A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Department of Biological Chemistry in the University of Michigan Medical School, home to an outstanding portfolio of discovery science and educational programs for graduate, post-graduate, medical and undergraduate trainees, is seeking a Research Administrator Lead to foster and manage a research operation Infrastructure geared towards promoting faculty productivity and reducing administrative burden. Information about the department can be found at https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/biological-chemistry.

The ideal candidate will possess excellent relationship building and stakeholder management skills; the ability to lead through impact and influence; and thrive in a fast-paced collaborative environment. This position requires in-depth professional experience with the research enterprise and a willingness to foster and lead a cohesive administrative team, as well as the ability to cultivate and maintain trust and rapport with a variety of constituents including Department faculty and staff, Medical School and University administration, and sponsors.

The individual holding this position will lead efforts to increase research effectiveness and productivity by establishing, instructing to, and overseeing the use of best practices in research administration. This individual will:

• Serve as the subject matter expert for faculty and will be responsible for assessing the grants management operations and implementing process improvement plans to ensure efficient research operations in compliance with departmental, school, institutional, and regulatory requirements.
• Be responsible for training departmental research administrators with a priority on reducing faculty administrative burden and identifying and addressing service gaps.
• Actively and consistently provide exceptional leadership with responsive quality service to faculty investigators and their laboratories, while effectively stewarding research related activities by developing training materials, tools, and resources related to research administration.
• Resolve administrative problems that arise and work in partnership with faculty and leadership to provide oversight over pre and post-award functions and maintain standard operating procedures.
• Play a pivotal role in the oversight of the departments sponsored fund portfolio by collaborating with Principal Investigators and project teams to ensure proper allocation of funds and adherence to departmental, institutional, sponsor and regulatory requirements.

This position reports to the Chief Department Administrator (CDA) and works closely with faculty and other administrative staff to ensure smooth management of departmental research activities and may represent the department on school or campus wide committees to establish research operating procedures and best practices. This posting represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that incumbents may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described above.

• Bachelor's degree and 7 - 10 years of progressive grant and contract experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience with preparing and managing complex projects.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, attention to detail, manage multiple tasks with competing deadlines and displaying a service-oriented attitude are essential.
• The ideal candidate values working in a collaborative team and service-based environment, with the ability to work independently, demonstrating a high standard of resourcefulness, motivation, and accountability.
• Strong writing skills, knowledge, and ability to understand, interpret, and communicate university policies and procedures.
• A basic understanding of the structure, functions, and operation of ORSP, Office of Research, Sponsored Programs, and the Medical School is expected.

• Demonstrated communication and presentation skills, and a willingness to counsel others on matters related to research administration.
• Experience with electronic proposal submission systems and the ability to generate, analyze, and clearly present data to any level within the organization.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.