Department: MED-Basic Science Admin
Salary/Grade: EXS/10

The Manager of Research Administration provides strategic leadership and advanced problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. Acts as the chief research administrator for a dept. or division & oversees the administration of the entire grants & contracts portfolio, some of which are very complex involving multiple years, venues, collaborators, subcontractors, etc. & ensures fulfillment of all requirements & compliance with rules & regulations. Partners with faculty to develop strategic plans regarding new & existing funding opportunities, research initiatives, collaborations & projects that will increase & improve overall research & associated financial management & performance.

Job Responsibilities

Complexity

• Typically administers or oversees entire research projects such as:
• Research portfolio for a larger department
• Government contracts
• Center or program grants
• International projects
• Master agreements with industry

Pre-Award

• Provides creative, strategic leadership in pre-award administration of research grants &/or contracts, expertly balancing customer service and compliance needs.
• Establishes procedures at the large unit level related to pre-award administration.
• Coordinates federal contract proposals, international proposals, and proposals with difficult/troublesome terms and large sponsored agreements with industry partners.
• Uses metrics to monitor report and adjust unit pre-award performance.

Post-Award

• Provides expertise regarding post-award research administration.
• Ensures that proposed projects meet goals of dept. & that necessary resources are available.
• Manages and follows through on high-risk situations.
• Coordinates or oversees application completion and detailed review & submission.
• Interprets sponsor guidelines.
• Creates procedures regarding day-to-day administrative & financial functions.
• Resolves issues with collaborators &/or other involved parties.
• Establishes procedures at the large unit level related to post-award administration.
• Manages all day-to-day grant &/or contract functions such as administration, finance, facilities, compliance, reporting, etc. ensuring timetables are created & maintained as appropriate.
• Uses metrics to monitor report and adjust unit post-award performance.
• Recommends & facilitates procedural changes in grant &/or contract administration as necessary.
• Recommends policy to enhance research administration.

Financial

• Oversees & manages all research portfolio fiscal activities, from research development to close-out activities, continually evaluating & recommending alternatives to minimize risk while maximizing goals.
• Ensures that budgets are created, proposed & administered in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Resolves complex issues such as determining appropriate & reasonable cost-sharing percentages on complex grants involving multiple locations; effort reporting problems; under- or over-spent grant budgets; recommend changes to eliminate deficit balances; overdrafts.
• Coordinates price negotiation, purchase, & ongoing maintenance support contracts of all major research equipment.
• Provides information to senior management that is used for department budgeting purposes.

Human Resources

• Hires, evaluates, promotes, &/or counsel staff.
• Oversees training for all staff regarding research administration in unit.
• Consults with faculty as grants are funded regarding job descriptions; selecting & hiring new staff; and as grants end regarding lay-offs, terminations, etc

Compliance

• Creates, implements & oversees programs, policy & practice for dept./division designed to ensure compliance with all appropriate NU policies & practices; local, state, federal, agency & sponsor rules, regulations & requirements regarding grant &/or contract administration.
• Ensures resolution of all compliance problems & issues, including those involving research safety, animal subjects, human subjects and conflict of interest.

Supervision

• Supervises administrative, financial &/or IT positions.
• Mentors other administrative staff in research administration.

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.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience required with 4 years of research administration and 3 years of research, finance, administrative or other relevant 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

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