Assoc Res Admin

Northwestern’s Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP) Institute is revolutionizing precision medicine by unraveling the secrets of human proteins—key drivers of health and disease. Proteins are the workhorses of the cell and their malfunction often initiates disorders like cancer and Alzheimer’s. CLP is a nexus for protein-informed drug and diagnostic development where researchers and clinicians work together to crack the mystery of proteins.

About the role

The Associate Research Administrator provides administrative assistance and routine problem-solving in support of the unit’s research programs and mission. Work is reviewed upon completion and only occasionally to verify technical accuracy and compliance with practice, policy, and procedures. The role involves choosing appropriate alternatives from among pre-defined policies and procedures to complete work that includes successive steps and involves some non-routine problems and decisions.

Responsibilities

• Administers entire research projects such as:
  • Single Principal Investigator (PI) basic proposals, grants, and/or contracts
  • Assists with components of multi-PI or multi-unit proposals, grants, and/or contracts
• Manages pre-award administration of grant and/or contract activities:
  • Reviews solicitation and determines necessary components
  • Organizes proposal, renewal, and resubmission applications
  • Completes NU OSR forms
  • Completes entire application for smaller, less-complicated, simple, standard proposals
• Handles post-award administration of research grants and/or contracts:
  • Reviews account establishment
  • Reviews expenditures and tracks formal re-budgeting
  • Coordinates core resource account setup and maintenance
  • Provides data needed for interim and final financial and technical progress reports
  • Participates in account close-out activities
  • Monitors project under-spending and overspending
  • Communicates with PI, other unit and project personnel, OSR, ASRSP, and/or sponsor accordingly
• Performs financial reconciliation of standard budget and payroll information, ensuring appropriate sponsored accounts are charged
• Resolves standard and routine compliance problems and issues involving associated NU policies and practices, as well as local, state, federal, agency, and sponsor rules and regulations
• Becomes familiar with regulations involving research safety, animal subjects, and human subjects; alerts supervisor to potential higher-risk compliance issues
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience
• 1 year of financial or administrative support experience in a research environment or other relevant experience

Skills

• Organization and time management
• Attention to detail
• Multi-tasking and communication

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of administrative support for a research group
• Experience with Microsoft suite, specifically Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Knowledge of how to update and maintain websites
• Experience with NUFinancials, Cognos, and CERES
• Experience with updating biosketches and other support documents

Pay

Target hiring range for this position will be between $62,000–$72,000 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

• Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Paid medical/sick and parental leave
• Tuition benefits for the employee and dependents
• Pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care
• Retirement savings options
• Wellness programs
• Work-life and wellness programs, including flexible work arrangements, childcare, and senior/adult care support
• Professional growth and development resources