Department: MCC Research Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:

This position within McCormick Research Administration, supports the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and the Science of Networks in Communities (SONIC) lab. The CEE and SONIC Research Administrator performs pre- and post- award functions by supporting and interacting with faculty and students in pursuit of sponsored research. As a member of the McCormick RA Team, this position plays an important role in bridging the proposal development process and award management, by working closely with faculty, students, department staff, and central offices.

The Research Administrator is expected to independently manage, and problem solve, the proposal development process, maintain post- award responsibilities, and ensure compliance with institutional, federal, and sponsor policies. Post-award responsibilities include, but are not limited to, award modifications, subaward management, compliance monitoring, payroll/effort tracking, and projections/reconciliations.

McCormick Research Administration is a collaborative and supportive team of experienced professionals. We have an established onboarding training process, and encourage continued growth and development through team sharing, team trainings, university training and networking, and the opportunity to attend a yearly professional conference.

Resume and Cover Letter are required for consideration.

This position will be based on the Evanston campus and may have the opportunity to work remotely, subject to operational need. Incumbent must be available to attend meetings on campus when needed.

Specific Responsibilities:

Pre-Award

• Manages pre-award administration of grants &/or contracts.
• Reviews solicitation and proactively resolves any issues/questions within the solicitation with SR and/or sponsor.
• Establishes procedures at the small to mid-sized unit level related to pre-award administration.
• Coordinates large-scale proposals, teaming/collaboration agreements, confidentiality agreements, intellectual property agreements or user agreements.
• Manage representation of sub-recipients, cost sharing and administrative costs on a proposal.
• Coordinates IRB and IACUC protocols.
• Prepares &/or reviews complete budget.
• Assesses the need for the redistribution of project F&A among multiple redistributed chartstrings.

Post-Award

• Completes post-award administration of research grants &/or contracts.
• Reviews account establishment.
• Manages effort commitments of key project personnel.
• Interprets awards documents.
• Reviews and reports expenditures.
• Verifies processing of cost share transactions.
• Reviews award budget status with PIs.
• Provides data needed for interim and final financial and technical progress reports.
• Facilitates account close out activities, coordinating with ASRSP as needed.
• Serves as liaison between department & SR, ASRSP, IACUC, IRB, internal audit, funding & regulatory agencies, subcontractors, collaborators, institutes, centers, etc.
• Participates in efforts to improve research administration including serving on university committees related to research administration.
• Provides information needed to prepare interim & final financial reports

Financial

• Oversees unit's entire sponsored project portfolio.
• Reviews transactions and resolve issues that requires a more complex level of financial understanding such as cost-sharing &/or effort reporting knowledge.
• Provides information to senior management that is used for department budgeting purposes.

Compliance

• Ensures compliance with all appropriate NU policies & practices; local, state, federal, agency & sponsor rules, regulations & requirements regarding grant &/or contract administration.
• Recommends changes to improve programs, policy &/or practice.
• Resolves compliance problems & issues working in conjunction with faculty.
• Resolves compliance problems & issues involving research safety, animal subjects and human subjects.
• Alerts supervisor to potential higher risk compliance issues.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree or 2 years financial or administrative support experience.
• 2 years research administration + 1 year financial or administrative support experience in a research environment (total of 3 years).

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Organization, time management, detail oriented
• Multi-tasking, communication
• Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active, manage stress
• Managing people

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two to four years of proposal/award management experience in a university environment.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
• Understanding of OMB Uniform Guidance, Research Terms & Conditions (FDP) and agency-specific terms and conditions, including the NSF and PHS Grants Policy Statements.
• Knowledge of the NSF Grant Proposal Guide and NSF Fastlane.
• Knowledge of other electronic federal proposal/award management systems, including www.grants.gov.
• Knowledge of basic intellectual property principles.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge of NU's financial systems and accounting procedures.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $67,978 - $95,595 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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