Research Administrator, COM

University of New England; Maine; On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

University of New England is seeking a Research Administrator for the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) in Maine to coordinate and execute administrative tasks for defined research areas, ensuring policy compliance and efficient financing of research activities.

The role provides budgetary support to grant-active PIs, collaborates with the Office of Sponsored Programs, and aids in onboarding and post-award budget management to maximize faculty research productivity and student engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred in related field (research administration, science, or business).
• 3–5 years’ experience in research administration, grant management, or compliance.
• Knowledge of federal and institutional compliance requirements (IRB, IACUC, COCA, NIH / NSF policies).
• Experience with pre- and post-award grant processes, budget development, and financial reconciliation.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory, fiscal, and contractual policies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to compile, track, and evaluate financial and grant-related data.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for liaison work with faculty, staff, and central research units.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and carry out administrative functions for daily operations of defined COM research areas, ensuring compliance with policies.
• Provide budgetary and fiscal support for grant-active PIs and assist in administration of research-related budgets.
• Act as liaison with the Office of Sponsored Programs and Associate Provost for Research.
• Streamline and support administrative and financial procedures for faculty and laboratory personnel.
• Track grant budgets, reconcile expenditures, compile data, and evaluate spending patterns.
• Process and track grant-related Approvals to Travel and Travel Expense Vouchers; reconcile grant-related purchase cards.
• Coordinate onboarding paperwork for new hires and assist with onboarding/off-boarding for research staff.
• Monitor post-award budget processes with Grants Accounting and Compliance Manager; advise faculty on drawdown of accounts.
• Monitor fiscal aspects of shared resource use with Research Center Directors and Office of Research and Innovation.
• Ensure compliance with IRB, IACUC, COCA, and related regulations; coordinate with EH&S as needed.
• Develop clear operating procedures to communicate internal and grant-related compliance policies to COM faculty.

Skills

Grant management

Budget oversight

Regulatory compliance

Analytical skills

Communication

Multitasking

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Spreadsheets

Databases

Grant management software

Job description

The College of Osteopathic Medicine ( COM ) is looking for a Research Administrator to coordinate and carry out a variety of administrative functions associated with the daily operations of defined research areas at COM, including compliance with internal and external contract policies, collaborating with key administrative offices supporting research at UNE, and streamlining and supporting administrative and financial procedures for faculty and laboratory personnel.

This position provides budgetary and fiscal support for the grant active Principal Investigators (PIs) in the COM. The position also provides support to Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship, the COM Director of Finance & Administration, and COM Dean/VP of Health Affairs in the administration of research-related operating budgets and dissemination of information to maximize faculty research productivity and COM student engagement in research at all levels, working closely with the Office of Sponsored Programs and Associate Provost for Research.

About The University of New England UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.

Benefits Overview

• Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.
• Up to 8% retirement plan match.
• Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.
• Educational benefits:
  • UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners
• In collaboration with the COM Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship, act as a liaison with the Office of Research and Innovation and affiliated teams to enable faculty directed research, enhance engagement of medical students in research to ensure compliance with College, COCA, IRB, IACUC, and granting agency fiscal and compliance policies.
• Support increased research productivity (streamline lab setups, support efforts to increase grant submissions).
• Develop a clear, consistent operating procedure to communicate and advise COM faculty on internal and grant-related contractual compliance policies and expectations.
• Provide budgetary and financial support to COM PI Faculty and professional staff including:
  • Provide budget oversight and transaction histories, and assist in the management of grant expenditures for external grants and internal grant/fellowship funds.
  • Track and reconcile grant budget lines
  • Compile data and evaluate spending patterns throughout the grant cycle
  • Track grant records that require COM Dean’s approval.
  • Process and track grant-related Approvals to Travel and Travel Expense Vouchers
  • Reconcile grant-related purchase cards.
  • Coordinate with the ORIC, OSP, COM Director F&A for grant-related Request for Contracts,
  • Serve as liaison between faculty, staff, and other key University personnel to process special grant-related requests.
• Work closely with the Grants Accounting and Compliance Manager to monitor post-award budget processes and advise faculty regarding the drawdown of internal and external accounts.
• Work closely with Research Center Shared Resource Directors and the Office of Research and Innovation to monitor and verify the fiscal aspects of shared resource use.
• Initiate new hire paperwork and assist with onboarding professional, temp, and student employees for research labs; streamline onboarding and off-boarding procedures for new hired and departing faculty and lab personnel.
• Monitor internal and external funding opportunities to create and maintain a monthly communication to increase the overall number of grants submitted by COM faculty.
• Develop and maintain a database of internal and external grant submissions, determine “hit rate” and work closely with the Dean and Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship to increase the funding base with a focus on medical student engagement.
• Conduct orientations on the physical space, building, and laboratory layouts, and facilitate access to Share Resources and facilities.
• Coordinate with and act as COM monitor for the department of Environmental Health and Safety to ensure that research operations are conducted in compliance with site-specific procedures and all applicable institutional, state, and federal regulations.
• Perform other specialized/technical tasks as needed.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred in a related field (research administration, science, or business).

• 3–5 years’ experience in research administration, grant management, or compliance.
• Knowledge of federal and institutional compliance requirements ( IRB, IACUC, COCA, NIH / NSF policies).
• Experience with pre- and post-award grant processes, budget development, and financial reconciliation.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory, fiscal, and contractual policies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to compile, track, and evaluate financial and grant-related data.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for liaison work with faculty, staff, and central research units.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate timelines, and develop consistent processes.
• Familiarity with laboratory environments and research operations; experience supporting research onboarding preferred.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets, databases, and grant management or financial tracking systems.

EEO Statement Summary

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.

Additional Note

This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship.

Anticipated Pay Range

Anticipated Pay Range $70,000 - $75,000

Posting Number

Posting Number 2022PS0899P

Open Date

Open Date 06/02/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Optional Documents
• Names and contact information for three professional references