BASIC FUNCTION:

Assist the Director, Associate Director, and CELS administrators with the programmatic, administrative, and operational functions of the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension (RICE) and Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) programs (Land Grant). Prepare and submit federal and state reports, both programmatic and budgetary.

Develop and manage programmatic and administrative support functions for funded projects, which include, but are not limited to: required federal and state programmatic reporting, database development, program monitoring/compliance, development of on-line reporting, budgets, and office management.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Oversee all RICE and RIAES financial and administrative operations, and supervise the professional position assigned (Research Assistant IV).

Responsible for ensuring that federal financial accountability mandates are met with regard to the Land Grant programs. Manage and monitor budgetary compliance with the following: RICE and RIAES Plans of Work, RICE and RIAES Annual Reports, Multi-State and Integrated project Monitoring, Federal Personnel Information System reports. Prepare and submit federal and state programmatic reports as directed.

Prepare internal RICE & RIAES documents as directed by the Director and Associate Director to include, but not limited to: Land Grant Annual Report, AES RFP Process, and Land Grant Policies and Procedures development and updates.

Monitor grants, both pre- and post-award, for Land Grant projects and submission of required federal, state and University documents/reports.

Serve as the College’s liaison to both the Northeast Management Officers’ Association (NEMO) and CSREES. Design and present training programs at the national CSREES meetings.

Assume primary administrative responsibility for Land Grant self-funding accounts, e.g., fee for service and cost centers, that supplement the RICE and RIAES programs. This involves the budgetary management from initial set-up, training, daily operations, and monitoring of compliance under both the state and federal guidelines established for these accounts.

Implement new computer technology for electronic processing of federal documents.

Develop and maintain Land Grant programmatic, personnel, and financial databases that integrate with the College of the Environment and Life Sciences’ existing systems.

Produce statistical analyses as directed.

Coordinate the development and design of on-line Land Grant reporting systems and the updating and management of the Land Grant Web pages.

Advise faculty/staff in the administration of their program awards.

Supervise support staff as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree with at least three years’ experience in federal program administration required. Experience with U.S. Department of Agriculture procedures and reporting requirements and methods required. (Work performed in the aforementioned areas as a graduate assistant may constitute a portion of this experience.) The following are required: experience in a complex administrative support position with responsibility for operations related to the management of federal programs (both programmatic and financial), and with federal evaluation and reporting; demonstrated proficiency in computing, including word processing, database management, spreadsheet analysis, graphic arts software, and electronic mail systems; excellent interpersonal and writing skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with diverse individuals and groups; demonstrated ability to prepare and deliver oral presentations; ability to effectively organize, coordinate, and supervise support staff.

ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.