Research Administrator

Department: WCAS Administration

Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:

Provides administrative leadership and intermediate problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. Provide sole support activities in a larger unit. May provide lifecycle pre- & post-award research administration ensuring the fulfillment of all grant &/or contract & compliance requirements. Manages overall day-to-day research administration activities. Assists in developing strategic plans regarding grants &/or contracts by providing guidance & counsel in regard to grant &/or contract administration which includes attending internal & external meetings, interpreting clauses, reviewing contracts, & resolving reporting &/or expense problems. Ensures that all activities are completed in compliance with associated local, state, federal & institutional rules & regulations.

The Research Administrator/Sr. Research Administrator position is a multi-level position. Dependent on the minimum qualifications, this position could be offered at either level.

This Research Administrator position in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences is a full time (100%) position. This position offers a hybrid work schedule with significant flexibility for remote work.

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

• Sponsors include: NASA, NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, Foundations and Industry

• 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.

• Prepares &/or reviews complete budget, budget justification and supplementary documents.

Post-Award

• Completes post-award administration of research grants &/or contracts.

• Reviews account establishment.

• Interprets awards documents.

• Reviews and reports expenditures.

• 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.

Financial

• Along with Financial staff, 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

• Provides training to technical and administrative staff in 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.

• Alerts supervisor to potential higher risk compliance issues.

• Attends required Research Administration trainings and courses to advance systems and business process knowledge.

Performs other duties as assigned.

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

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 3 years research administration or other relevant experience required.

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

• Organization, time management, detail oriented

• Multi-tasking, communication

• Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active, manage stress

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Excellent written and verbal communication

• Familiarity with Excel, including formulas

The target hiring range for this position will be between $67,978 - $95,595 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 strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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