Agreements Specialist

Overview

Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.

More than 27,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

Position Summary

The Agreements Specialist is a professional staff member in the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA), the centralized administrative unit at PSU responsible for University-wide administration of external funding received by the University in the form of grants and agreements for research and other scholarly activity. SPA staff provide expertise and professional support to faculty and staff throughout the sponsored projects lifecycle.

The Agreements Specialist uses specialized skills to exercise discretion and independent judgment to perform work related to accepting sponsored project agreements s role manages a large, diverse, and complex portfolio of federal and non-federal sponsored projects, including reviewing, negotiating, and accepting the agreements that govern the projects and ensuring PSU can meet the terms and conditions. The role also involves drafting, issuing, and executing subaward agreements, documenting non-standard terms, and ensuring funding attributes enable SPA to manage and account for projects.

The Agreements Specialist may serve as an authorized representative for PSU with authority to bind the institution to financial and administrative commitments and certify compliance with federal regulations under PSU’s Delegated Signature Authority Policy.

This position is based at PSU’s urban campus in downtown Portland and offers flexible scheduling options, with possible limited remote work (typically up to one day per week) under an approved remote work agreement in line with University policy. Start date is negotiable.

In accordance with the AAUP collective bargaining agreement
, this position is open only to current PSU AAUP academic professionals. Article 17 Section 11 applies.

Bachelor’s degree with three (3) or more years of related experience; a Master’s or other advanced degree in a related field may substitute for years of related experience.

• Ability to organize workload priorities, manage multiple projects, adapt to stress, handle interruptions, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships across organizational units and levels, including faculty, deans, and administration.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, problem solve, anticipate consequences, plan to resolve problems, and implement viable solutions.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to explain complex regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications, including Excel and Word.
• Ability to provide professional service to internal and external customers.

Direct experience as a Contracts Specialist or Contracts Officer or similar role, including:

• Reviewing and negotiating agreements and contracts.
• Managing grant and contract funding.
• Interpreting and applying regulations.
• Knowledge of government funding regulations, grant and contract policies and procedures, Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), Federal Acquisition Regulations, and research administration.

Experience in higher education and/or use of systems such as Kuali Research, OnBase, and Banner Financial Information System.

Work environment and culture fosters diversity and inclusion, with commitments to environmental stewardship and…