Research Administrator, Pulmonary

Northwestern University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,017 - 98,462; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive healthcare plans

Retirement benefits

Tuition discounts

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Northwestern University is seeking an Administrative Leader for the MED-Pulmonary department in Chicago, IL. This position requires managing research administration activities, overseeing grants and contracts, and ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience. The role offers a competitive salary range between $70,017 and $98,462 annually, commensurate with experience. Benefits include health care plans, retirement benefits, and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• 3 years of research administration or relevant experience required.
• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college.

Responsibilities

• Administer multiple research projects including grants and contracts.
• Manage pre-award and post-award administration activities.
• Ensure compliance with grant and contract regulations.

Skills

Organization

Time Management

Detail Oriented

Multi-tasking

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Job description

Department: MED‑Pulmonary
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary: Provides administrative leadership and intermediate problem solving in support of unit research programs and mission. May provide sole support to a small to mid‑sized unit or support a portion of activities in a larger unit. May provide lifecycle pre‑ and post‑award research administration ensuring fulfillment of all grant and/or contract and compliance requirements. Manages day‑to‑day research administration activities, identifies funding opportunities, and ensures all activities are completed in compliance with local, state, federal, and institutional rules and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Administer multiple research projects, including:
  • Single Principal Investigator (PI) proposals, grants and/or contracts
  • Multi‑PI or multi‑unit proposals, grants and/or contracts
  • Research portfolio for a small to mid‑sized unit
  • NIH U grants approximately $500K+/yr over multiple years
  • NIHP grants approximately $500K+/yr over multiple years
  • NIH T grants approximately $100‑$200K+/yr over multiple years
  • DOD and industry awards
  • Center or program grants
  • Proposals with cost sharing
  • Fixed‑price contracts
  • Non‑funded negotiations such as NDAs, user agreements
• Pre‑Award
  • Manages pre‑award administration of grants and/or contracts
  • Reviews solicitation and proactively resolves any issues or questions with OSR and/or sponsor
  • Establishes procedures at the small to mid‑sized unit level related to pre‑award administration
  • Coordinates large‑scale proposals, teaming/collaboration agreements, confidentiality agreements, intellectual property agreements or user agreements
  • Manages representation of sub‑recipients, cost sharing and administrative costs on a proposal
  • Coordinates IRB and IACUC protocols
  • Prepares and/or reviews a complete budget
  • Assesses the need for redistribution of project F&A among multiple redistributed chartstrings
• Post‑Award
  • Completes post‑award administration of research grants and/or contracts
  • Reviews account establishment
  • Manages effort commitments of key project personnel
  • Approves high‑value/high‑risk expenditures
  • Interprets awards documents
  • Reviews and reports expenditures
  • Verifies processing of cost share transactions
  • Reviews award budget status with PIs
  • Provides data needed for interim and final financial and technical progress reports
  • Facilitates account close‑out activities, coordinating with ASRSP as needed
  • Establishes procedures at the small to mid‑sized unit level related to post‑award administration
  • Serves as liaison between department and OSR, ASRSP, IACUC, IRB, internal audit, funding and regulatory agencies, subcontractors, collaborators, institutes, centers, etc.
  • Participates in efforts to improve research administration, including serving on university committees related to research administration
• Financial
  • Oversees unit's entire sponsored project portfolio
  • Reviews transactions and resolves issues that require a more complex level of financial understanding such as cost‑sharing and/or effort reporting knowledge
  • Provides information to senior management used for department budgeting purposes
• Human Resources
  • Processes paperwork associated with hiring and termination of employees
  • Orientates new employees
  • Sets up faculty and/or post‑doc appointments and/or completes VISA paperwork
  • Provides training to technical and administrative staff in unit regarding research administration
• Compliance
  • Ensures compliance with all appropriate NU policies and practices; local, state, federal, agency and sponsor rules, regulations and requirements regarding grant and/or contract administration
  • Recommends changes to improve programs, policy and/or practice
  • Resolves compliance problems and issues working in conjunction with faculty
  • Resolves compliance problems and issues involving research safety, animal subjects and human subjects
  • Alerts supervisor to potential higher‑risk compliance issues
• Supervision
  • Supervises administrative or financial positions and/or mentors other administrative staff in research administration
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• 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 an appropriate combination of education and experience
• 3 years of research administration or other relevant experience required

Minimum Competencies

• Organization, time management, detail oriented
• Multi‑tasking, communication
• Self‑starter, diplomatic, proactive, manage stress
• Managing people

Preferred Competencies

• Action oriented – willing or likely to take practical action to deal with a problem or situation
• Coachability – receptive to feedback, willing to learn, embracing continuous improvement
• Collaboration – facilitates open and effective communication, cooperation and teamwork within and outside of one's own team
• Collegiality – helpful, respectful, approachable; builds strong working relationships and a positive work environment
• Initiative – exhibits energy and desire to achieve; sets ambitious goals and acts decisively; takes action that no one has requested to improve or enhance job results and avoid problems
• Meets deadlines – displays consistency and success in adhering to deadlines
• Multi‑tasking – demonstrates ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Organization – plans, organizes and schedules in an efficient, productive manner; anticipates contingencies and pays attention to detail

Target hiring range for this position will be between $70,017 – $98,462 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide competitive 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.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non‑discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.