Research and Finance Coordinator

Lehigh University; Bethlehem (Northampton County); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh University seeks a Research and Finance Coordinator to bridge sponsored research, financial operations, and facilities management. You will implement systems, solve problems, and ensure accurate processes across offices, supporting faculty and leadership.

Responsibilities include grant oversight, payroll administration, procurement, and space planning in a dynamic university environment. This full-time role emphasizes collaboration and operational excellence within the College of Health

Qualifications

• Associate or vocational/technical degree or related field required.
• 3–5 years of related experience; high school diploma with 5 years considered based on relevance.
• Experience in research administration or grant coordination or similar finance/operations role.
• Ability to manage payroll workflows across multiple funding sources.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to meet multiple deadlines across a broad portfolio.
• Clear, confident communication across university offices (Procurement, General Counsel, Facilities, R&S Programs).

Responsibilities

• Review terms and conditions of newly awarded or amended grants; monitor budgets and prepare financial reports.
• Identify budget variances and process reallocations to ensure stewardship.
• Assist faculty investigators with grant inquiries, expense planning, and reporting submissions.
• Manage payroll processing for research personnel and related paperwork.
• Coordinate purchasing, procurements, accounts payable/receivable, and contracts routing.
• Liaise with Facilities on space planning, lab assignments, and capital improvements.

Skills

Associates/Tech Degree

3–5 years experience

Research administration

Payroll workflows

Organizational skills

Cross-office communication

Education

Associate's or Vocational/Technical Degree

High school diploma with 5 years related experience

Job description

Lehigh University Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Lehigh University provides comprehensive benefits including partner benefits.

As Research and Finance Coordinator, you will sit at the intersection of sponsored research, financial operations, and facilities management, providing the administrative infrastructure that allows faculty to focus on their work. This is a role for someone who takes genuine satisfaction in building systems, solving problems, and being the person others rely on to get things right. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and university partners, you will serve as a key resource for operational guidance, financial stewardship, and administrative coordination. In addition to managing day-to-day operations, you will be expected to identify opportunities to improve processes, enhance operational efficiency, and develop effective administrative practices that support the College's continued growth and strategic priorities.

Position Number: S71350

This position is a Grade: 8 - 37.5 with an approximate salary range of $44,600-$53,530 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

The Work You Will Do

• Review terms and conditions of newly awarded or amended grants, establish faculty financial indices, monitor budgets, reconcile expenditures, and prepare financial reports and projections for faculty and college leadership
• Identify budget variances, recommend corrective actions, and process reallocations to ensure effective stewardship of sponsored and college funds in accordance with OMB Uniform Guidance and institutional policy
• Assist faculty investigators with grant related inquiries, expense planning, compliance issues, and agreement review, and facilitate timely submission of progress reports and financial statements to internal offices
• Manage payroll processing for undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, post doctoral, and other research personnel, including appointment paperwork, offer letters, and quarterly Effort Certification reviews
• Coordinate purchasing and procurement activities, managing purchase requisitions, purchase orders, accounts payable and receivable, and routing contracts and service agreements in partnership with Procurement, General Counsel, and Research and Sponsored Programs
• Serve as the primary liaison with Facilities Services on space planning, office and laboratory assignments, renovation projects, maintenance requests, and capital improvements aligned with the College's strategic growth

What You Bring

• Associates or Vocational/Technical Degree or related field
• Three to five years of work related experience
• Candidates who do not possess an Associate's Degree but have a high school diploma and at least 5 years of highly related experience may also be considered based on the relevance and depth of their experience
• Experience in research administration, grant coordination, or a comparable finance and operations role, ideally within a higher education or research intensive environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage payroll workflows across multiple funding sources with accuracy and discretion
• Strong organizational skills and a track record of managing competing deadlines across a broad portfolio of responsibilities
• Clear, confident communication skills for working across university offices including Procurement, General Counsel, Facilities, and Research and Sponsored Programs

Why Lehigh and the College of Health

Lehigh University offers a collegial, research rich environment where staff are recognized as integral to the institution's mission. The College of Health is one of Lehigh's newest and most actively expanding academic communities, meaning the work you do here will have a direct and visible impact on how the College grows and operates. Lehigh provides generous retirement contributions, robust tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents, and a campus culture built around collaboration and long term professional development. This is a full time, nonexempt staff position where your expertise will be put to use from the very beginning.

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university's mission.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Special Considerations

• The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

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