Department: MED-Preventive Medicine
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Job Summary:

Provides administrative leadership by incorporating a significant amount of experience 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. Using extensive research administration experience within the same unit, coordinates all aspects of multiple grant &/or contract pre- & post-award activities. Assists in developing new funding opportunities & strategic plans regarding grants &/or contracts by 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. Reviews associated policy & procedures & recommends changes to increase productivity & effectiveness.

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:

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)

* 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:

o Complex multi-PI or multi-unit proposals, grants &/or contracts

o Research portfolio for a more complex small to mid-sized unit

o NIH U-approximately $500K+/yr. over multiple yrs.

o NIH P-approximately $500K+/yr. over multiple yrs.

o NIH T-approximately $100-$200K+/yr. over multiple yrs.

o DOD and industry awards

o Center or program grants

o Proposals with cost sharing

o Fixed-price contracts

o 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 sub-recipients, and co-investigator agreements.

* Creatively and proactively evaluates and resolves problems and makes decisions.

Post-Award

* Coordinates post-award activities.

* Monitors execution of all financial transactions in research portfolio.

* Forecasts & provides information for reports on financial status of projects.

* Manages day-to-day financial functions.

* Verifies that protocols are linked to CUFS chart strings; labor distribution assignments.

* Completes expenditure reviews.

* Reconciles monthly payroll entries.

* Prepares & submits invoices to sponsors.

* Identifies program income issues.

* Proposes resolutions to overdrafts.

* Prepares interim & final financial reports.

* Facilitates account close out activities.

* Participates in efforts to improve research administration

* Oversees sponsored project portfolio. (assigned portfolio-not the whole unit)

* 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

* Provides research administration training.

* Develops staff.

* Mentors other administrative staff in research administration.

* Serves as a 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.

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

* Managing people

* Provide leadership by cooperatively anticipating, coordinating, strategizing

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.

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Professional Growth & Development:
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