Senior Research Administrator

Department: MCC Research Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Target hiring range for this position will be between $78,000-$90,341 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

Job Summary:

Provides administrative leadership by incorporating a significant amount of experience in support of unit's research programs and mission. Provides sole support to the Chemical & Biological Engineering department and associated centers. Using extensive research administration experience within the same unit, coordinates all aspects of multiple grant &/or contract pre- & post-award activities. Assists in developing new funding opportunities & 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. Reviews associated policy & procedures & recommends changes to increase productivity & effectiveness.

This position assists with the onboarding, ongoing training, & mentorship to new McCormick research administration staff.

Please note:

Supervisor provides overall objectives & in consultation with EE develops deadlines. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objectives & overall compliance with policy & procedures. EE completes majority of activities without direction; consulting with supervisor only in regard to new or unusual circumstances.

EE uses judgment & an extensive amount of experience to adapt an advanced knowledge of skills, methods, practices, policies & procedures & a moderate degree of innovation, analysis, & reasoning to plan & prioritize work that is primarily project oriented & involves some extremely difficult problems &/or decisions. EE interprets policy.

Specific Responsibilities:

Complexity

• Typically administers multiple research projects such as:
• Complex multi-PI or multi-unit proposals, grants &/or contracts
• Research portfolio for a complex large-size 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 and &/or contracts.
• Coordinates proposal submission.
• Coordinates budget and justification preparation.
• Completes sponsor and university proposal forms.
• May coordinate IRB and IACUC protocols; sub-recipients, facilities, administrative costs, space, and co-investigator agreements.
• Creatively and proactively evaluates and resolves problems and makes decisions.
• Exercises department-level delegated sign-off authority on CERES proposal records.

Post-Award

• Coordinates post-award activities.
• Monitors execution of all financial transactions in research portfolio.
• Forecasts & provides information for reports on financial status of projects.
• Manages day-to-day financial functions.
• Verifies that protocols are linked to chart strings
• Completes expenditure reviews.
• Verifies & processes cost share entries.
• Identifies program income issues.
• Proposes resolutions to overdrafts.
• Provides information needed to prepare interim & final financial reports.
• Facilitates account close out activities.
• Participates in efforts to improve research administration including serving on university committees related to research administration.

Financial

• Oversees unit's entire sponsored project portfolio.
• Reviews transactions and resolves 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

• Manages & integrates all departmental staff efforts for grant &/or contract administration.
• Provides research administration training.
• Develops staff.
• Mentors other administrative staff in research administration.
• Serves as the primary resource for research administration guidance for departmental staff.
• Assists with trainings and onboarding to new research administration staff members.
• Provides mentorship to all research administration staff.

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.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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.

• 5 years research administration experience.

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

• Organization, time management, detail oriented

• Multi-tasking, communication

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

• Managing people

• Provide leadership by cooperatively anticipating, coordinating, strategizing

Preferred Qualifications:

• Four to six years of proposal/award management experience in a university environment.

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)

• Understanding of OMB 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 Grant Proposal Guide and NSF research.gov.

• Knowledge of other electronic federal proposal/award management systems, including www.grants.gov.

• Knowledge of basic intellectual property principles.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

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

• Experience prioritizing work and managing detailed work under deadlines

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.