Research Administrator

Employer: Virginia Commonwealth University

Location: Richmond, Virginia, United States

Salary: Competitive Salary

Date posted: Jan 17, 2026

Position Type: Administrative, Academic Affairs, Research Administration, Business & Administrative Affairs, Other Business & Administrative Affairs, Grants & Contracts

Employment Type: Full Time

Job Details

Advertising Summary:

At the VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, our mission is to foster transformative research, discovery, and innovation at Virginia Commonwealth University through excellence in service.

We partner with faculty in all schools and departments as they seek funding, plan studies, establish collaborations, calculate budgets, submit grant applications, negotiate industry contracts, and secure patents and licensing agreements.

Our commitment to supporting and elevating the research community at VCU has resulted in record levels of sponsored research and has placed VCU among the nation’s premier public research universities.

Through our passion for discovery and willingness to take on challenges, we continue to advance the work that matters most and position the university as a national leader in research, innovation, creativity, and scholarship.

Unit:

VP Research MBU

Department:

Office of Research

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Senior Research Administrator/Team Leader is responsible for the following duties: Supervise team reviewer, including workload and priorities, assuring adequate productivity and quality of work. Provide performance feedback to enhance skills or accomplish tasks; intervene to correct performance problems. Manage team work queue in RAMS-SPOT database and associated email account to respond timely to VCU faculty and staff, as well as non-profit, federal, state and local government sponsors; Review and submit sponsored project proposals, agreements and administrative actions for central university office consistent with delegated authority*; Participate in management working group(s), as assigned. Actively and accurately interpret and apply sponsor and university regulations and requirements to ensure compliance. *Delegated authority refers to the ability to execute documents pertaining to: (1) the application for and award of grant, contracts and other agreements to the university for research, development, training and public service and (2) the award of grants and other monies to other institutions for research, development, training and public service. Readiness for delegation authority will be determined by Senior Director of Sponsored Programs.

Qualifications:

Only applicants who do not require current or future sponsorship for employment will be considered

Minimum Qualifications

Strong knowledge of 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and individual federal and state agency regulations. Ability to interpret and apply guidelines to individual situations. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to relate proposed budgets to proposed activities. Familiarity with common office computer applications, internet applications, and ability to learn specialized applications such as customized database RAMS-SPOT (Research Administration Management System-Sponsored Programs Online Tracking.) Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification required for entry into position: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience required. Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree or commensurate experience preferred. CRA preferred.

Salary Range: 70,000-80,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: 34216N - Sr Research Administrator 3