Office of Center Administration and Management (OCAM)

OCAM provides comprehensive administrative support for both pre-award and post-award activities, financial management, and research compliance. Our team works collaboratively with principal investigators, research staff, and university departments to facilitate seamless research operations.

The Business Specialist serves as OCAM’s operational backbone for multiple research centers-owning budgets and reporting, HR actions and salary distributions, purchasing and travel, and sponsored award administration. The role applies independent judgment to interpret policy, approve transactions, solve exceptions, and improve processes via OCAM’s RT ticketing system to deliver compliant, timely, and high-quality service.

UMBC offers competitive compensation.  This role starts at $57,000 and has over 4 weeks of vacation for regular full time roles. Tuition remission is also available.

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For 15 years in a row UMBC has been recognized as a Great College to Work For! 

A hybrid telework schedule may be available.

Key Responsibilities — Business Specialist (OCAM)

• Pre-Award Leadership: Advise faculty on proposal strategy; develop and review budgets/justifications; verify compliance with sponsor and UMBC policy; coordinate subaward packages (SOW, budgets, commitment forms); and initiate/route proposals in Kuali, resolving issues independently.

• Post-Award Management: Set up awards; reconcile monthly all research accounts (sponsored, cost-share, self-support, foundation); monitor burn rates, commitments, and cost share; prepare/approve corrections within authority (e.g., JEs/payroll redistributions); and coordinate rebudgeting, NCEs, carryforward, and award modifications.

• Faculty Partnership & Forecasting: Meet with PIs on a regular cadence (per PI preference) to deliver clear financial summaries, projections, and spending plans; advise on risks and compliance.

• Subaward Administration: Manage the subrecipient lifecycle-initiate and amend subawards with OSP, track deliverables, review/approve subrecipient invoices, and resolve compliance exceptions.

• Reporting & Closeout: Coordinate timely financial and technical closeouts-provide required closeout materials to OCGA (financial) and OSP (administrative/subaward) and ensure records are audit-ready.

• Ticketing & Service Quality: Triage, prioritize, and resolve RT tickets; maintain SLA targets; document processes and recommend improvements.

• Analysis & Continuous Improvement: Perform ad-hoc project analyses (scenario modeling, burn-rate trends, funding gaps) and propose process enhancements.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Two years of progressively responsible experience in a combination of budgeting, accounting, payroll, purchasing, and personnel work
• Must have excellent communication, organization, problem-solving, and customer service skills
• Proficiency in the use of computers and Microsoft Office
• The ability to work independently and proactively

• PeopleSoft, Paw Procurement System (PPS) and Report Exchange (REX) experience
• Strong knowledge of MS Word and Excel
• Uniform Guidance

A background check will be required. 

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UMBC offers a rich benefits package.

Regular and grant funded regular positions (Full benefits summary click here):

Generous Leave which includes accruing:

• 22 Days of Annual Leave  
• 15 Days of Sick Leave  
• 15 Holidays
• 3 Personal Days

Tuition Remission:

• 8 credit hours per semester
• Tuition remission at UMBC for eligible dependents after two years of FT employment

Additional Benefits:

• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement plans (including the choice of joining the pension plan)
• Professional development opportunities
• Wellness opportunities
• & Much more

Salary: starting at $57,000 depending on qualifications and experience.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations.

The above salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 410-455-2337 or MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.