Research Administrator
Chicago, IL 
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Posted 21 days ago
Job Description
Job ID
49794
Location
Chicago, Illinois

Department: MED-Cancer Center
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:

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- and post-award research administration ensuring the fulfillment of all grant and/or contract and compliance requirements. Manages overall day-to-day research administration activities and may research and identify funding opportunities and faculty and/or PIs with associated research competencies and interests. Ensures that all activities are completed in compliance with associated local, state, federal and institutional rules and regulations.

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

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

As time and budget allows:

Relevant "SPOT" training courses offered by the Office for Sponsored Research (OSR)

Research Administration Training series offered by the Office for Research Integrity (ORI)

Effort Reporting and Management Course offered by ASRSP

Online training in use of research enterprise systems such as InfoEd, NUFIN, and Cognos

School of Continuing Studies course: Grantsmanship for the Research Professional

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

Audit and Advisory best practices

Specific Responsibilities:

Complexity

  • Typically administers multiple research projects such as:

Pre-Award

  • Manages pre-award administration of grants and/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 the retrieval of IRB and IACUC protocols.
  • Prepares and/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 and/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.
  • Develops and reviews expense 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 and SR, ASRSP, ACUC, IRB, internal audit, funding and regulatory agencies, subcontractors, collaborators, institutes, centers, and other stakeholders as needed.
  • Participates in efforts to improve research administration including serving on university committees related to 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 and/or effort reporting knowledge.
  • Provides information to senior management that is used for department budgeting purposes.

Compliance

  • Ensures compliance with all appropriate NU policies and practices; local, state, federal, agency and sponsor rules, regulations and requirements regarding grant and/or contract administration.
  • Recommends changes to improve programs, policy and/or practice.
  • Resolves compliance problems and issues working in conjunction with faculty.
  • Resolves compliance problems and 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:

  • A bachelor's degree or 5 years financial or administrative support experience.
  • 2 years in research administration or 3 years performing fundamental research or clinical trials

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

  • Organization, time management, detail oriented, multi tasking
  • Effective communication, customer focused orientation
  • Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with clinical trials budgeting, including reading trial protocols and using provider pricing lists
  • Knowledge of NIH rules and regulations, including the NIH grants policy statement
  • Knowledge of the OMB uniform guidance

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

  • Medicare coverage analysis experience
  • Good clinical practice (GCP) training

Target hiring range for this position will be between $67,978-$84,973 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 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 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 to learn more.



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Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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Job Summary
Start Date
As soon as possible
Employment Term and Type
Regular, Full Time
Salary and Benefits
$67,978-$84,973
Required Education
Bachelor's Degree
Required Experience
2 to 5 years
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