"Research Administrator Senior"

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The School of Dentistry seeks a highly competent and skilled individual as a Research Administrator Senior for the School of Dentistry Contracts and Grants Service Center (CGSC). The successful candidate will provide high-quality service for both pre- and post-award activities for faculty and staff. This position will report to the CGSC Manager. Strong customer-service orientation is critical to success in a high-functioning, team-centric, and fast-paced environment that emphasizes collegiality, collaboration, and creative problem solving.

This is a hybrid position with work completed onsite and remotely. Current practice is one day per week onsite and four days per week remote, which is subject to change at any time. On-site work will be completed at the School of Dentistry at 1011 N University Ave.

Pre-award duties include, but are not limited to:

• Manage the submission of research grant proposal materials to private and federal funding agencies, including interpreting regulations and guidelines of multiple and varied sponsors regarding proposal materials and budgeting
• Provide comprehensive coordination of all aspects of proposal submissions for assigned faculty
• Prepare all administrative components of the proposal package, including the Proposal Award Form (PAF,) utilizing eResearch and at times sponsor systems, ensuring that proposals are complete and in compliance with sponsor and University guidelines
• Communicate with faculty/principal investigator and with campus partners to coordinate a timely submission process, ensuring appropriate approvals
• Develop project budgets and advise on budget-related issues;
• Serve as the liaison with the sponsor, collaborators, and ORSP/Sponsored Programs

Post-award duties include, but are not limited to:

• Review, understand, and communicate sponsor award terms and conditions
• Review and reconcile account activity for sponsored research accounts and UM-funded research accounts. Provide monthly financial activity reports to PIs;
• Identify accounting errors and prepare paperwork for corrective action
• Ensure compliance with sponsor and UM policies regarding expenditures and communicate concerns about allowable expenses to PIs;
• Track cost-sharing commitments and monitor expenditure of funds to ensure fulfillment of cost-sharing obligations;
• Track personnel budgeted effort and make salary distribution changes as needed;
• In partnership with ORSP and Sponsored Programs, work to complete various post-award responsibilities, including: Processing of award change requests, completing budget reallocations, submitting reports (RPPR's, FSR's Uniform Guidance etc.)
• Establish sub-accounts for projects when needed; Work extensively with other UM research administrators to establish and monitor sub-account activity;
• Submit paperwork to Office of Contract Administration to establish subcontracts with external institutions;
• Assist with submission of yearly non-competing renewals, interim reports, and final reports, ensuring timely submission to ORSP and sponsor
• Monitor reporting requirements for all sponsored research grants and facilitate PI compliance with reporting requirements;
• Monitoring grant expenditures and making financial recommendations to faculty/staff regarding research expenditures

Other Duties:

• Flexibly and proactively assist other team members as needed, recommend best practices for team, and maintain electronic filing systems

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
• 5 - 7 years of progressive grant and contract experience.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work separately with faculty and staff in a diverse environment.
• Experience with sponsor systems, including Fastlane, grants.gov and NIH Commons.
• Experience with research activity and the preparation of sponsored research proposals.
• Considerable experience working in a customer-focused, team-oriented, fluid environment with a proven track record of meeting deadlines and attention to detail.
• Must be able to work independently in a responsible, sensitive, and confidential manner using independent judgement and professionalism.
• Effective verbal and written communications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive experience managing research portfolios, including using University-provided tools for management of portfolios (M-Pathways, MReports, Business Objects, etc.)
• Knowledge of university accounting principles and applications
• Adept at working independently and collaboratively
• Certified Research Administration (CRA) certification