Research Administrator Sr

Michigan Medicine; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent medical, dental and vision

2:1 Match on retirement savings

Job summary

Michigan Medicine seeks an experienced Research Administrator Senior to join the Department of Emergency Medicine’s research administration team. You will provide pre-award and post-award support for faculty, trainees, and staff across a complex portfolio of sponsored research, coordinating with ORSP, Sponsored Programs, sponsors, and partner institutions.

You will guide proposals, manage budgets, ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance and sponsor requirements, and provide financial forecasting

Qualifications

• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to set priorities, manage multiple tasks and competing deadlines, and strong attention to detail are necessary.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and similar technology.
• Demonstrated commitment to exceptional customer service and collaborative work.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, research administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible grant and contract experience

Responsibilities

• Guide faculty, trainees, and their research teams through development, review, preparation, and submission of grant and contract proposals.
• Review submission guidelines and ensure compliance with Department, sponsor, Medical School, and University policies/deadlines (using eResearch Proposal Management, ASSIST, grants.gov and other sponsor platforms).
• Prepare administrative components of grant packages, including Proposal Approval Forms (PAFs) and unfunded agreements (UFAs).
• Coordinate with collaborating institutions and internal/external offices to support timely and accurate submissions. Interpret and communicate sponsor and institutional regulations and guidelines.
• Participate in review/editing/formatting of administrative shell documents.
• Manage standard reports and requests for financial information from the Research Manager, the sponsor, sponsored programs, financial operations, subcontract sites and subaccounts, along with processing any sponsor carryforward/no cost extension requests should funds remain.
• Provide high-level financial forecasting, management, and reconciliation for assigned grants and contracts, including general, and sponsored projects.
• Advises faculty on long-term financial viability of department/center given multiple grants and contracts from various sources with differing project end dates and locates and identifies sources of outside funding on own accord.
• Advise faculty on budget and project management, proactively flag budget deviations and suggest corrective actions at regular assigned intervals.
• Ensure compliance with sponsor, institutional, and federal regulations (Uniform Guidance, NIH, DOD, NSF, etc.).
• Track expenses, revenue, encumbrances, subawards, and hybrid POs.
• Develop and maintain subcontracts, review invoices, coordinate timely billing, and process journal entries as needed.
• Facilitate change requests, extensions, supplements, offsets, and close-out procedures.
• Collaborate in the management and progress reporting of large multi-project grants including effort, budgeting, compliance, and submission.
• Serve as backup for research administration team members to ensure continuity.
• Liaise with faculty, administrative staff, department leaders, and central offices to manage award lifecycles and support faculty research objectives.
• Manage, compile, and file backup documentation as required.
• Other duties may be assigned in support of the department's mission and operational needs.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Customer service

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, research administration, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

eResearch Proposal Management

ASSIST

grants.gov

Job description

Mission Statement

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 Department of Emergency Medicine seeks an experienced, forward-thinking Research Administrator Senior to join our research administration team. The incumbent will work to provide comprehensive pre-award and post-award support for faculty, trainees, and staff engaged in a complex and varied portfolio of sponsored research. This multifaceted position requires coordination, the ability to work with multiple deadlines, and financial analytical expertise to handle federal, foundation, and industry grants, with responsibility for compliance, reporting, and strategic financial planning.

You will work under the Research Administration Manager to manage research proposals, financial activities, and compliance requirements, and serve as liaison among faculty, university central offices (ORSP, Sponsored Programs), sponsors, and collaborating institutions.

Responsibilities

Pre-Award Administration

Guide faculty, trainees, and their research teams through development, review, preparation, and submission of grant and contract proposals, including complex, multi-year budgets and justifications.

Review submission guidelines and ensure compliance with Department, sponsor, Medical School, and University policies/deadlines (using eResearch Proposal Management, ASSIST, grants.gov and other sponsor platforms).

Prepare administrative components of grant packages, including Proposal Approval Forms (PAFs) and unfunded agreements (UFAs).

Coordinate with collaborating institutions and internal/external offices to support timely and accurate submissions. Interpret and communicate sponsor and institutional regulations and guidelines.

Participate in review/editing/formatting of administrative shell documents.

Manage standard reports and requests for financial information from the Research Manager, the sponsor, sponsored programs, financial operations, subcontract sites and subaccounts, along with processing any sponsor carryforward/no cost extension requests should funds remain.

Post-Award Administration

Provide high-level financial forecasting, management, and reconciliation for assigned grants and contracts, including general, and sponsored projects.

Advises faculty on long-term financial viability of department/center given multiple grants and contracts from various sources with differing project end dates and locates and identifies sources of outside funding on own accord.

Advise faculty on budget and project management, proactively flag budget deviations and suggest corrective actions at regular assigned intervals.

Ensure compliance with sponsor, institutional, and federal regulations (Uniform Guidance, NIH, DOD, NSF, etc.).

Track expenses, revenue, encumbrances, subawards, and hybrid POs.

Develop and maintain subcontracts, review invoices, coordinate timely billing, and process journal entries as needed.

Prepare Financial And Effort Reports And Other Sponsor-required Reporting.

Facilitate change requests, extensions, supplements, offsets, and close-out procedures.

Collaborate in the management and progress reporting of large multi-project grants including effort, budgeting, compliance, and submission.

Serve as backup for research administration team members to ensure continuity.

Administrative And Project Support

Liaise with faculty, administrative staff, department leaders, and central offices to manage award lifecycles and support faculty research objectives.

Manage, compile, and file backup documentation as required.

Other duties may be assigned in support of the department's mission and operational needs.

Required Qualifications

• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to set priorities, manage multiple tasks and competing deadlines, and strong attention to detail are necessary.
• Candidates should have the ability to work collegially and collaboratively in a team environment, or independently, and interact effectively with faculty and peers.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and similar technology.
• Demonstrated commitment to exceptional customer service and collaborative work.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, research administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible grant and contract experience

Senior Level

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, research administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Intermediate Level

Bachelor degree and minimum 3 years of grant and contract experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master's or Certified Research Administrator/CRA credentials) preferred.
• Experience in research administration, including both pre- and post-award responsibilities, in an academic or healthcare environment.
• Experience preparing and managing NIH, DOD, NSF, foundation grants, and complex proposals with multi-project components.
• Knowledge of federal guidelines, multi-project grants, cost sharing, budgeting and compliance requirements.
• A passion for exploring emerging technologies and translating them into practical, value-added applications with proven experience leveraging AI tools and driving technology innovation.
• Advanced skills with UM reporting tools and systems.

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.

Underfill Statement

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Background Screening

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.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

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.