ASG Research Admin Services Specialist/Senior Specialist (MMS Basic Sciences –(Administrative Services Group)

About the organization

UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care.

Benefits

• 100% paid medical premiums for full-time employees
• Generous time off: holidays, preventative leave day, vacation and sick time (equates to around 37–38 days per year); vacation accrual increases with longevity
• Longevity Pay (monthly payments after two years of service)
• Retirement/pension plan
• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care

Position Summary

The Research Administrative Services Specialist assists in planning, coordinating and monitoring the research administrative activities. Administers procedures designed to comply with appropriate regulations relating to the administration of government and private research grants and contracts and for the interpretation and application of such procedures and regulations.

Responsibilities

• At the direction of the Principal Investigator, assists with complex pre- and/or post-award administration and coordinating
• Reviews grants and contract proposals packets and awards for special conditions/restrictions and follows established controls to ensure full compliance
• Runs reports for reporting requirements, Just in Time (JIT) needs, and regulatory award needs
• Regularly handles confidential information and sensitive issues
• May manage faculty and staff files, weekly time reports, vacations, sick leaves, and time and effort reports
• May approve all department/division expenditures
• Reviews and obtains necessary approvals for all personnel action forms regarding appointments, promotions, separations, salary actions, fund source changes, and other types of personnel action; ensures actions are processed accurately and timely in HR and financial management systems
• Guides Principal Investigators and their staff to ensure allowability and allocability by counseling and/or disseminating information and guidelines of the various granting agencies
• May distribute to Principal Investigators pertinent information relating to contractual provisions and obligations
• May adjust budgets dependent upon contract requirements
• Follows up on activities related to establishing grant protocol with institutions involved in similar activities as named by the grant
• Assists in the development of progress plans with professional organizations relative to the objective and purpose of grant funding for a particular area of research or training
• Assists in creating financial and personnel reports for grants and contracts at the departmental or school level
• May participate in negotiations with agency regarding renewal of contract/subcontract
• Assists in the proper close-out of grants and contracts, including final financial reports to grant agency
• Assists in the creation and maintenance of inventory of assets procured under contract and grant accounts
• Performs other duties as assigned

Certification / Skills

• Effective communication and negotiation skills
• Database and spreadsheet skills
• SRAI Level Up required

Minimum Education

Bachelor's Degree required. May substitute required education with equivalent years of experience beyond the minimum experience requirement.

Minimum Experience

1 year of experience required in sponsored project support and administration.

Physical Requirements

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code 51.215 and Texas Government Code 411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code 117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. 791.4.

Residency Requirement

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.