Research Administrator Senior

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The School of Dentistry seeks a highly competent and skilled individual as a Research Administrator Senior for the School of Dentistry Contracts and Grants Service Center (CGSC). The successful candidate will provide high-quality service for both pre- and post-award activities for faculty and staff. This position will report to the CGSC Manager. Strong customer-service orientation is critical to success in a high-functioning, team-centric, and fast-paced environment that emphasizes collegiality, collaboration, and creative problem solving.
 

This is a hybrid position with work completed onsite and remotely. Current practice is one day per week onsite and four days per week remote, which is subject to change at any time. On-site work will be completed at the School of Dentistry at 1011 N University Ave.  

Mission Statement

MDentistry: Advancing health through education, service, research, and discovery.

MDentistry Core Values: Compassion, Leadership, Excellence, Responsibility, Trust, Creativity, and Belonging.

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. The University of Michigan is committed to foster learning, creativity and productivity, and to support the vigorous exchange of ideas and information, not only in the classroom but in the workplace by: 

• Creating a work environment in which people treat each other with respect and dignity, regardless of roles, responsibilities or differences. 
• Providing support, direction and resources enabling us to accomplish the responsibilities of our jobs and to reach the goals that are set for professional and personal growth.

Why Work at Michigan?

Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care - that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.

The School of Dentistry is consistently ranked as the #1 dental school in the United States and the world. We embrace diversity in many forms and champion diversity of thought and culture. Our Mission, core values, and additional information about our school can be found on our website. The University of Michigan also offers comprehensive benefits to help you stay well and to support you as you plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous paid time off for vacations, holidays, sick time, season days, and paid parental leave.
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions after the first year of employment.
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.
• Work-life programs to strengthen a workplace culture that supports personal and family life, including child care, elder care, lactation resources, and mental and emotional health services.

Responsibilities*

Pre-award duties include, but are not limited to:

• Manage the submission of research grant proposal materials to private and federal funding agencies, including interpreting regulations and guidelines of multiple and varied sponsors regarding proposal materials and budgeting
• Provide comprehensive coordination of all aspects of proposal submissions for assigned faculty
• Prepare all administrative components of the proposal package, including the Proposal Award Form (PAF,) utilizing eResearch and at times sponsor systems, ensuring that proposals are complete and in compliance with sponsor and University guidelines
• Communicate with faculty/principal investigator and with campus partners to coordinate a timely submission process, ensuring appropriate approvals
• Develop project budgets and advise on budget-related issues;
• Serve as the liaison with the sponsor, collaborators, and ORSP/Sponsored Programs 
   

Post-award duties include, but are not limited to:

• Review, understand, and communicate sponsor award terms and conditions
• Review and reconcile account activity for sponsored research accounts and UM-funded research accounts.  Provide monthly financial activity reports to PIs;
• Identify accounting errors and prepare paperwork for corrective action
• Ensure compliance with sponsor and UM policies regarding expenditures and communicate concerns about allowable expenses to PIs;
• Track cost-sharing commitments and monitor expenditure of funds to ensure fulfillment of cost-sharing obligations;
• Track personnel budgeted effort and make salary distribution changes as needed;
• In partnership with ORSP and Sponsored Programs, work to complete various post-award responsibilities, including: Processing of award change requests, completing budget reallocations, submitting reports (RPPR's, FSR's Uniform Guidance etc.)
• Establish sub-accounts for projects when needed; Work extensively with other UM research administrators to establish and monitor sub-account activity;
• Submit paperwork to Office of Contract Administration to establish subcontracts with external institutions;
• Assist with submission of yearly non-competing renewals, interim reports, and final reports, ensuring timely submission to ORSP and sponsor
• Monitor reporting requirements for all sponsored research grants and facilitate PI compliance with reporting requirements;
• Monitoring grant expenditures and making financial recommendations to faculty/staff  regarding research expenditures   
   

Other Duties:

• Flexibly and proactively assist other team members as needed, recommend best practices for team, and maintain electronic filing systems 

Required Qualifications*

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
• 5 - 7 years of progressive grant and contract experience.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work separately with faculty and staff in a diverse environment.
• Experience with sponsor systems, including Fastlane, grants.gov and NIH Commons.
• Experience with research activity and the preparation of sponsored research proposals.
• Considerable experience working in a customer-focused, team-oriented, fluid environment with a proven track record of meeting deadlines and attention to detail.
• Must be able to work independently in a responsible, sensitive, and confidential manner using independent judgement and professionalism.
• Effective verbal and written communications 

Desired Qualifications*

• Extensive experience managing research portfolios, including using University-provided tools for management of portfolios (M-Pathways, MReports, Business Objects, etc.)
• Knowledge of university accounting principles and applications
• Adept at working independently and collaboratively
• Certified Research Administration (CRA) certification

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.