Manager Research Administration
Apply NowCompany: Northwestern University
Location: Evanston, IL 60201
Description:
Department: MCC Research Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/10
Job Summary:
This position within McCormick Research Administration supports the department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). The MSE Research Administration Manager provides strategic leadership, management, and advanced problem-solving in overseeing the entire lifecycle of sponsored research for faculty in the MSE department. As a member of the McCormick RA Team, this position plays an important role in bridging the proposal development process and award management, by working closely with faculty, students, department staff, and central offices. The position manages a team of 4 staff. The MSE Research Administration Team manages pre- and post-award administration including financial approvals, proposal development, award setup and management, budget preparation, compliance, effort reporting, salary planning, fiscal management, and financial reporting and projections. The Manager ensures compliance with institutional, federal, and sponsor policies and is responsible for overseeing and improving overall research and associated financial management performance. The Research Administration Manager position reports to the Senior Director of Research Administration and is a critical role within the school. The Manager develops policy and procedures, implements and performs training, and recommends changes to increase productivity & effectiveness. McCormick Research Administration is a collaborative and supportive team of experienced professionals. We have an established onboarding training process, and encourage continued growth and development through team sharing, team training, university training and networking, and the opportunity to attend a yearly professional conference. Resume and Cover Letter are required for consideration. This position will be based on the Evanston campus and has a hybrid schedule. Incumbent must be available to attend meetings on campus when needed.
Specific Responsibilities :
Complexity
Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.
Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.
Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more .
Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
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Salary/Grade: EXS/10
Job Summary:
This position within McCormick Research Administration supports the department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). The MSE Research Administration Manager provides strategic leadership, management, and advanced problem-solving in overseeing the entire lifecycle of sponsored research for faculty in the MSE department. As a member of the McCormick RA Team, this position plays an important role in bridging the proposal development process and award management, by working closely with faculty, students, department staff, and central offices. The position manages a team of 4 staff. The MSE Research Administration Team manages pre- and post-award administration including financial approvals, proposal development, award setup and management, budget preparation, compliance, effort reporting, salary planning, fiscal management, and financial reporting and projections. The Manager ensures compliance with institutional, federal, and sponsor policies and is responsible for overseeing and improving overall research and associated financial management performance. The Research Administration Manager position reports to the Senior Director of Research Administration and is a critical role within the school. The Manager develops policy and procedures, implements and performs training, and recommends changes to increase productivity & effectiveness. McCormick Research Administration is a collaborative and supportive team of experienced professionals. We have an established onboarding training process, and encourage continued growth and development through team sharing, team training, university training and networking, and the opportunity to attend a yearly professional conference. Resume and Cover Letter are required for consideration. This position will be based on the Evanston campus and has a hybrid schedule. Incumbent must be available to attend meetings on campus when needed.
Specific Responsibilities :
Complexity
- Typically administers or oversees entire research projects such as:
- Research portfolio for a larger department
- Government contracts
- Center or program grants
- International projects
- Master agreements with industry
- Provides creative, strategic leadership in pre-award administration of research grants &/or contracts, expertly balancing customer service and compliance needs.
- Establishes procedures at the large unit level related to pre-award administration.
- Coordinates federal contract proposals, international proposals, and proposals with difficult/troublesome terms and large sponsored agreements with industry partners.
- Uses metrics to monitor report and adjust unit pre-award performance.
- Provides expertise regarding post-award research administration.
- Ensures that proposed projects meet goals of dept. & that necessary resources are available.
- Manages and follows through on high-risk situations.
- Coordinates or oversees application completion and detailed review & submission.
- Interprets sponsor guidelines.
- Creates procedures regarding day-to-day administrative & financial functions.
- Resolves issues with collaborators &/or other involved parties.
- Establishes procedures at the large unit level related to post-award administration.
- Manages all day-to-day grant &/or contract functions such as administration, finance, facilities, compliance, reporting, etc. ensuring timetables are created & maintained as appropriate.
- Uses metrics to monitor report and adjust unit post-award performance.
- Recommends & facilitates procedural changes in grant &/or contract administration as necessary.
- Recommends policy to enhance research administration.
- Oversees & manages all research portfolio fiscal activities, from research development to close-out activities, continually evaluating & recommending alternatives to minimize risk while maximizing goals.
- Ensures that budgets are created, proposed & administered in a fiscally responsible manner.
- Resolves complex issues such as determining appropriate & reasonable cost-sharing percentages on complex grants involving multiple locations; effort reporting problems; under- or over-spent grant budgets; recommend changes to eliminate deficit balances; overdrafts.
- Coordinates price negotiation, purchase, & ongoing maintenance support contracts of all major research equipment.
- Provides information to senior management that is used for department budgeting purposes.
- Hires, evaluates, promotes, &/or counsel staff.
- Oversees training for all staff regarding research administration in unit.
- Consults with faculty as grants are funded regarding job descriptions; selecting & hiring new staff; and as grants end regarding lay-offs, terminations, etc.
- Compliance
- Creates, implements & oversees programs, policy & practice for dept./division designed to ensure compliance with all appropriate NU policies & practices; local, state, federal, agency & sponsor rules, regulations & requirements regarding grant &/or contract administration.
- Ensures resolution of all compliance problems & issues, including those involving research safety, animal subjects, human subjects and conflict of interest.
- Supervises one Senior Research Administrator and 3 Research Administrators.
- Assigns & reviews staff work.
- Provides ongoing feedback to Senior Director of Research Administration on staff progress and areas for improvement.
- Mentors other administrative staff in research administration.
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
- A minimum of 7 years' experience required with 4 years of research administration and 3 years of research, finance, administrative or other relevant experience.
- Organization, time management, detail oriented
- Multi-tasking, communication
- Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active, manage stress
- Managing people
- Provide leadership by cooperatively anticipating, coordinating, strategizing
Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.
Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.
Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more .
Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
#LI-GY1