Research Administrator Sr

Job Title

Research Administrator

About The University Of Michigan School Of Social Work:
Be a part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of developing a more equitable, caring, and socially just society -- that's at the heart of what drives people to work at the University of Michigan School of Social Work.

Purpose:

We are looking for an energetic, positive, and forward-thinking individual with significant pre-award experience and technical research administration competencies to join our team with a primary focus on supporting research at the School of Social Work. Reporting to the Director of Research and Financial Operations, you will coordinate both pre-award and post-award research and financial tasks associated with grant and contract administration.

We have a varied research and sponsored activity portfolio, from a variety of government agencies, foundations, and philanthropists. We will invest in your education, training, career development and certification in the area of research administration. Under FLSA, incumbents in this position are exempt.

Pre-Award Research Administration:

• Assist SSW faculty and researchers with proposal submissions to various federal and non-federal sponsors ensuring deadlines are met. Activities include but are not necessarily limited to:
• Reviewing and adhering to proposal submission guidelines for submissions from the University and/or the funding agency.
• Assist in completing required sponsor forms.
• Preparing Proposal Approval Forms.
• Preparing and maintaining documents for submission packages.
• Work with faculty to develop budgets and budget justifications following Sponsor, School and University Policies.
• Serve as liaison faculty with School of Social Work and University central offices (i.e. Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP).
• Organization and project management to ensure multiple concurrent proposals are routed in a timely fashion.

Post-Award Research Administration:

• Review assigned project/grants in a variety of funds including general, gift, recharge, and sponsored research using MReports, Business Objects and other tools. This includes reviewing financial transactions.
• Approve expenditures within prescribed limits according to Uniform Guidance, University and sponsor guidelines and resolve issues.
• Prepare bimonthly financial reports, illustrating revenues, encumbrances, and projected balances for SSW faculty.
• Arrange and process requests affecting a project, such as time extensions, supplemental funds, subcontracts, subprojects, and changes in the scope of work or budgetary changes.
• Respond to requests for financial information from sponsors.
• Regularly communicate with faculty and other staff members to ensure smooth transitions of project life cycles.
• Review and facilitate Financial status reports (FSRs) and complete Uniform Guidance (UG) Reports with Sponsored Programs.
• Prepare and submit journal entries as required.
• Work with faculty to ensure offset requirements are met.
• Participate in continuous process improvement efforts.

Skills You Have:
Ability to interpret and communicate School, University, and Sponsor guidelines and policies. Experience in routing multiple complex projects across a variety of sponsors. Demonstrated experience with multi-project financial review and analysis, with the ability to track and project financial activity and commitments. Knowledge of U-M financial practices and processes strongly preferred. Prior experience with federal funding agencies such as NSF, NIH strongly preferred.

Mastery of Excel and ability to adapt to changing technology is essential. Must have the ability to work in a team environment, collaborate effectively with co-workers, and provide excellent customer service. Ability to organize and synthesize complex information about particular financial aspects, resulting in clear and comprehensive summaries. Candidates will need to exhibit sound judgment, follow work through to completion, and meet high work standards, as well as the ability to set priorities and manage competing deadlines.

Demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication skills is essential. Demonstrated experience in the use of Business Objects and M-Pathways.

Bachelor degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, with a minimum of 5 years of experience in grant administration or higher-level financial activities is required, as is prior experience with contract and grant administration or relevant experience in a comparable environment with tight regulatory and compliance requirements. Excellent communication skills are required. Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment, along with attention to detail and dependability are essential.

Seven-plus years of progressively responsible grant management experience. Previous experience with the U-M eResearch Proposal Management system. Previous experience with data mining in MPathways,…