The Senior Research Administrator position for the Basic Sciences Administration (BSA) provides administrative leadership by incorporating a significant amount of experience in support of unit's research programs and mission. The Senior Research Administrator position serves throughout the unit, in both departmental and center support, in support a portion of activities in a larger unit. 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. Constituency will be determined based upon candidate experience and unit needs and will support approximately 8 faculty of varying portfolio size and complexity. BSA supports the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience, and Pharmacology, as well as Center for Genetic Medicine and the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics.
*Please note this position offers a hybrid structure.
Specific Responsibilities:
Complexity
Typically administers multiple research projects such as:
Complex multi-PI or multi-unit proposals, grants &/or contracts
Research portfolio for a more complex small to mid-sized unit
NIH U-approximately $500K+/yr. over multiple yrs.
NIH P-approximately $500K+/yr. over multiple yrs.
NIH T-approximately $100-$200K+/yr. over multiple yrs.
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.
Coordinates IRB and IACUC protocols; sub-recipients, facilities, administrative costs, space, and co-investigator agreements.
Creatively and proactively evaluates and resolves problems and makes decisions
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; labor distribution assignments.
Completes expenditure reviews.
Reconciles monthly payroll entries.
Verifies & processes cost share entries.
Prepares & submits invoices to sponsors.
Identifies program income issues.
Proposes resolutions to overdrafts.
Prepares 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
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
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.
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.
A minimum of 5 years’ experience required with 2 years of research administration and 3 years of research, finance, administrative or other relevant experience.
Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)
Provide leadership by cooperatively anticipating, coordinating, strategizing
Preferred Qualifications:
5 years of research administration experience in a university or academic hospital environment preferred.
Knowledge of National Institutes of Health policies and procedures.
Understanding of OMB Uniform Guidance, Research Terms & Conditions (FDP) and agency[1]specific terms and conditions, including the PHS Grants Policy Stateme
Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)
Knowledge of Northwestern's enterprise systems including NU Financials, InfoEd, ERS, and Cognos
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Internal Number: 42518
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Northwestern University is a major private research university with 12 academic divisions located on three campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Education City in Doha, Qatar. We have approximately 2,500 full-time faculty members, 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and over 5,700 full and part-time staff. Northwestern University combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment. It provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth.
