Research Affairs Specialist

University of Doha for Science and Technology

Full‑time

A week ago

Overview University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) is the first national applied University in the State of Qatar, offering applied Bachelors and Master’s degrees in addition to certificates and diplomas in various fields. UDST has over 50 programs in the fields of Engineering Technology and Industrial Trades, Business Management, Computing and Information Technology, Health Sciences, Continuing and Professional Education and more.

With more than 600 staff and over 7,000 students, UDST is the destination for top‑notch applied and experiential learning. The University is recognized for its student‑centered learning and state‑of‑the‑art facilities. Our faculty are committed to delivering pedagogically‑sound learning experiences with incorporation of innovative technological interventions, to further enhance students’ skills and help develop talented graduates that can effectively contribute to a knowledge‑based economy and make Qatar’s National Vision 2030 a reality.

• Manage pre‑ and post‑award grant application process from inception to completion and promote sponsored awards initiatives throughout UDST.
• Advise faculty and business unit staff on UDST’s awards process, policies and procedures.
• Operationally assist faculty staff with proposal development, review and submission process for pre‑award agreements to ensure alignment with UDST’s policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with the Applied Research and Innovation (ARI), Academic Manager on grant submissions, budget preparation and track payments of all research grants.
• Act as liaison between faculty staff, funding institutions and government bodies and review and update sponsor agreements as recommended by ARI and Academic Manager.
• Coordinate proposal requirements with faculty staff and external participants and review proposals and research initiatives to ensure compliance with regulatory laws, policies and procedures.
• Provide written feedback to university faculty regarding necessary changes and suggestions for proposal enhancement.
• Maintain positive relationships with pre‑ and post‑award stakeholders, and government representatives to promote university applied research initiatives.
• Assist faculty with the completion of administrative forms and other electronic systems to secure funds for research and other project initiatives.
• Prepare reconciliation of actuals to budget variance and analysis for annual audit, contributing to grant audit review activities and ensuring timely closeout of audit recommendations.
• Document and communicate pre‑/post‑awards outcomes to faculty through reports and presentations to promote and contribute to UDST’s award scheme initiatives.
• Maintain up‑to‑date database, records, and reports relevant to award grants to monitor university proposal activities and ensure compliance with university guidelines and regulations.
• Attend business unit and faculty meetings to obtain information on awards, finance and research related matters and draft minutes as appropriate.
• Monitor awards proposal status and advise Principal Investigator on requirements and deadlines associated with research protocols highlighting discrepancies to the ARI and Academic Manager.
• Research best practices and identify trends in relation to award proposal process to assist in the development of tools and training workshops for faculty members.
• Create and review budgets for institutional commitments and adherence to institutional policies and draft budget justification text for proposal inclusion.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge on award‑funding bodies’ policies and guidelines and serve as an information resource, disseminating key information to faculty, students, and staff.
• Participate in university‑wide awards workshops and training sessions as required.
• Perform miscellaneous job‑related duties as assigned.

• Education and
  
  Certifications:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required;
  Master’s degree is preferred.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum 5 years’ experience in grants/research administration, budget development/management, or grant writing.
• Language:
  Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic required.