Program Manager

Post-Award Services Manager

The University Research Administration (URA) has the responsibility to review and provide institutional endorsement for all proposals to federal and other external sponsors (excluding gifts), assuring compliance with University policies and sponsor terms and conditions. URA Sponsored Program Services (SPS) is a team of dedicated Sponsored Program Managers and Specialists who provide post-award support for opt-in partners funded research portfolios across campus at The University of Chicago.

These services include support for post-award administrative and financial matters associated with a sponsored research portfolio, and assistance navigating sponsor policies and interpreting guidelines so that the faculty member may focus on the technical and academic content of their research.

The Sponsored Program Manager is responsible for all duties of a post-award grant specialist in addition to responsibilities of a more experience level role, including an ability to mentor team members in identifying and re-mediating deviations from established account management expectations. Responsible for assisting with the oversight of day-to-day sponsored program activities for an assigned portfolio of faculty researchers. This will primarily involve financial management of a faculty member's sponsored research funding.

The manager level role is expected to review and identify additional items outside of normal responsibilities of their team to discover and warn department leadership or any issues or corrective actions that are needed. The manager level role is expected to independently handle a more complex and diverse portfolio and participate in training and outreach activity for the RAS Team.

This position also requires the ability to analyze, interpret and implement financial data, sponsor guidelines, and University policies and procedures. The job uses best practices and knowledge of activities to support the functional areas of University Research Administration. Supports research, training, and other sponsored activities at the University, building upon knowledge of the University, processes, and customers. Assists in the development of research compliance education programs.

• Works directly with PIs or their delegates to facilitate management of grant activities which includes expenditure and budget reviews, audit of invoices and billings, monitoring accounts and preparing financial reports and projections for grants and other sponsored agreements.
• Notifies PIs of availability of funds while assisting and advising faculty in financial and project activities by implementing fiscal reporting process. Meets established account management expectations, identify deviations and resolve problems.
• Establishes account management expectations, identify deviations, resolve problems, prepares monthly, quarterly and/or yearly reports as necessary.
• Helps to develop training materials; guides, mentors, and assists junior staff with issues.
• Interacts with participants, external entities, sponsors, faculty, and other University of Chicago offices including departmental staff and central research administration staff to gather relevant information for the operation management of the sponsored project portfolio.
• Assists in training personnel who report to the PI on research administration operational policies and procedures.
• Works with pre-award staff to follow projects from the pre-award stage to the post-award stage.
• Assists with answering key operational questions on behalf of the PI.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary projects related to goals of Post-Award Services in a very dynamic environment.
• Coordinates with faculty by organizing risk analysis sessions and conduct statistical analysis of data.
• Tracks project timelines, ensure follow-up, and provide timely reports to PIs and sponsors with proactive support of award management.
• Assists with technical reporting as needed, maintaining compliance for Animal and Human Subjects protocols and regulatory policies by being aware of and advising others of policy and procedures, and by facilitating any tracking or training requirements.
• Assists central pre-award staff as needed with support in the preparation of grant proposals, including gathering and organizing necessary information from faculty across the University of Chicago and other institutions, writing and coordinating letters of support, and providing other information as required.
• Communicates and collaborate with university departments/units, URA pre-award team and URA Post-award, technology transfer and compliance teams/units to facilitate smooth transition throughout the full life cycle.
• Reviews sponsor guidelines and processes or assists with development of proposals in compliance with University and sponsor policies, and assists with other grant and contract activity.
• Provides faculty and administrators with application preparation, analyzing possible solutions to problems that arise using…