Business and Contract Services Coordinator

Are you looking for problem solving and collaboration in your next position? The Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) at The University of Kansas is hiring a Business and Contract Services Coordinator who will work a hybrid schedule (on-site and remote work). This position will be a crucial member of the AAI Support Team by assisting the AAI Business and Contract Services Officer and AAI Finance and Administration Director with carrying out the mission of the Institute. This position will manage business service (BS) and fee for service (FFS) administration activities for Principal investigators/responsible party affiliated with AAI and serve as the administrative liaison between the University and sponsors. Our ideal candidate will enjoy working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial-focused, customer service driven, highly agile environment. If you're someone who enjoys advanced problem-solving and using analytical skills, then this position is for you!

AAI is a designated research center with an annual budget of over $60M, 420 regular staff members, and 150 temporary staff members (GRAs, student hourlies, and temporary workers). AAI exists to improve the lives of children, adults, and organizations throughout local, state, and national communities. AAI currently includes seventeen centers, which represent a diversity of services and programs and supports faculty research, both in the School of Education and Human Sciences and other academic units. AAI centers are strongly mission driven but are also significantly more entrepreneurial than a typical university research center. The AAI mission is accomplished in four primary ways:

• Partnering with local, state, national, and global communities to apply scholarship to implement programs with direct public impact.
• Developing and publishing generalizable knowledge that allows leveraging of the solutions developed so the success of the first part of our mission is magnified.
• Providing faculty with the support and encouragement they need to generate resources for research and development in support of enhanced achievement of individuals and organizations.
• Providing students with work experience vital to their professional development.

Learn more about AAI by visiting https://aai.ku.edu/.

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

KU is not able to provide H-1B sponsorship for this position.

75% BS/FFS Duties:

• Manage BS/FFS proposal preparation, review and submission:
• Solve unique and time-sensitive problems and interact with Principal Investigators, AAI staff, agency officials, and university personnel.
• Communicate expectations around BS/FFS proposal preparation/revisions, budget modifications, and compliance requirements.
• Analyze and interpret the agency's request for proposal (RFP) for BS/FFS.
• Review and verify all compliance requirements at time of proposal and confirm all necessary compliance regulations for BS/FFS projects at award initiation.
• Prepare and review all necessary sponsor application forms with correct institutional and proposal information.
• Review all known contract terms/requirements noted at the proposal stage and ascertain additional university approvals from appropriate departments as necessary.
• Develop an adequate, accurate, and justifiable BS/FFS proposal budget and justification in coordination with the Principal Investigator and in accordance with sponsor and university policies.
• Obtain all necessary signatures/approvals (e.g., for inclusion of cost share, space usage, and collaboration).
• Act as liaison with other sponsors when preparing submissions which include subawards.
• Complete and transmit the approved proposal package to meet all sponsor-imposed deadlines and provide any necessary assistance to investigators with sponsor electronic systems that require direct interaction by the PI.
• Maintain proposal records.
• Answer any post-submission questions posed by sponsor to facilitate award issuance.

• Maintain high responsiveness and stellar customer service in the face of unyielding deadlines and inflexible external schedules.
• Assist in the review and submission of business service and fee-for-service proposals, while serving as a liaison between the AAI Principal Investigator, the AAI Director of Finance and Administration, and KU Procurement.
• Communicate with investigators/sponsors to resolve complex BS/FFS sponsored project administration problems/issues and work with principal investigators, administration, and center contacts to resolve matters and identify best practices. Maintain delegated signing authority for proposals as needed.
• Assist in training of AAI staff on BS/FFS administration, policies, procedures, and sponsor guidelines.
• Assist in collecting data to help AAI Business and Contracts Officer create monthly reports for AAI Leadership to assist in strategic decision making.
• Assist in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, resources, and training to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with regulations and overall administration of projects at AAI.
• Support AAI investigators by helping identify relevant funding opportunities, including sharing state funding announcements that align with the research focus and priorities of AAI's Centers.
• Additional duties as assigned.

This is a hybrid position with an expectation the incumbent will work in our Lawrence, Kansas office 2-3 days per week.

A complete application consists of:

• The University of Kansas online application
• A cover letter that describes how you meet the required and preferred qualifications
• A Resume or CV
• Contact information for three (3) professional references

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application review begins Monday, August 11th. For consideration, please apply no later than Sunday, August 10th.

AAI HR, aaihr@ku.edu

Minimum $54,000

Monday August 11, 2025

Tuesday September 2, 2025