Research Administrator

Why Work at BYU

At Brigham Young University (BYU), your work is an opportunity to contribute to a distinctive educational mission rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students.

As the flagship university of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU strives to be among the exceptional universities in the world. We are devoted to our faith, our students, and the University's Mission: "To assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life."

We seek staff members who enthusiastically embrace and advance this unique mission. Across the university, staff bring their expertise and talents to work that helps students learn, grow, and thrive. A culture of covenant belonging, weekly devotionals, meaningful opportunities for learning and growth, and a beautiful and historic campus make BYU a distinctive and inspiring place to build a career.

Belonging Statement

United by our common primary identity as children of God, BYU values and embraces the variety of individual characteristics, life experiences and circumstances, perspectives, talents, and gifts across the BYU community. This richness strengthens our shared efforts to create and support an environment of covenant belonging centered in Jesus Christ.

Employment Requirements

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are required to hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend to be hired and to remain in any position at BYU.

In hiring decisions, Brigham Young University lawfully gives strong preference to qualified, faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All employees are required to abide by the university's Honor Code and Dress & Grooming Standards. Successful candidates are expected to support and contribute to the academic and religious missions of the university, which are aligned with the principles and doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Equal Opportunity

Brigham Young University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or protected veteran status.

*The last day to submit an application is Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 11:59pm MST"

Research Administrator

Research Administrators in the Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) assist faculty and staff with the mechanics of preparing research proposals through internal approvals (via Kuali Research) and submitted to the sponsor. Upon award, they represent the university in research contract negotiations and facilitate award setup. They coordinate any contractual needs during the course of each project and ensure close-out requirements are met.

What You'll do in this Position:

Proposal Preparation and Submission

• Coordinate with the corresponding academic research development representative to prepare research proposals, including large, inter-collegiate, and inter-institutional proposals.
• Provide guidance on proposal budget development. 
• Track, manage, coordinate and assist with institutional approvals.
• Train and assist users in the use of Kuali Research, a cloud-based tool.
• Be familiar with all agency-specific submission mechanisms,
• Ensure complete, accurate, compliant, and timely submission of research proposals on behalf of the university.

Negotiating and Interacting with Sponsors

• Represent the university’s research programs to research organizations, funding agencies, and universities.
• Communicate directly with sponsors during contract drafting and negotiation for new awards and amendments.
• Coordinate, as needed, with BYU General Counsel, Technology Transfer, Grants & Contracts Accounting, and Risk Management offices.
• Maintain awareness of research funding changes and trends with major sponsoring federal agencies.

Compliance with Federal and Other Requirements

• Monitor and stay current on government regulations pertaining to federal grants and contracts.
• Ensure research proposals and awards are compliant with university policies and procedures.
• Upon award, verify approval has been obtained from the appropriate compliance committees (IRB, IACUC, IBC), when applicable.

Negotiating and Interfacing with Subrecipients

• Negotiate terms and conditions of subawards and subcontracts with subrecipients.
• Review and apply agency regulations and university procedures to determine flow-down of prime award terms and conditions.
• Prepare and finalize new subawards and amendments; initiate processing of awards with Grants and Contracts Accounting Office (GCA).

Project and Account Management (Post-Award)

• Submit awards for internal processing and account set-up.
• Support GCA, as needed, to ensure compliance with award requirements, government regulations, and university policy.
• Assist Financial Services with audits of research accounts.
• Assure compliance with reporting requirements and submit closeout documents when requested.
• Act as a resource for researchers, other university offices, and sponsors to facilitate and administer projects.

Educate Faculty, Staff, & Students

• Educate university faculty (principal investigators), staff, and students on the above and on university policies and procedures, government regulations, and contract negotiations relating to sponsored project research.

What qualifies you for this role:

Required

• A firm commitment to the mission of BYU
• Masters Degree, 5+ years research administration/management experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a proven ability to produce accurate, high-quality work.
• High degree of written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills/emotional intelligence.
• Proven ability to engage in team building, management and interaction, leadership, take initiative, and adapt through motivated learning.
• Excellent computer proficiency, particularly in learning sponsor systems/submission portals, using spreadsheets and word processing; adept at learning new computer systems and processes.
• Ability to work and solve problems independently.

Preferred

• Master’s degree or higher in a related field, (e.g., MPA, MBA, MAcc, Finance, Law) or 8+ years of relevant experience.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in research administration
• Possess Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential.
• Independently manage a dynamic workload, with constantly changing demands.
• Work effectively in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.
• Familiarity with Federal Uniform Guidance regulations.
• Experience with Research Administration systems (e.g., Kuali Research, sponsor web portals, government websites).
• Knowledge of budgeting and accounting.

What we offer in return:

In addition to our competitive pay structure, this position comes with fantastic benefits, including:

• 401k. BYU automatically contributes 8% at no cost to you. Additionally, if you contribute 5%, BYU adds an additional 4% (Rehires may qualify for different retirement plans)
• Excellent work-life balance: 13 paid holidays + 22 days paid vacation+ 12 sick days, accrued annually
• Employee assistance program, available to the employee and all members of their household
• Tuition benefits for employees and eligible family members
• Access to athletic facilities
• Excellent medical/dental benefits
• Short/long term disability benefits
• Paid parental and maternity leave
• Wellness program
• Free on-campus parking
• Free UTA passes for employee, spouse, and qualified dependents
• Discounts at the BYU Store and for many events at BYU

Pay Grade: 54

Typical Starting Pay: $84,000.00 - $109,000.00

The actual compensation offered will take into consideration internal equity and may vary based on the candidate’s job-related experience, knowledge, skills, and other relevant factors. Candidates with very significant work-related experience may receive an offer higher than the posted typical range.

*Last Day to Apply is Thursday November 12, 2026, at 11:59pm

Application Instructions: Please attach a resume, cover letter describing your experience and fit for the role and three professional references.