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.
This position provides support within the Basic Sciences Administration’s (BSA) group, supporting a portion of activities in a larger unit. Constituency will be determined based upon candidate experience and unit needs and will support approximately 8 faculty of varying portfolio size and complexity. BSA supports the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology, Microbiology-Immunology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, as well as Center for Genetic Medicine and Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics.
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
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 &/or contracts.
Reviews solicitation and proactively resolves any issues/questions within the solicitation with OSR and/or sponsor.
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 chart strings.
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.
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.
Financial
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.
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.
3 years research administration or other relevant experience required.
1 year financial or administrative support experience in a research environment preferred.
Knowledge of Northwestern's enterprise systems including NU Financials, InfoEd, ERS, and Cognos
Knowledge of National Institutes of Health policies and procedures
Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)
Provide informal leadership by cooperatively anticipating, coordinating, strategizing with BSA Research Administration Team
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