Department: MED-Office for Research
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Job Summary:

The Associate Research Administrator provides administrative assistance and routine problem solving in support of the Sponsored Project and Research Catalyst’s (SPARC) research programs and mission as a shared service model within NUFSM.  Assistance may include the preparation &/or submission of routine research proposals, grants &/or contracts according to standard practice &/or general instruction.  May assist with &/or complete proposal submissions, prepare information used in grant budgets, process and project financial transactions, &/or effort reporting activities. In addition, may provide programmatic support for school-wide research initiatives and/or special projects.

Specific Responsibilities:

Pre-Award

• Manages pre-award administration of grants &/or contracts.
• Reviews solicitation and proactively resolves any issues/questions within the solicitation with OSR and/or sponsor. 
• 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.
• Approves high-value/high-risk expenditures.
• 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. 
• Establishes procedures at the small to mid-sized unit level related to post-award administration.
• Serves as liaison between department & OSR, 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.

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; one year financial or administrative support experience in a research environment or the equivalent or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience from which similar skills can be acquired.

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

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

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Northwestern systems

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. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.