• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building: Morningside
• Salary Range: $76,000 to $87,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Administration for the Columbia Nano Initiative (CNI) and working closely with the Directors of MRSEC, the Contracts Officer demonstrates initiative and accountability for major deliverables in the MRSEC program, operating under broad directions and goals and collaborating closely with the director and the CNI/CISE Director of Finance & Administration.  The incumbent manages the general financial operations of MRSEC, and MRSEC associated PI?s, including direct management of MRSEC-based research accounts, as well as accounts related to MRSEC PI?s, managing and monitoring account expenditures and special projects and provides monthly financial report to PIs and detailed monthly report to the Managing Director.  Works closely with the MRSEC Directors to plan and operate MRSEC activities.  Develops outreach and other "marketing"-type program materials as needed. Manages and executes key MRSEC events including annual retreat, visits by program sponsors, workshops and other events; manages the publicity for events, prepares and disseminates announcements.  Gathers and prepares information necessary for government grant annual and periodic performance reports for the MRSEC to the National Science Foundation and other agency sponsors.  Ensures compliance with appropriate granting agency policies and regulations.  Prepares annual reports to sponsoring agencies and other supporting agencies with technical input from the Managing Director.  Manages subcontract interactions, reporting, and billing.  Ensures collection and coordination of material required for reporting and presentations, including statistics, video, photographs, and other information. 

Responsibilities

• (20%) Works closely with PIs to prepare and submit grant proposals, including budget costing and preparation, and preparation of other support documents and forms. Coordinates submissions for large and complex grants and submissions to sponsoring agencies within tight timeframes. Works with SPA to set up and submit, and monitor subcontracts.
• (20%) Coordinates required and ad hoc financial reporting, including reports for external agencies (such as NSF). Responsible for executing various financial activities, including budgets, accounts, reports, reconciliations, reimbursements, accounts payable, etc. for MRSEC and the Columbia Nano Initiative.
• (25%) Assists PIs and Departmental Staff in the financial management of MRSEC operations, including account setups, management of individual scopes, grant financial closeouts, expenditure management, logs of commitments and reconciliations to financial statements, subcontract billing, payments, and accounts, and other assistance to faculty and students. Manages PCard purchasing for the MRSEC group and supports the Director of Finance & Administration in academic and student hiring for the MRSEC group.
• (5%) Performs archival management for the program, including the development and maintenance of a filing system for key MRSEC documents, and the collection, organization, and maintenance of graphics and photographs, maintenance of official proposal and report documents, management of mailing lists, and maintenance of inventory records and equipment.
• (10%) Coordinates major events, including annual retreats, reviews, and visitations.  Provides support and execution of minor events and other ongoing programs, including Thrust meetings, seminars, etc..
• (10%) Functions as the primary external contact point for MRSEC. Maintains register and email list of MRSEC contacts, maintains website content and design, and arranges web updates to software and server.  Responds promptly to general inquiries, disseminates announcements and coordinates publicity, promotes awareness of MRSEC, and issues news releases. 
• (5%) Responsible for executing various financial activities, including budgets, accounts, reports, reconciliations, reimbursements, accounts payable, etc. Provides administrative and financial support for other programs and operations within the Columbia Nano Initiative. Supports the Director of Finance & Administration in audit response preparation related to the MRSEC grants and the grants of MRSEC-affiliated PIs.
• (5%) Performs other tasks, duties, and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS Degree or equivalent, preferably in a scientific, engineering, or other technical field required. 
• Three - five years of experience in financial, research, or business-based professional activity. 
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision. Quantitative skills are essential for this position.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are necessary. 
• Must be able to work interactively and collaboratively with faculty, research staff, CISE office personnel, University offices, and external granting agencies. 
• Must show attention to detail and must be able to prioritize tasks. Excellent computer, organizational, and communication skills required. 
• Proficiency with Excel and other related software at an advanced level is extremely important.
• Must be flexible in terms of working hours in keeping with changing priorities and deadlines.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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