Department: MED-Basic Science Admin
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Job Summary:

The Research Administrator provides administrative leadership and intermediate problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. May provide sole support to a small to mid-sized unit, or support a portion of 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 & may research & identify funding opportunities & faculty &/or PIs with associated research competencies & interests.  Ensures that all activities are completed in compliance with associated local, state, federal & institutional rules & regulations.

Specific Responsibilities:

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. 
• Establishes procedures at the small to mid-sized unit level related to post-award administration.
• 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:

• 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 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:

• Supervises administrative or financial positions and/or mentor other administrative staff in research administration.

Miscellaneous:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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:

• Certification in research administration
• Knowledge of Northwestern's enterprise systems including NU Financials, InfoEd, ERS, and Cognos

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. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.