Research Administrator, Post Award

Department: College of Science

Classification: Financial Svcs Specialist 1

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

The function of the Research Administration team, in the Office of the Dean, within the College of Science (COS), is to support faculty in proposal submission, financial management and compliance of their research grants and contracts in an efficient manner and with a customer-service focus.

George Mason University College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout our STEM community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating an organizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, and civility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, and perspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community.

By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission and vision.

The Post Award Research Administrator is responsible for managing post-award activities in support of an assigned portfolio of grants and contracts within one or more units (i.e., school, department, division, institute, or center) using knowledge of grant and contract management rules and regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills. Post-award activities include regular review, reconciliation, and projection of award finances, preparing adjustments and corrections to award budgets, preparing financial reports, and at the end of the award ensuring all financial requirements have been met and closing out the award.

This position interacts regularly with and provides a high quality customer service to faculty members conducting sponsored research. The position ensures adherence to quality standards and all policies and award regulations. The Post Award Research Administrator is expected to function with minimal oversight or supervision, be highly engaged with investigators, and collaborate with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). This position is expected to demonstrate understanding, adoption, and adherence to Standard Operating Procedures and training.

• Reviews and reconciles award expenditures, budgets, and makes adjustments, as necessary;
• Projects and forecasts future award expenditures;
• Reviews all expenditures to ensure they are allowable, allocable, and reasonable;
• Manages budget, reporting, and compliance timelines through the lifecycle of the grant or contract;
• Communicates and meets with PIs on a regular basis regarding budget and expense adjustments and revisions;
• Completes financial reports to be sent to the sponsor, as required by the award terms and conditions;
• Monitors compliance with agency and university regulations regarding reporting;
• Completes invoices for the sponsor (for certain award types only);
• Assists PIs with non-financial report submissions, as necessary;
• Coordinates and submits requests for No Cost Extensions, Carryover, budgeting requests, changes in scope, and other changes to the award; ensures all requests are done in compliance with sponsor guidelines and university policies, and coordinates with the pre-award counterpart, as needed;
• Facilitates the approval of invoices to pay subcontractors, as needed;
• Reviews effort reports and manages the quarterly effort certification process for assigned units;
• Applies federal and university rules to management of effort allocation appropriately for individuals compensated whole or in part from federal awards;
• Assists in transferring awards out of the university;
• Responsible for preparing funded projects for closeout all funded projects consistent with university process and timelines;
• Follows and adheres to defined business practices related to post-award…