Supervisor Research Administration

Provides leadership in the accomplishment of administrative and financial management of research activities for the assigned organization. Ensures adequate staffing levels, works to streamline operations and facilitates efficient research practice. Provides financial planning and budget monitoring to achieve funding levels adequate to sustain program activities, maximize efficiency and support strategic research and extramurally funded programs.

1. Takes appropriate initiatives to ensure that funding levels necessary to sustain research activities are maintained.
2. Develops, justifies, and administers operating and project budgets, which may include budgets for large scale, multi-center, national and international, multi-million dollar research projects.
3. Analyzes on-going and planned research activities, available funding, anticipated fluctuations in funding, staffing, etc. and projects near and long term financial needs. Collaborates with the leadership and principal investigators in developing strategic plans (and contingency plans) to meet identified needs.
4. Supports the formulation of budgets and negotiates sponsorship terminology with outside agencies.
5. Analyses and reports on the financial impact of implementing proposed new research projects.
6. Coordinates the work of administrative and research staff to meet anticipated project activities as well as grant application volume and deadlines.
7. Sets up budgets for awarded grants, communicating as necessary with principal investigators, grants and contracts staff, and sponsor staff.
8. Identifies grant funding opportunities and disseminates information in a targeted fashion.
9. Advises on the framing of grant proposals so as to be responsive to sponsoring agency interests and assists investigators with grant preparation, approvals, submission and grant management.
10. Provides ongoing post-award management of grant accounts, including management of grant budgets, financial projections, and compliance with the sponsor and regulatory requirements.
11. Establishes budgets for subcontracts; reviews subcontractor submissions to insure costs are realistic; directs changes where required.
12. Monitors activity in each account and subcontract; ensures costs are properly allocated; ensures economies are achieved through such vehicles as joint procurements, pursuing discounts, etc.; works through appropriate approval channels to coordinate purchase orders and invoices for major expenditures.
13. Performs and/or supervises the reconciliation of monthly reports, the resolution of discrepancies in charges to accounts, and review of transactions to ensure that cost allocations are in compliance with institution and federal cost accounting policies and regulations.
14. Interprets sponsor policies to staff on issues such as allowable costs, charging mechanisms, capital equipment purchases, and use of consultants.
15. Provides principal investigators with budget status reports summarizing expenditures and projected expenditures to end of budget period; advises on potential budgetary problems.
16. Advises on the allocation/reallocation of funding.
17. Collaborates with Office of Research Administration and leadership to ensure compliance with applicable fiscal policies and assists staff with electronic proposal submissions and other electronic research-related processes.
18. Assists principal investigators and research staff in preparing proposals to funding sources including development of complex budgets for large proposal submission (i.e., program projects, large multi-center clinical trials) and ensuring completion of all sponsor administrative requirements.
19. Translates research plans into scope of work; identifies areas (e.g., laboratory costs, manpower, equipment, supplies, communications, transportation, administrative etc.) in which costs will be incurred, develops estimates of such costs, and budgets accordingly.
20. Serves as a resource to staff and PI’s on regulatory, compliance, and sponsor requirements. Organizes training as needed in areas related to compliance and disseminate pertinent regulatory changes. Leads process improvement and training initiatives related to pre-award and post-award activities.
21. Develops responses to issues associated with administration of research activities.
22. Supports application development for submission to federal and state agencies and private foundations.
23. Performs other duties as required or assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or finance with 5 years of relevant experience, or the equivalent in education and experience, required
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Prior experience with research/grant administration required.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Excellent accounting, management, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop, execute, and manage complex budgets.
• Ability to work effectively, independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to exercise judgment, initiative and discretion and to interact with staff and outside agencies in a professional manner.
• Ability to plan work, set priorities, and respond to pressures, deadlines, and changes in schedules and priorities.
• Proficiency in data base management, spreadsheets, and other computer software.

• None