Research Administrator Intermediate

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The letter should address your:

• Specific interest in this position, and;
• Skills and experience which directly relate to this position

Note: In order for the career portal system to accept the cover letter, please include this as the first page of your resume document, so that you are submitting only ONE combined document. This combined document will be reviewed to assess how you meet the stated qualifications, including your written communication skills.

Who We Are

The School of Kinesiology is currently the fourth largest school at the University of Michigan - the top public research institution in the country. Currently, we have three undergraduate majors, six graduate degree programs, and 35 research labs and centers. We are proud to occupy the fully renovated School of Kinesiology Building, a 221,600 gross square foot space adjacent to the Diag. It is an exciting time to be in the School of Kinesiology; read more about us here.

Job Summary

The School of Kinesiology is seeking a highly motivated, service-oriented, and detail-driven Research Administrator Intermediate to support faculty and research teams with the administration of sponsored projects. This position will support both pre-award and post-award activities throughout the lifecycle of sponsored research awards.

The successful candidate will be comfortable collaborating with faculty, staff, students, sponsors, central offices, and external partners. This role requires someone who is proactive, responsive, flexible, and resourceful in seeking answers, whether by email, phone, or arranging a quick meeting when needed. The ideal candidate will thrive in a deadline-driven environment, communicate clearly, contribute effectively to a team, and demonstrate a strong commitment to excellent faculty service. A link to the full job description can be found here.

Responsibilities*

Note: (EF) = Essential Function

Pre-Award Activities (45%)

• Advises and assists faculty, fellows, and students with preparing and submitting internal and external grant applications to federal, non-federal, and industry sponsors. (EF)
• Coordinates the submission process, by meeting with PI to review applications, assisting with budget development and providing guidance on school and sponsor guidelines. (EF)
• Ensures all proposals meet agency and University guidelines, published timetables, and deadlines. (EF)

Post-Award Activities (40%)

• Monitor expenditures on sponsored and non-sponsored projects and provide faculty and staff with recommendations to ensure adherence to sponsor-approved budget allocations. (EF)
• Review and reconcile monthly financial activity using departmental processes; resolve issues independently; report areas of concern to project directors and administration. (EF)
• Proactively monitor sponsored projects and anticipate post award changes such as re-budgeting requests, personnel changes, no-cost time extensions, cost sharing changes, project scope changes, transfer of projects, early terminations, and renewal of subawards and subcontracts. (EF)
• Maintain faculty effort and budget spreadsheets. (EF)

Finance/Compliance (10%)

• Assist with IRB questions and challenges. (EF)
• Ensure PEERRS training is met. (EF)
• Assist with account setup and access requests, including Level 2 access when appropriate.

Assist with Administrative/Other Duties as assigned (5%)

• Resolve and respond to general inquiries from research faculty, staff, students, departments and vendors. (EF)
• Provide cross coverage and back-up support to colleagues as needed. (EF)
• Collaborate and network with peers to share best practices that promote efficiency, effectiveness, compliance, and risk reduction.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as Business Administration, Public Administration, or a scientific discipline.
• At least three years of experience in research administration, grant management, finance, or a related field.
• Excellent organizational skills, including demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Proven success with contributing to a positive workplace culture, and ability to consistently demonstrate our school's Core Values.

Desired Qualifications*

• Experience with sponsor systems such as Research.gov and Grants.gov.
• Experience with University of Michigan research administration systems and processes.
• Experience supporting both pre-award and post-award research administration.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Maternity and parental leave
• University commitment to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities

Modes of Work

The work requirements allow both onsite and offsite work and an employee has an expected recurring onsite presence. On occasion, the employee may be required and must be available to work onsite more frequently if necessitated by unit leadership or their designee and/or the job requirements.

Additional Information

The general salary range for this position is $68,000 - $74,000 with eligibility to participate in the school's 2027 merit program. An offer may be extended outside of this range based on equity, experience, knowledge, and skills for the position. You are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor understanding and transparency throughout the recruiting process. Benefits are included with this position.

The schedule for this position is Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm. This position has the potential for a hybrid schedule with a remote option up to 2 days/week (with Wednesdays being a required in-office day). Remote work agreements are reviewed annually and are subject to change dependent on the business needs of the hiring department, throughout the course of employment.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.