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Research Administrator

Employer
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Location
Amherst, Massachusetts

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Job Details

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

 

Job Summary

The Research Administrator is responsible for the full life cycle of quality research administration ranging from proposal development to post award administration, award close-out, and award compliance for a group of Principal Investigators in the College of Information and Computer Sciences.

 

Essential Functions

Pre-award:

  • Manage the development and internal approval of research and special project proposals and contracts for submission to federal, state and private funding sources.  Provide expert advice on agency, institutional and government proposal compliance to university faculty and Principal Investigators as assigned.
  • Manage the planning and development of grant or contract supported projects and programs.  Provide critical analysis and guidance in the review and interpretation of opportunity announcement documents.  Develop budgets and budget narratives sufficient to support project or program activities and consistent with applicable requirements. Draft, write and/or edit proposal documents.  Review final proposals and ensure commitments (both fiscal and technical) and accountability are in accordance with university and sponsor policies, procedures, and regulations.  Work cooperatively with supervisors, UMass Office of Pre-award Services (OPAS) personnel, various university staff and faculty, and funding agencies.  Prepare and submit timely routing documentation for internal proposal submission approvals. 
  • Provide professional consultation, management, and staff leadership to ensure that faculty investigators have: assistance in the proposal and budget development process for research proposals and progress reports to improve success rates, encourage multi-disciplinary submissions and project development; assistance with system-to-system proposal development and routing requirements; an effective team to package complete, accurate, and competitive proposals; assistance with obtaining all compliance approvals by the appropriate university regulatory committees (e.g. Institutional Review Board, institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Conflict of Interest).

Post Award:

  • Manage, advise, reconcile, analyze, close-out and report on spending and budget activity for a number of fund types, including research grants and contracts, gift, general operating, faculty start-up and program income accounts.  Prepare forecasts and make recommendations on staffing and spending changes to keep projects on track.  Advise faculty, researches and students on purchasing and travel policies; process and monitor project expenditures and coordinate payments.  Meet with faculty and review travel, deadlines, new funding sources, etc. and adjust staffing plan as necessary. Manage PI effort commitments and assist with annual effort certification.  Participate in contract closeout process; compile information for final reports and certificates.

General

  • Interpret and apply principles, rules, regulations, policies, precedents or other guidelines specific to the assigned research project(s) and its sponsor to resolve problems, answer questions and provide information and advice.
  • Act as the primary liaison between Principal Investigator and the Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS) for all pre-award/ proposal matters, the Office of Post-Award Management (OPAM) and the Controller's Office for all post-award matters. Be proactive and reactive to problems/concerns and find appropriate and timely solutions.
  • Assist OPAS, OPAM and the Controller's Office with compliance with federal and private cost and administrative principles (Uniform Guidance, etc.) and prepare and present responses to audit findings.

 

Other Functions

Perform other duties as assigned.

 

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

  • Bachelor's degree with 4 years of professional experience preferably in sponsored programs and grant management in an academic or equivalent setting; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.  One (1) year of relevant experience may be substituted for every one (1) year of required academia.
  • Demonstrated pre- and post-award financial management experience, including proposal development and post-award management.
  • Familiarity and experience with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements. 
  • Knowledge of program administration guidelines for both federal and non-federal funding agencies.
  • Ability to understand and apply university policies and procedures, as well as the laws, rules and regulations pertaining to grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, sub-awards and subcontracts.
  • Ability to work independently within the college, and to work as a team member with the OPAS, OPAM and other central administrative units of the University.
  • Ability to plan ahead, prioritize, and work under pressure in a deadline-oriented environment in which workload ebbs and flows and can require the management of multiple submissions across multiple PIs in a short span of time with frequent interruptions.
  • Ability to maintain accurate records and to prepare summary reports as required.
  • Ability to analyze complex situations, identify workable solutions, and effectively balance service with regulatory compliance.
  • Ability to work effectively, prioritize, and be flexible in a high-paced, high-volume professional environment.
  • Outstanding organizational skills, ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, capable of self direction, ability to deal diplomatically with people at all levels, a high degree of personal integrity and discretion, solid decision-making skills, and judgment.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills. Must have the ability to communicate effectively and serve as a liaison between granting agencies, university administration and the principal investigators. 
  • Intermediate level of experience with Excel and Word and the willingness to learn new technology. 

 

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

  • Demonstrated experience in the interpretation and application of regulations pertaining to sponsored programs.
  • Experience preparing/submitting scientific research proposals and budgets under tight deadlines.  Proficient with electronic grants management systems (i.e. grants.gov, NIH eRA Commons, NSF Fastlane, Proposal Central, etc.) and experience with enterprise research administration systems.
  • Ability to interpret and translate programmatic needs into cost effective budget proposals to maximize funding opportunities.
  • Experience managing finances and/or projects with an institution of higher education, including knowledge of government and fund accounting. 
  • Experience with Cost Accounting Standards and Uniform Guidance Requirements.
  • Certification in Research Administration such as CRA, CPRA, CFRA.
  • Membership in professional organizations such as SRA and/or NCURA.

 

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment. 

 

Work Schedule

37.5 hours/week

 

Salary Information

Level 26

PSU Salary Schedule 

The University also offers an attractive benefits package.

 

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please attach a resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information for 3 professional references.

 

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Organization

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the preeminent public research universities in America. Nestled in idyllic Amherst, Massachusetts—often called “The top college town in North America”—the campus is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation, and offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. 

As one of the nation's top public research universities – as measured by national and international rankings, academic citations, and research funding – the campus spends more than $180 million on research each year, demonstrating its contribution to the nation’s position as a technological and economic leader. The university works in conjunction with academic, government, and private partners to translate new knowledge and scientific discoveries into technical innovations and scholarly works that create opportunities for students, faculty and the public. 

Eight schools and colleges offer more than 85 undergraduate majors, 68 master’s and 48 doctoral degree programs, many counted among the top programs in the nation and world. UMass Amherst is also home to New England's premier honors college.

The 1,159 full-time faculty members are dedicated teachers and world-renowned researchers and the campus has regularly been listed among the top performers in terms of faculty awards. With over 24,000 students from all 50 states and over 70 countries, the student body is the most academically successful in the history of the campus. Students participate in 240 organizations, 21 NCAA Division I athletic teams, extensive intramurals, living-learning residence halls, community service, and internships. With one of the largest residential life systems in the nation, UMass Amherst houses approximately 12,000 students on campus. The university is enjoying a facilities renaissance, including new buildings in the sciences, the arts, and recreation. UMass Amherst is part of the Five College consortium with Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and Amherst colleges.

As an employer, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a national leader in developing family-friendly policies, benefits and amenities designed to help faculty members develop both productive careers and satisfying personal lives. The university offers one of the nation’s most generous parental leave policies. The university is also part of the Academic Career Network, a regional consortium formed to serve dual-career couples and encourage greater diversity in the academy.

 

Company info
Website
Telephone
4135454894
Location
181 PRESIDENTS DR
Whitmore Administration Building
Amherst
Massachusetts
01003
US

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