SPA Departmental Research Administrator

About the role

The Departmental Research Administrator (DRA) serves as a key operational and financial partner to faculty and research teams in the administration and stewardship of sponsored projects. As part of Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA), the DRA supports the post-award management of a diverse portfolio of sponsored projects, helping investigators navigate sponsor requirements, manage project resources effectively, and maintain compliance with institutional, sponsor, and regulatory expectations.

The DRA works closely with Principal Investigators, departmental personnel, Proposal Analysts, and other SPA colleagues to support award implementation, financial monitoring, rebudgeting, effort coordination, forecasting, reporting, prior approval requests, and award closeout activities throughout the sponsored project lifecycle. This role helps ensure that sponsored projects remain financially sustainable, operationally effective, and aligned with sponsor and institutional requirements as project needs evolve over time.

Responsibilities

• Supports the post-award management of a diverse portfolio of sponsored projects, helping investigators navigate sponsor requirements, manage project resources effectively, and maintain compliance with institutional, sponsor, and regulatory expectations.
• Works closely with Principal Investigators, departmental personnel, Proposal Analysts, and other SPA colleagues to support award implementation, financial monitoring, rebudgeting, effort coordination, forecasting, reporting, prior approval requests, and award closeout activities throughout the sponsored project lifecycle.
• Ensures that sponsored projects remain financially sustainable, operationally effective, and aligned with sponsor and institutional requirements as project needs evolve over time.
• May provide operational or post-award perspective during proposal budgeting and implementation planning to support effective project transitions and long-term award management.
• Combines strong analytical and financial skills with the ability to interpret complex regulations, communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, identify potential risks or issues, and provide practical guidance in a dynamic research environment.
• Supports research and scholarly activity by combining strong analytical and financial skills with the ability to interpret complex regulations, communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, identify potential risks or issues, and provide practical guidance in a dynamic research environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree with 3 or more years of related experience
• Demonstrated experience managing or supporting sponsored projects, grants, contracts, or other restricted funds in a higher education, research, healthcare, nonprofit, governmental, or similarly regulated environment
• Experience interpreting and applying sponsor, institutional, or regulatory requirements in support of financial or operational decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple competing priorities and manage complex workflows with strong attention to detail
• Ability to communicate complex policies, financial concepts, or compliance requirements clearly to individuals with varying levels of experience and expertise
• Demonstrated ability to identify issues, analyze risks, and develop practical solutions in a dynamic operational environment
• Experience working collaboratively across administrative or operational units to support shared processes or outcomes
• Working knowledge of federal regulations governing research (e.g., OMB Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and sponsor policies)
• Experience with sponsored projects administration systems, enterprise financial systems, or electronic research administration platforms

Qualifications

• Master’s with 1+ year of related experience
• Direct experience interpreting and applying regulations
• Sound knowledge of research administration
• Experience using the Banner Financial Information System

Skills

• Knowledge of principles associated with sponsored projects administration, financial stewardship, and research compliance
• Ability to analyze and interpret financial, operational, and regulatory information in support of sponsored project management
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage complex workloads with strong attention to detail and competing deadlines
• Demonstrated written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to understand, convey and advise on complex regulations, policies, and procedures
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with individuals possessing varying levels of technical, financial, or regulatory knowledge
• Ability to develop collaborative working relationships and effectively coordinate activities across administrative, operational, and academic units
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with a diverse set of individuals and ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment across organizational units and at all levels, including faculty, deans, and administration
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and discretion in a complex and evolving operational environment
• Ability to identify problems, evaluate potential impacts, and develop practical, service-oriented solutions
• Ability to provide optimum service to internal and external customers
• Demonstrated skills with MS Office applications including Excel, utilizing basic formulas, and Word

Benefits

An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.

Pay

Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. The starting annual salary for this position will be between $58,596 and $63,048 but may be negotiated above this range dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 40hrs per week, schedule to be determined