Senior Learning and Engagement Specialist, Office of Sponsored Projects

Job Posting Title

• Hiring Department: Learning and Engagement
• Position Open To: All Applicants
• Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40
• FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA
• Earliest Start Date: Immediately
• Position Duration: Expected to Continue
• Location: AUSTIN, TX

Job Details

General Notes

The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) serves as the coordinating office for externally funded research and sponsored projects at The University of Texas at Austin. The mission of OSP is to assist faculty and professional research staff in their efforts to secure and ensure proper stewardship of external funding. We do that by assisting research faculty and staff with the following: proposal review, authorization, and submission; award negotiations and acceptance; account management; close-out, reports, audits, collection; professional development and education; export control, and research compliance.

Benefits

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage
• Retirement contributions
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid holidays
• Fully remote

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

Purpose

Serves as an outward-facing member of the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) Learning and Engagement team by building collaborative relationships with the UT research community and translating evolving research administration requirements into practical learning opportunities and operational guidance. Partners with OSP leadership, subject matter experts, and campus stakeholders to identify emerging needs, coordinate educational initiatives, facilitate knowledge sharing, and promote consistent research administration practices throughout the sponsored project lifecycle.

Responsibilities

Learning Needs Assessment & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with OSP leadership, subject matter experts, and campus stakeholders to identify emerging learning needs, operational challenges, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships across the UT research community to understand evolving research administration practices and strengthen partnerships.
• Monitor trends, recurring questions, sponsor changes, and stakeholder feedback to identify opportunities for new or enhanced educational resources and outreach initiatives.
• Communicate stakeholder feedback, emerging issues, and recommendations to OSP leadership to inform learning priorities.

Learning Facilitation & Program Coordination

• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate instructor-led learning opportunities, including workshops, orientations, webinars, office hours, cohort-based programs, and other educational sessions for research administrators and OSP staff.
• Deliver engaging learning experiences using a variety of instructional and facilitation techniques that encourage knowledge sharing, discussion, and practical application.
• Coordinate subject matter expert participation to support high-quality learning opportunities.
• Support implementation and continuous improvement of the OSP Learning Continuum and related professional development initiatives.
• Support implementation and ongoing coordination of the OSP Learning Ambassador Program.

Sponsor Guidance & Knowledge Management

• Monitor sponsor, federal, state, university, and OSP policy, procedure, and system changes affecting research administration.
• Analyze operational impacts and collaborate with subject matter experts to translate complex requirements into practical guidance for the research community.
• Identify recurring questions, emerging issues, and knowledge gaps that may require new or revised educational resources.
• Support the development of consistent messaging and guidance related to evolving research administration requirements.

Learning Resource Development

• Develop and maintain operational guidance and educational resources, including reference guides, FAQs, job aids, workflow documents, templates, and other knowledge resources.
• Collaborate with team members to support the development and dissemination of educational content through a variety of learning and communication channels.
• Coordinate periodic review and maintenance of educational resources to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with current sponsor and university requirements.

Continuous Improvement & Organizational Support

• Participate in cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives that support OSP operational excellence.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Learning and Engagement services, processes, and resources.

Other Duties

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in research administration, higher education, organizational learning, stakeholder engagement, communications, program coordination, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience planning, facilitating, or delivering presentations, workshops, training sessions, or other educational programs.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and work effectively with stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex information into clear, practical guidance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize competing responsibilities, and work independently in a collaborative environment.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other collaboration technologies.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Education, Communications, Public Administration, Higher Education, or a related field.
• Experience in sponsored research administration within a higher education environment.
• Knowledge of federal sponsor regulations, research administration policies, and sponsored project lifecycle processes.
• Experience facilitating workshops, presentations, or professional development programs.
• Experience interpreting and communicating complex policies, regulations, or operational procedures.
• Experience developing operational guidance, knowledge resources, or educational materials in collaboration with subject matter experts.
• Experience supporting organizational change, stakeholder engagement, or continuous improvement initiatives.

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

Required Materials

Please mark "yes" on the application for required materials. Failure to attach all additional materials listed may affect candidates being considered for the position.

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor.
• Letter of interest

Additional information

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply.

This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.