| Department: MED-Basic Science Admin
Salary/Grade: EXS/7 Job Summary: The Research Administrator for the Basic Sciences Administration (BSA) provides administrative leadership and intermediate problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. The Research Administrator position serves throughout the unit, in both departmental and center support, in providing support to a portion of activities in a larger unit. Provides lifecycle pre- & post-award research administration ensuring the fulfillment of all grant &/or contract & compliance requirements. Manages overall day-to-day research administration activities & may research & identify funding opportunities & faculty &/or PIs with associated research competencies & interests. Ensures that all activities are completed in compliance with associated local, state, federal & institutional rules & regulations. Constituency will be determined based upon candidate experience and unit needs and will support approximately 8 faculty of varying portfolio size and complexity. BSA supports the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology, and Physiology, as well as Center for Genetic Medicine and the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics. Specific Responsibilities: Complexity - Typically administers multiple research projects such as:
- Single Principal Investigator (PI) proposals, grants &/or contracts
- Basic multi-PI or multi-unit proposals, grants &/or contracts
- Research portfolio for a small to mid-sized unit
- NIH U-approximately $500K+/yr. over multiple yrs.
- NIH P-approximately $500K+/yr. over multiple yrs.
- NIH T-approximately $100-$200K+/yr. over multiple yrs.
- DOD and industry awards
- Center or program grants
- Proposals with cost sharing
- Fixed-price contracts
- Non-funded negotiations such as NDAs, user agreements
Pre-Award - Manages pre-award administration of grants &/or contracts.
- Reviews solicitation and proactively resolves any issues/questions within the solicitation with OSR and/or sponsor.
- 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.
- Prepares &/or reviews complete budget.
- Assesses the need for the redistribution of project F&A among multiple redistributed chart strings.
Post-Award - Completes post-award administration of research grants &/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.
- Reviews award budget 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 & OSR, ASRSP, IACUC, IRB, internal audit, funding & regulatory agencies, subcontractors, collaborators, institutes, centers, etc.
- Participates in efforts to improve research administration including serving on university committees related to research administration.
Financial - Oversees a portion of the entire unit's entire sponsored project portfolio.
- 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.
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.
- Resolves compliance problems & issues involving research safety, animal subjects and human subjects.
- Alerts supervisor to potential higher risk compliance issues.
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.
- 3 years research administration or other relevant experience required.
Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.) - Organization, time management, detail oriented
- Multi-tasking, communication
- Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active, manage stress
Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience) - 1-2 years of financial support or proposal/award management experience in a research environment preferred.
- Knowledge of National Institutes of Health policies and procedures.
- Understanding of OMB Uniform Guidance, Research Terms & Conditions (FDP) and agency-specific terms and conditions, including the PHS Grants Policy Statement
Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities) - Provide informal leadership by cooperatively anticipating, coordinating, strategizing with BSA Research Administration Team.
- Knowledge of Northwestern's enterprise systems including NU Financials, InfoEd, ERS, and Cognos
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. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.
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