Research Administrator

Department: WCAS Chemistry
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:

This Research Administrator position in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern is a full-time hybrid position (37.5 hours), working under the Associate Director of Financial Administration on-site three days per week, and two days remote. 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.

Please Note:

Supervisor provides objectives & deadlines. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objective & deadlines & overall compliance with policy & procedures. EE completes some activities without direction, informing supervisor only of potentially controversial matters, &/or far-reaching implications.

EE uses some judgment to adapt an advanced knowledge of skills, methods, practices, policies &/or procedures & a moderate degree of innovation, analysis & reasoning to complete

* As time and budget allows:

* New-"Brown Bag"-Interested in becoming an RA?

* Need more "How To:" sessions such as:

o Fill out internal & external paperwork

o Create & review budget

o Review sponsor guidelines

o Read a solicitation

* Five University Business Processes classes (HR700, HR705, HR715, HR725, HR740)New-"Brown Bag"-Interested in becoming an RA?

* NU-ORI-Res Dam Training session

* SCS course: Grantsmanship for the Research Professional

* NCURA-National Council of University Research Administrators/SRA - Society of Research Administrators International (regional or national meetings)

* ASRSP effort reporting 101

* NU Financials budget reconciliation and reporting

* Audit & Advisory best practices

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

* 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 & SR, 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 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

* Processes paperwork associated with hiring & termination of employees.

* Sets-up post doc

* 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

* Mentor other administrative staff in research administration.

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.

* 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

* Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including ability to create complex formulas and pivot tables

The target hiring range for this position will be between $67,978 to $95,595 per 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:
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