Research Administrator

Department: MCC Research Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:

Provides administrative leadership and intermediate problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. Provides lifecycle pre- & post-award research administration to Biomedical Engineering department ensuring the fulfillment of all grant &/or contract & compliance requirements. Manages overall day-to-day research administration activities & may research & identify funding opportunities & faculty &/or PIs with associated research competencies & interests & assisting with award closeout responsibilities. Ensures that all activities are completed in compliance with associated local, state, federal & institutional rules & regulations. This position will also maintain a departmental database of proposals and awards and participate in school-level sponsored research initiatives and projects as assigned. This position is one of two research administrators supporting the department of Biomedical Engineering.

Specific Responsibilities:

Complexity

• Typically administers multiple research projects such as:
• Single Principal Investigator (PI) proposals, grants &/or contracts
• Basic multi-PI or multi-unit proposals, grants &/or contracts
• Research portfolio for a small to mid-sized unit
• DOD and industry awards
• Center or program grants
• Proposals with cost sharing
• Fixed-price contracts
• Non-funded negotiations such as NDAs, user agreements

Pre-Award

• Manages pre-award administration of grants &/or contracts.
• Reviews solicitation and proactively resolves any issues/questions within the solicitation with OSR and/or sponsor.
• Establishes procedures at the small to mid-sized unit level related to pre-award administration.
• Coordinates large-scale proposals, teaming/collaboration agreements, confidentiality agreements, intellectual property agreements or user agreements.
• Manage representation of sub-recipients, cost sharing and administrative costs on a proposal.
• Coordinates IRB and IACUC protocols.
• Prepares &/or reviews complete budget.
• Assesses the need for the redistribution of project F&A among multiple redistributed chartstrings.

Post-Award

• Completes post-award administration of research grants &/or contracts.
• Reviews account establishment.
• Manages effort commitments of key project personnel.
• Approves high-value/high-risk expenditures.
• Interprets awards documents.
• Reviews and reports expenditures.
• Verifies processing of cost share transactions.
• Reviews award budget status with PIs.
• Provides data needed for interim and final financial and technical progress reports.
• Facilitates account close out activities, coordinating with ASRSP as needed. .
• Serves as liaison between department & OSR, ASRSP, IACUC, IRB, internal audit, funding & regulatory agencies, subcontractors, collaborators, institutes, centers, etc.
• Participates in efforts to improve research administration including serving on university committees related to research administration.
• Provides information needed to prepare interim & final financial reports

Financial

• Oversees unit's entire sponsored project portfolio.
• Reviews transactions and resolve issues that requires a more complex level of financial understanding such as cost-sharing &/or effort reporting knowledge.
• Provides information to senior management that is used for department budgeting purposes.

Human Resources

• Orients new employees.
• Provides training to technical and administrative staff in the unit regarding research administration.

Compliance

• Ensures compliance with all appropriate NU policies & practices; local, state, federal, agency & sponsor rules, regulations & requirements regarding grant &/or contract administration.
• Recommends changes to improve programs, policy &/or practice.
• Resolves compliance problems & issues working in conjunction with faculty.
• Resolves compliance problems & issues involving research safety, animal subjects and human subjects.
• Alerts supervisor to potential higher risk compliance issues.
• Supervision
• Mentors administrative or financial positions.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances:

• A bachelor's degree or 2 years financial or administrative support experience.
• 2 years research administration + 1 year financial or administrative support experience in a research environment (total of 3 years).

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Organization, time management, detail oriented
• Multi-tasking, communication
• Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active, manage stress
• Managing people

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Two to four years of proposal/award management experience in a university environment.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
• Understanding of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Research Terms & Conditions (FDP) and agency-specific terms and conditions, including the NSF Grant Policy Manual and PHS Grants Policy Statement.
• Knowledge of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide and NSF Fastlane.
• Knowledge of other electronic proposal/award management systems, including InfoEd and www.grants.gov.
• Knowledge of basic intellectual property principles.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge of NU's financial systems and accounting procedures.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $70,017-$98,462 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.