Research Administrator Sr

Job Title

Join 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.

We are looking for an energetic, positive, and forward-thinking individual with significant post-award experience, pre-award knowledge, and financial analysis competencies to join our team. This role will have a primary focus on supporting a large research lab at the School of Social Work and will require a high level of research administration oversight, organizational and project management capabilities, and operations experience.

Reporting to the Director of Research and Financial Operations but working closely with the faculty PI, you will coordinate both pre-award and post-award research activities and financial tasks associated with grant and contract administration. The lab has 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.

Post-Award Research Administration:

• Create and prepare bimonthly financial reports, illustrating revenues, encumbrances, and projected balances.
• Provide short- and long-term financial forecasting.
• Adjust, expand, modify and customize financial reports to meet needs of PI.
• 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, PI project plans and resolve issues.
• 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 PI and 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 and workflow improvements efforts to ensure smooth lab operations.

Pre-Award Research Administration:

• 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.

Administrative and Project Support:

• Liaise with PI, lab staff, and SSW department leaders, along with central offices to manage award life cycles, monitor lab staffing & expenditures, and support faculty research objectives.

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 complex grant administration in a higher education context,
• Excellent communication and organizational skill.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.
• Attention to detail and…