Job no: 516954
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Administrative/Professional, Research/Scientific/Grants
Department:16010800 - LS-CLAS RESEARCH OFFICE

Classification Title:

Research Administrator I

Job Description:

As the largest college on campus, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is charged with teaching the university’s core curriculum. We are home to the humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, and the physical, natural and mathematical sciences.

Nearly every UF undergraduate takes at least one class in our college. However, educating tomorrow’s leaders is not the only task occupying our over 800 faculty.

Whether discovering new galaxies, serving on presidential task forces or writing award-winning books, they have achieved international acclaim for their contributions to society. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is, in short, the heart of the University of Florida and the Gator Nation.

The Research Administration Specialist I provides professional oversight, guidance, and coordination to sponsored project administrative and fiscal operations. Coordinates projects within CLAS for sponsored projects in accordance with University and sponsor regulations. Provides policy and procedure interpretation to faculty and departments in CLAS. Assists faculty and departments with monitoring and preparation of reports to sponsoring agencies. Facilitates advances in service delivery and efficiency. This position monitors and manages quality, performance improvement, and continual process assessment. In addition, this position is responsible for building relationships with units served by the CLAS Research Office and university constituents, and supporting a culture centered on delivering excellent customer service.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Pre-award:
Reviews and interprets agency guidelines prior to proposal preparation. Includes but not limited to Federal funding agencies, Private Foundations, and University internal opportunities. Interprets the guidelines and notifies the Principal Investigator (PI) of any potential conflicts with University guidelines or rules and regulations.

Provide technical assistance to the PI's in proposal application preparation. This includes preparing master, subproject and subcontract budgets (i.e. computing salary and fringe based on effort), tuition, supplies, and other expense costs. Compile the other necessary application parts based on submission type (e.g. biosketch, narrative, resources).

Review proposal application to ensure accuracy and completion and ensure compliance with agency and UF guidelines. Input proposals into UFIRST. Act as liaison with departments, colleges, and Division of Sponsored Research (DSP) to ensure accuracy. Coordinate with faculty and DSP to submit application by deadline.

Post-award:
Initiate, track, and manage grant/contract-related expenditures, reconciling monthly to ensure accuracy and compliance with agency and University regulations. Utilize PeopleSoft to ensure all expense transactions are allowable and are under the appropriate expense category (i.e. travel, tuition, lab supplies, office supplies), monitor subcontract payments, ensure correct IDC rate is being charged, ensure all personnel is correctly distributed. Monitor budget projections on all grants. Anticipate shortfalls/surpluses and notify PI when there are potential issues.

Coordinate payroll distributions with SSC administrative staff as per the budget and/or PI request. Process any cost transfers as necessary and ensure they have been executed correctly. Prepare CAS exception documents and submit them for approval as applicable.

Upon grant/contract award, coordinate with Division of Sponsored Research the establishment of subprojects and subcontracts as applicable. Ensure award is set up in PeopleSoft accurately and that an Earnings Account Code has been established. Complete initial effort commitment forms to ensure monitoring mechanisms to ensure commitments and cost-sharing are tracked as per agency, university, and federal regulations.

Attend trainings, meetings, focus groups, both college and university-wide, as needed to meet the responsibilities of this position. Stay abreast of all pertinent University of Florida policies and procedures as well as all state and federal rules and regulations related to contracts and grants.

Expected Salary:

The salary range is $18.75 - $20.00 per hour, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor's degree; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Pre and Post Award experience

Knowledge of UFIRST Proposal and Awards systems

Thorough knowledge of UF proposal submitting guidelines, federal regulations, and procedures

Ability to work with different grant submissions, online forms, and reference information

Comprehensive grant management post-award capabilities

Experience with PeopleSoft fiscal and grant modules

Knowledge of UF personnel & payroll policies and cost accounting procedures

Ability to work within strict deadlines, under pressure, and prioritize

Attention to details and organized

Internal drive to complete tasks, problem-solve and operate effectively and independently in a high traffic office

Must have the ability to interact with staff, faculty, college, and University level contacts with professionalism and use time efficiently

Excellent phone, email, and communication skills

Knowledge of MS Access, MS Word, and MS Excel (spreadsheet manipulation) necessary

Special Instructions to Applicants:

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

This position is eligible for veteran's preference. If you are claiming veteran's preference, please upload a copy of your DD 214 Member Copy 4 with your application for consideration. See our https://jobs.ufl.edu/resources-staff.html#veterans Veteran's Preference Page for more information.

This position has been reposted. Previous applicants are still under consideration and need not reapply.

Health Assessment Required:

No

Advertised: 12 Jul 2021 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 18 Jul 2021 Eastern Daylight Time