Senior Research Administrator

Department: MCC Research Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Job Summary:

Provides administrative leadership by incorporating a significant amount of experience in support of McCormick School of Engineering's research programs and mission. The Senior RA will serve in dual roles by providing pre- & post-award research administration for various units throughout the school, as well as designing and maintaining the McCormick research administration training program which includes on-boarding of new research administrators and on-going workshops, training and education for the research administration team at large. Reviews associated policy & procedures & recommends changes to increase productivity & effectiveness.

The position will report directly to the Senior Director of Research Administration.

Provides pre- & post-award research administration throughout the school, based on need, and as assigned. Using extensive research administration experience, coordinates all aspects of multiple grants &/or contract pre- & post-award activities. Assists in 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.

In collaboration with the Senior Director, Assistant Director, Manager, and other Senior RAs, will identify the training needs of the McCormick research administration team, including but not limited to development of curriculum, development of tools and job aids, and building an accessible training database. Provides training and mentorship to other staff. May supervise 1-2 staff members.

Please note:

Supervisor provides overall objectives & in consultation with EE develops deadlines. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objectives & overall compliance with policy & procedures. EE completes majority of activities without direction; consulting with supervisor only in regard to new or unusual circumstances.

EE uses judgment & an extensive amount of experience to adapt an advanced knowledge of skills, methods, practices, policies & procedures & a moderate degree of innovation, analysis, & reasoning to plan & prioritize work that is primarily project oriented & involves some extremely difficult problems &/or decisions. EE interprets policy.

• As time and budget allows:
• New-"Brown Bag"-Interested in becoming an RA?
• Need more "How To:" sessions such as:
  • Fill out internal & external paperwork
  • Create & review budget
  • Review sponsor guidelines
  • 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)
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
• ASRSP effort reporting 101
• NU Financials budget reconciliation and reporting
• Audit & Advisory best practices

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

• 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 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.

Human Resources

• Manages & integrates all departmental staff efforts for grant &/or contract administration.
• Maintains the McCormick research administration training program and associated documentation.
• Provides research administration training.
• Develops staff.
• Mentors other administrative staff in research administration.
• Serves as a 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.
• Supervision (potential for growth into supervisory role)
• Provides direct supervision to research support staff.
• Assigns & reviews staff work.

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.)

• Organization, time management, detail oriented

• Multi-tasking, communication

• Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active, manage stress

• Potential for growth into managing / supervisory role

• Provide leadership by cooperatively anticipating, coordinating, strategizing

Preferred Qualifications:

• Four to six 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 Grant Proposal Guide and NSF Fastlane.

• 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.
• Experience prioritizing work and managing detailed work under deadlines

Target hiring range for this position will be between $78,482-$97,495 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:
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 University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.