Research Administrator

Department: MCC Research Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:

This position provides sole administrative leadership and intermediate problem solving in support of McCormick's

Electrical & Computer Engineering department research programs and mission. Provides lifecycle pre- & post-award research administration to department ensuring the fulfillment of all grant &/or contract & compliance requirements. Manages overall day-to-day research administration activities including proposal development, award management, and assisting with award closeout responsibilities. Ensures that all activities are completed in compliance with associated local, state, federal and institutional rules & regulations. This position will also maintain a departmental database of proposals and awards and participate in school-level sponsored research initiatives and projects as assigned.

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
• 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 &/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

• Coordinates with department on post-award administration of research grants &/or contracts.
• Reviews account establishment.
• Manages effort commitments of key project personnel.
• Assists in evaluation of 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.
• Assists departments staff in 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.
• Provides information needed to prepare interim & final financial reports.

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.

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.

Micellaneous:

• 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
• Managing people

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Two to four 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 Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures 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 financial systems and accounting procedures.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $70,017 - 98,462per 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.

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