Research Administrator II, Post-Award

Provides comprehensive post-award administration for a complex portfolio of federal, state, foundation, and industry-sponsored grants, contracts, subawards, and special projects. Works directly with principal investigators to manage award compliance, budgets, reconciliations, financial projections, effort and labor allocations, reporting, and closeout activities. Serves as a knowledgeable advisor and liaison among faculty, department leadership, the School of Engineering and Computing research administration team, Rice central offices, and external sponsors to ensure accurate stewardship and compliant administration of sponsored funds.

About the Role

The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing ranks among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs (U.S. News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff, and students in an inclusive environment. This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Manages post-award administration for an assigned portfolio of grants, contracts, subawards, and sponsored projects.
• Reviews award documents, budgets, and sponsor requirements and communicates relevant administrative and financial requirements to principal investigators.
• Coordinates sponsored-project account setup and modifications and maintains accurate award records and reporting schedules.
• Reviews and reconciles sponsored-project accounts and monitors expenditures, commitments, cost sharing, and labor distributions.
• Prepares financial projections, budget-to-actual reports, and other financial information to help principal investigators monitor award balances and spending.
• Reviews sponsored-project expenses for consistency with award terms, sponsor requirements, and Rice policies and coordinates corrections when needed.
• Monitors effort commitments and the allocation of faculty, staff, and student compensation to sponsored projects.
• Coordinates post-award actions, including rebudgeting, prior-approval requests, no-cost extensions, carryforward requests, cost transfers, and award closeout.
• Supports subaward administration and coordinates required documentation with collaborating institutions and Rice central offices.
• Prepares documentation and financial information for sponsor reports, audits, and other institutional reviews.
• Serves as a liaison among principal investigators, departmental leadership, Rice central offices, sponsors, and collaborating institutions.
• Maintains sponsored-project records, files, reports, and supporting documentation.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree. In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• Two years or more (2+) of related research administration experience. In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Skills

• Working knowledge of research administration guidelines, regulations, policies, and sponsor requirements, including allowable costs, cost sharing, effort commitments, prior approvals, subawards, and no-cost extensions.
• Knowledge of the post-award lifecycle, including award setup, sponsored-project monitoring, compliance, sponsor reporting, award modifications, and closeout.
• Ability to review and interpret award documents, budgets, and financial reports.
• Strong analytical, forecasting, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with financial and sponsored-project systems, Microsoft Excel, and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong organizational, project-management, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong customer-service and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience administering sponsored awards in a university or academic research environment.
• Experience supporting a portfolio of federal, foundation, industry, or other sponsored awards.
• Experience with post-award activities, including account reconciliation, financial projections, sponsor reporting, award modifications, and closeout.
• Experience with complex, multi-investigator, or multi-institutional awards and subawards.
• Experience using research administration, financial reporting, and forecasting systems, including Cayuse or comparable systems.
• Experience preparing documentation for sponsor, audit, or institutional review.

Pay

$63,731 - $67,000 annually. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Schedule

Hybrid role combining both in-office and remote work. The specific schedule will be established by the department.