Research Administrator I

About the Role

Provides post-award administration for approximately 100 grants, contracts, and sponsored research awards, including contract execution, account setup, activation, and closeout activities. Serves as the primary departmental resource for post-award financial management, including budget monitoring, forecasting, reconciliation, financial reporting, invoicing, and stewardship of sponsored project funds.

Acts as an EBS Fiscal Officer for research grant accounts, reviewing and approving research-related financial, procurement, payroll, and human resource transactions; auditing records for accuracy and compliance; and resolving discrepancies with internal and external stakeholders. Coordinates subcontract administration and serves as a liaison between sponsoring agencies, investigators, and university offices to facilitate project administration and required reporting.

Coordinates effort certification and cost-sharing activities, including calculation, processing, monitoring, and reporting of salary and fringe benefit cost-share commitments. Reviews research award terms and conditions and advises investigators and staff on allowable costs, budget expenditures, no-cost extensions, financial management, and regulatory requirements.

Provides independent analysis and resolution of complex research administration, financial, compliance, and operational issues by applying expertise in university, sponsor, and governmental requirements. Maintains complete and accurate electronic research records, including award documentation, financial records, human resource transactions, reports, and account activity. Monitors and verifies capital assets and research equipment acquisitions, transfers, fabrication projects, inventory requirements, and related reporting obligations.

Participates in special projects and other research administration activities as assigned.

Research Compliance and Training

Conducts compliance reviews of active and closed research accounts to ensure adherence to sponsor requirements, federal regulations, university policies, and internal controls; identifies issues and recommends corrective actions. Serves as Departmental Effort Administrator, overseeing effort certification processes and validating salary distributions and cost-sharing allocations charged to sponsored projects.

Ensures departmental compliance with university policies, procedures, and applicable research administration regulations. Coordinates and prepares documentation required for internal audits, external audits, sponsor reviews, and site visits. Assists investigators and departmental leadership with research compliance monitoring, project closeout activities, and evaluation of research program performance.

Develops and delivers training and guidance to faculty and staff on research administration processes, financial reports, compliance requirements, and sponsored project management.

Requirements

• Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Business Administration, Finance, or a research-related field.
• Up to six months of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in research administration in one or more of the research process areas of pre- or post-award processes, such as regulatory administration.
• Experience in word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
• Completion of Essentials of Research Administration (MSU certificate) or equivalent within one year of hire.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Three or more years of post-award research administration experience in a higher education or research-intensive environment.
• Experience interpreting and applying federal, state, sponsor, and university regulations governing sponsored research.
• Experience with data analysis, financial forecasting, and dashboard or report development.

Schedule

Standard 8-5.

Remote Work

This position has been designated as remote-friendly, meaning some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.