Job Details
Posting Number: PG194866EP
Internal Recruitment: No
Working Title: Research Operations Coordinator
Anticipated Hiring Range: Commensurate with education and experience (anticipated hiring range $65,000-$73,525.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm (additional work outside of standard hours may be required due to business needs)
Job Location: Raleigh, NC
Department: Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs
About the Department:
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering's primary research mission involves managing high-impact, multi-disciplinary research initiatives, specialized laboratory facilities, and large-scale sponsor portfolios. To support faculty innovation and maintain seamless operations across complex grant portfolios, the department utilizes embedded administrative professionals who provide direct, localized support to large faculty research groups, multi-investigator centers, and specialized laboratory infrastructure.
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits:
As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Flexible Spending Account
- Retirement Programs
- Disability Plans
- Life Insurance
- Accident Plan
- Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
- 12 Holidays Each Year
- Tuition and Academic Assistance
- And so much more!
Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.
Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.
Essential Job Duties:
The Research Operations Coordinator serves as the central administrative, financial, and operational authority for a major research group, center, or specialized facility (supporting 20–25+ faculty, postdocs, graduate researchers, and visiting scholars).
This position is unique in that it bridges localized research administration (pre-award proposal support, post-award budget tracking, sponsor reporting, and service center billing) with comprehensive laboratory and facility operations (specialized procurement, equipment maintenance, travel logistics, vendor relations, and building liaison duties).
Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Coordinator serves as the primary operational liaison between Principal Investigators (PIs), central College Research Administration, university administrative offices, external corporate partners, and government sponsors (e.g., DOE, ARO, NSF, DoD).
Detailed Breakdown of Core Responsibilities
1. Embedded Research Administration & Financial Stewardship
- Post-Award Financial Oversight: Monitor active project budgets and sub-segments across a multi-million-dollar grant portfolio. Coordinate rebudgeting, account modifications, summer salary planning, project extension requests, and closeout preparations in alignment with College Research Administration guidelines.
- Pre-Award Proposal Development Support: Assist PIs with proposal development for federal, state, and corporate submissions. Prepare RED records, draft non-technical proposal sections, build preliminary budgets, gather required documentation (CVs, letters of support, current & pending forms), and coordinate submission timelines with central proposal development units.
- Sponsor Reporting & Data Coordination: Collect financial and technical data to assist PIs in drafting quarterly, annual, and final progress reports for external sponsors (e.g., ARO, DOE, NSF) and industry subcontractors.
- Financial Transaction Processing: Initiate and reconcile high-volume financial transactions, including Vouchers, Journal Vouchers (JVs), Inter-Departmental Transfers (IDTs), P-Card reconciliations, and travel reimbursements in strict compliance with university and sponsor guidelines.
- Service Center & Lab Use Oversight: Draft and maintain Laboratory Use Agreements for specialized research facilities/centers. Manage user activity logs, coordinate scheduling, and drive timely invoicing and billing for internal and external lab users.
2. Laboratory Procurement, Facilities & Building Operations
- Specialized Lab Procurement: Act as the lead procurement strategist for the research group. Source specialized laboratory equipment, fabricated items, and research consumables via Marketplace, blanket purchase orders, and P-Card protocols. Negotiate pricing and specifications directly with scientific vendors.
- Facilities & Building Liaison: Serve as the primary facilities liaison for the research group's designated building/lab space. Coordinate with University Facilities Management for maintenance requests, lab safety compliance, security access/key distribution, space scheduling, and emergency notifications.
- Lab Equipment & Inventory Control: Oversee laboratory supply inventory, coordinate equipment repair and preventative maintenance contracts, and manage domestic and international shipping of research materials in accordance with compliance protocols.
3. Program Management, Outreach & External Relations
- External Partner & Sponsor Engagement: Act as the primary administrative point of contact for external corporate, university, and government collaborators. Foster relationships that support interdisciplinary initiatives and research commercialization.
- Event Planning & Seminars: Plan and execute academic forums, workshops, sponsor site visits, solar/tech integration meetings, and visiting researcher seminars. Coordinate all venue logistics, catering, schedules, and visitor accommodations.
- Communications & Media Management: Maintain and update research group websites, faculty/project profiles, and promotional materials (brochures, flyers, press releases, annual reports) to highlight research achievements and funding milestones.
4. Travel Logistics & General Administrative Coordination
- Travel Operations: Design and execute complex travel itineraries for faculty, postdocs, students, and visiting scholars. Secure required travel authorizations, funding approvals, international travel documentation, and post-trip reimbursements.
- Administrative Operations: Maintain electronic record archives (SOPs, equipment manuals, award files). Manage daily group calendars, prioritize operational deadlines, and assist in onboarding new research staff, postdocs, and graduate students into the lab environment.
5. Professional Knowledge & Policy Interpretation
- Act as the local expert on university, state, and federal sponsor policies across academic, financial, procurement, and human resource domains. Independently resolve complex administrative issues and adapt workflows to meet evolving research needs.
Other Responsibilities:
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education, or a related field, plus 2–3 years of professional experience in research administration, project coordination, or high-level academic program management; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Other Required Qualifications:
- Research Administration Knowledge: Demonstrated understanding of pre- and post-award processes, budget tracking, sponsor guidelines (Uniform Guidance, federal circulars), and proposal submission portals (RED, Research.gov, eRA Commons).
- Financial & ERP Systems: Proficient in financial software and ERP platforms (PeopleSoft Financials, Marketplace, P-Card reconciliation systems, Smartsheet/Excel).
- Autonomy & Multitasking: Exceptional organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to manage competing deadlines in a high-stakes research environment with minimal supervision.
- Communication & Liaison Skills: Strong written and interpersonal communication skills required to interface effectively with faculty, students, university leadership, facilities staff, and external sponsors.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience in an R1 university setting directly supporting STEM research labs, academic centers, or engineering departments.
- Experience managing service center billing, laboratory use agreements, or complex procurement for scientific equipment.
- Familiarity with NC State University systems (PeopleSoft, RED, Travel Center, Wolfpack Marketplace).
Required License(s) or Certification(s):
N/A
Valid NC Driver's License required:
No
Commercial Driver's License required:
No
Job Open Date:
09/08/2026
Anticipated Close Date:
9/22/2026; if posting is still active we are accepting and reviewing applications.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Please include a resume, cover letter and contact information for at least three professional references.
Position Number:
00112303
Position Type:
EPS/SAAO
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week):
1.0
Appointment:
12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather:
Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events:
Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
Department ID:
230101 - Interdisciplinary Programs - SVP
EEO:
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
Organization
NC State: Think and Do
NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.
Our 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).
Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives
NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We're also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.
Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.
Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future
NC State's 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow's challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.
Our Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed "the library of the future."
In Raleigh and Around the World
It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:
- No. 2 hot spot for tech jobs (Forbes, 2016)
- No. 3 best city for young professionals (Forbes, 2016)
- No. 4 best city for jobs (Glassdoor.com, 2017)
- No. 4 best place to live (U.S. News & World Report, 2016)
- Best big city in the Southeast (Time, 2016)
- Selected as a Google Fiber expansion city
With Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country's best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.
More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.
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