Research Administrator Sr

Job Summary

About The University Of Michigan School Of Social Work
Purpose
We are looking for an energetic, positive, and forward-thinking individual with significant post-award experience, pre-award knowledge, and financial analysis competencies to join our team.

Responsibilities

• Post-Award Research Administration
• Create and prepare bimonthly financial reports, illustrating revenues, encumbrances, and projected balances.
• Provide Short- and long-term financial forecasting.
• Adjust, expand, modify and customize financial reports to meet needs of PI.
• Review assigned project/grants in a variety of funds including general, gift, recharge, and sponsored research using MReports, Business Objects and other tools.
• This includes reviewing financial transactions.
• Aprove expenditures within prescribed limits according to Uniform Guidance, University and sponsor guidelines, PI project plans and resolve issues.
• Arrange and process requests affecting a project, such as time extensions, supplemental funds, subcontracts, subprojects, and changes in the scope of work or budgetary changes.
• Respond to requests for financial information from PI and sponsors.
• Regularly communicate with faculty and other staff members to ensure smooth transitions of project lifecycles.
• Review and facilitate Financial status reports (FSRs) and complete Uniform Guidance (UG) Reports with Sponsored Programs.
• Prepare and submit journal entries as required.
• Work with faculty to ensure offset requirements are met.
• Participate in continuous process and workflow improvements efforts to ensure smooth lab operations.
• Pre-Award Research Administration
• Reviewing and adhering to proposal submission guidelines for submissions from the University and/or the funding agency.
• Affixing to required sponsor forms.
• Preparing Proposal Approval Forms.
• Preparing and maintaining documents for submission packages.
• Working with faculty to develop budgets and budget justifications following Sponsor, School and University Policies.
• Serving as liaison faculty with School of Social Work and University central offices (i.e. Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP).
• Organizing and project management to ensure multiple concurrent proposals are routed in a timely fashion.
• Administrative And Project Support
• Liaising with PI, lab staff, and SSW department leaders, along with central offices to manage award lifecycles, monitor lab staffing & expenditures, and support faculty research objectives.

Skills

• Ability to interpret and communicate School, University, and Sponsor guidelines and policies.
• Experience in routing multiple complex projects across a variety of sponsors.
• Demonstrated experience with multi-project financial review and analysis, with the ability to track and project financial activity and commitments.
• Knowledge of U-M financial practices and processes strongly preferred.
• Prior experience with federal funding agencies such as NSF, NIH strongly preferred.
• Mastery of Excel and ability to adapt to changing technology is essential.
• Ability to work in a team environment, collaborate effectively with co-workers, and provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to organize and synthesize complex information about particular financial aspects, resulting in clear and comprehensive summaries.
• Candidates will need to exhibit sound judgment, follow work through to completion, and meet high work standards, as well as the ability to set priorities and manage competing deadlines.
• Demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication skills is essential.
• Demonstrated experience in the use of Business Objects and M-Pathways.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, with a minimum of 5 years of experience in complex grant administration in a higher education context.
• Excellent communication and organizational skill.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.
• Attention to detail and dependability are essential.

Desired Qualifications

• Seven-plus years of progressively responsible grant management experience.
• Previous experience with the U-M eResearch Proposal Management system.
• Previous experience with data mining in MPathways, Business Objects, and other complimentary systems is desired.
• Certified Research Administrator Certification (CRA).