Research Administrator Senior

University Of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Medicine is seeking a full-time Research Administrator Senior to join the Post-Award Financial Team. The role supports a growing CVM research program with a multi-million-dollar portfolio and NIH/industry sponsorships.

You will manage sponsored and non-sponsored projects, use M-Reports, M-Pathways, and Business Objects, and coordinate with faculty on financial health. Hybrid work is available; comprehensive benefits and competitive salaries await.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, accounting or finance or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5–7 years of progressive grant and contract experience.
• Advanced Excel, M-Reports and M-Pathways proficiency; basic Business Objects skills.
• Strong understanding of procurement policies and Uniform Guidance restrictions.
• Experience reconciling expenses on sponsored projects.

Responsibilities

• Perform reconciliation of project grants using university accounting systems.
• Interpret grant and clinical trial contract terms and conditions.
• Anticipate reporting and close-out deadlines for sponsored grants.
• Determine salary support allocations for faculty and staff on projects.
• Analyze financial status of projects and portfolios; forecast expenses and balances.
• Meet with faculty to review accounts and provide outlook on finances.
• Ensure expenses comply with Uniform Guidance and 120-day rules.
• Set up new sponsored projects, manage sub-accounts and monitor subcontracts.
• Prepare budget allocations and close-out documentation for projects.
• Initiate journal entries and monitor aging receivables.

Skills

Advanced Excel

M-Reports

M-Pathways

Business Objects

Grant & contract accounting

Procurement policies

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, accounting or finance

Tools

Business Objects

M-Reports

M-Pathways

Job description

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Job Summary

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine is seeking a full-time Research Administrator Senior to join its Post-Award Financial Team.

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (CVM) has a growing and robust research program, serving over 130 faculty, $20 million in yearly sponsored research expenditures during FY2026, and a significant volume of non-sponsored activity. Sponsored funding is comprised of awards from National Institutes of Health, industry sponsors, and multiple foundations such as the American Heart Association. Clinical trials will be managed in collaboration with the Clinical Trials Support Unit (CTSU).

This position provides vacation, sick, and holiday time, as well as the full range of benefits provided by the University of Michigan. In addition, Cardiovascular Medicine pays competitive salaries commensurate with experience, and boasts a culture of acceptance, openness, flexibility, and teamwork.

Responsibilities*

This position reports to the Post-Award Research Administration Manager and works very closely with a team of post-award and pre-award staff managing Cardiovascular Medicine’s research activities.

The selected candidate will be responsible for proper stewardship of sponsored and non-sponsored projects using various University accounting and information systems including, but not limited to, Business Objects, M-Reports, and M-Pathways.

The duties of this position include the following:

• Perform reconciliation of project grants using various accounting and information systems
• Read, understand, and interpret sponsored grant and clinical trial contract terms and conditions
• Anticipate reporting deadlines and close-out deadlines for sponsored grants
• Determine the correct project grants for salary support for faculty and staff
• Analyze the financial status of individual projects as well as faculty members' full portfolios, including, forecasting expenses, projecting budget period balances and proactively anticipate changes in effort and gaps in funding
• Meet with faculty on a regular basis to review their accounts and provide complete outlook of financial portfolios.
• Determine the appropriateness of expenses on project grant, including charges that fall under the Uniform Guidance and in compliance with 120-day guidelines
• Complete other post-award responsibilities, including: set-up new sponsored projects, request sub-accounts, subcontract monitoring, prepare post-award change requests, complete budget allocations, prepare for close-out of projects, and complete the close-out of sponsored projects
• Request invoicing on sponsored projects and monitor aging receivables
• Prepare materials for progress reports and other reporting requirements
• Initiate and process journal entries
• Proactive and analytical problem-solving
• Assist with specific projects and other duties as assigned. Projects include, but are not limited to development of the annual budget and faculty effort reviews
• Attend medical school and university meetings to stay fully up to date on grant and contract requirements.

Required Qualifications*

Bachelor's Degree in business, accounting, finance, and 5 - 7 years of progressive grant and contract experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Successful candidates will have the following skills and experience: advanced Excel skills; advanced skills utilizing M-Reports and M-Pathways; basic skills using Business Objects; strong understanding of University procurement policies, including business travel and hosting expense guidelines; basic understanding of Uniform Guidance restrictions; and experience reconciling expenses on sponsored projects.

Successful candidates will have the following character traits: strong integrity, highly proactive, a high degree of problem solving skills, a high sense of ownership and accountability for workload, flexibility during times of change, resilience in the face of challenges, excellent customer service skills, ability to exercise excellent independent judgment, ability to appropriately discern when to ask questions or ask for help, and able to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

Successful candidates will also possess excellent communication skills, be able to resolve conflict with a positive and win‑win approach, possess expert follow-up skills, have high attention to detail, and be able to appropriately handle confidential and sensitive information.

Desired Qualifications*

Knowledge of UM research and financial practices and processes

Preferred experience with databases, query management tools and University systems, such as Business Objects, M-Reports, and other M-Pathways systems

Experience preparing faculty and staff effort changes, including faculty with dual VA appointments

Preferred candidates will have exposure to a wide variety of sponsors including National Institutes of Health (NIH), American Heart Association, industry contracts, and clinical trials and will have specific experience with the NIH salary and other NIH specific spending, effort reduction, and budget restrictions.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world's most distinguished academic health systems. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world‑class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre‑employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre‑employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U‑M campuses.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.