CASUAL MMRP Research Support Staff

University-of-Hawaii-System; Hawaii; On-site; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Hawaii’s HIMB, Marine Mammal Research Program, seeks a Research Support Staff for casual, part-time work in Kaneohe, HI. Responsibilities include assisting with project finances, reports, and procurement, ensuring compliance with award terms, and coordinating with researchers and external partners.

The role offers short-term, casual employment with no benefits, up to 19 hours per week, contingent on funding. Applications reviewed starting November 2026 and ongoing until filled.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field with 1 year of relevant professional experience.
• Functional knowledge of accounting or business administration concepts.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws related to accounting and administration.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external groups.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Zoom and Teams.

Responsibilities

• Provides staff support for the Marine Mammal Research Program and assists the PI with project financial and administrative operations.
• Monitors awards from inception through closeout and informs PI of status and issues.
• Prepare and edit reports, agendas, letters, and complex documents for internal/external distribution.
• Review monthly reconciliation of project expenditures with a fiscal officer and maintain project budget information.
• Coordinate with researchers and external organizations on project HR and administrative activities.

Skills

Office management

Human resources

Business administration

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration/related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Google Suite

Zoom

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Title: Research Support Staff

Position Number: CASUAL

Hiring Unit: HIMB, Marine Mammal Research Program

Location: Moku o Loe, Kaneohe, HI

Date Posted: 10/20/26

Closing Date: 11/15/26

Salary Range: $23 hour (minimum hourly rate; negotiable dependent upon education & experience)

Full Time/Part Time: Part time

Temporary/Permanent: Temporary

Description

* * * * Applicants seeking short-term or part-time work with the University Hawaii may apply for Casual Hire positions, which include administrative, professional, and technical (APT) or instructional-type positions. Because of the temporary nature of these appointments, Casual Hire employees are not eligible for most benefits as provided to regular BOR and Civil Service employees. Casual Hire appointments may last for up to 89 days for full-time employees, and up to 1 calendar year for part-time employees.

Other Conditions

Position is a temporary casual hire position and offers no benefits, hours not to exceed 19 hours per week. Appointments are contingent upon availability of funds and departmental need. Continuous recruitment until programmatics needs are met. For best consideration, review of applications to begin November 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides staff support for the Marine Mammal Research Program. Assists Principal Investigator with project specific financial and administrative operations for the designated federal awards, including tracking project budgets, compiling progress reports, and processing project specific procurements, disbursements, and account closeout documentation in accordance with award terms.
• Monitors designated awards from inception through closeout and advises the principal investigator of project status, anticipated administrative or financial issues, and policy changes that may affect award activities.
• Prepare and edit reports, agendas, letters, and complex documents such as quarterly reports that require specific formatting for internal / external distribution; and gather, interpret, and analyze information and report results to the Principal Investigators.
• Review monthly reconciliation of project expenditures with a fiscal officer to ensure compliance with funding agency's requirements. Maintain accurate account of project budget information and expenditures, develop financial spreadsheets, and perform regular audits and reconciliations as necessary.
• Monitors and maintains award specific compliance requirements for the designated project activities, including compiling documentation for project research permits, IACUC protocols, and federal award reporting guidelines.
• Recommends administrative workflow updates to streamline coordination and reporting procedures specific to the funded grant deliverables.
• Provides support in maintaining project-specific RCUH accounts for designated federal awards, including tracking award related documentation, vendor service agreements, generating invoices for services, and required agency reports.
• Coordinate, plan, and direct, in conjunction with the Principal Investigators, meetings, conferences, training workshops, events, and field logistics (including booking travel, accommodations, vessel hires, and project specific procurements).
• Coordinates with and serves as liaison for researchers, staff, various projects and with private organizations and state agencies in matters relating to project, fiscal, HR and administrative activities of the project.
• Trains project funded personnel on award specific lab/field safety and standard operating procedures.
• Complies with all legal requirements and University policies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree in business administration, management, economics and/or related field and one (1) year(s) of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for office or operations management, human resources, or business administration; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
• Functional knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of accounting or business administration as demonstrated by knowledge, understanding and ability to apply concepts, terminology.
• Functional knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with accounting and business administration.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize problems, identify possible causes and resolve the full range problems that may commonly occur in the area of business administration.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, processing software and effectively incorporate technology, including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite products, Google Suite products, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.

Supplemental Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to adapt to changing work locations & environments.
• Demonstrated ability to understand & analyze oral & written documentation, write reports, letters, & procedures & communicate effectively in a variety of situations.

Desirable Qualifications

• Two (2) years of professional level experience working in a university, healthcare, academic, research, or corporate office setting.
• Functional knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in higher education or business management, demonstrated by ability to apply concepts and terminology.
• Ability to travel independently to various locations in a timely and efficient manner.

All minimum qualifications must be met by the hire date.

All requested documents/information will become the property of the University.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Failure to submit all required documents and reference information shall deem an application to be incomplete.

Inquiries: Aude Pacini, [e-mail]

Please refer to “Research Support Staff (Casual)” when making inquiries.

Employer: University of Hawaii

HIMB, Marine Mammal Research Program.

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/

Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.

Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/