Senior Research Administration & Consulting Specialist

Position:
Senior Research Administration & Consulting Specialist

Location:

Storrs, Connecticut, USA

Experience:

7-10+ Years (Recommended)

Employment Type:

Contract / Project-Based

Client:
University of Connecticut (UConn)

We are looking for an experienced Senior Research Administration & Consulting Specialist to provide professional consulting services supporting research administration, sponsored programs, research finance, federal grant compliance, research security, and strategic planning.

• Provide operational and staffing support for research administration and sponsored programs.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of research administration business processes and internal controls.
• Perform operational efficiency reviews, organizational assessments, and benchmarking studies.
• Identify operational challenges and recommend process improvements to enhance research administration effectiveness.
• Support research financial management, budgeting, financial planning, and cost analysis.
• Assist with Facilities & Administrative (F&A) rate development, financial analysis, documentation, proposal preparation, and federal negotiations.
• Conduct space surveys, utility studies, and indirect cost allocation analyses.
• Develop and evaluate cost allocation methodologies for research recharge activities.
• Support service center and recharge center operations, including rate development.
• Provide expertise in federal grant administration and regulatory compliance.
• Interpret and implement Uniform Guidance and other applicable federal regulations.
• Support research security activities, including export control and controlled research requirements.
• Assist with audit readiness, audit responses, and corrective action planning.
• Monitor changes in federal regulations, funding priorities, and research compliance requirements.
• Support institutional strategic planning and research administration improvement initiatives.
• Develop policies and procedures supporting regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.
• Identify emerging research administration risks and opportunities and recommend appropriate strategies.
• Conduct professional training, workshops, and development programs for research administration personnel.
• Collaborate with university leadership, research administrators, financial teams, and other stakeholders.

• Extensive professional experience in research administration, sponsored programs management, or research consulting.
• Strong knowledge of research administration operations within higher education or comparable research organizations.
• Experience managing or supporting federal grants and sponsored research programs.
• Strong understanding of research finance, financial management, and cost analysis.
• Knowledge of F&A rate development, indirect cost allocation, and federal rate negotiations.
• Experience conducting operational assessments, business process evaluations, and organizational reviews.
• Understanding of Uniform Guidance and federal grant compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of research security, export controls, and research-related regulatory requirements.
• Experience supporting financial audits, audit readiness, and corrective action planning.
• Ability to analyze research administration processes and recommend operational improvements.
• Strong understanding of institutional strategic planning and policy development.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with research administrators, financial professionals, institutional leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Experience delivering professional training, workshops, and advisory services.

• Previous consulting experience with universities, academic health centers, or major research institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in sponsored research administration and federal grant management.
• Experience supporting F&A rate proposals and federal negotiations.
• Familiarity with research recharge centers, service center rate development, and space utilization studies.
• Experience implementing regulatory changes and improving institutional research compliance.
• Proven ability to conduct operational benchmarking and develop strategic improvement recommendations.