Research Grants Specialist

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 66,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago seeks an experienced research award administrator to oversee pre‑award activities for federal, industry and foundation studies across multiple divisions.

You will assist investigators with budgets, proposals, and award negotiations, ensuring compliance with agency and institutional policies and timely reporting. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and at least two years’ experience in research administration, with strong communication

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required and at least 2 years of research award administration experience.
• Experience preparing budgets, proposals, and managing grant timelines.
• Ability to work with multiple investigators and ensure compliance with funding policies.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist principal investigators with budget development and proposal timelines.
• Interpret and apply research and financial policies with the Office of Sponsored Programs.
• Identify funding opportunities and advise on terms, conditions and submission requirements.
• Coordinate sub‑award/subcontract documentation when Lurie is a subrecipient.
• Manage proposals and progress reports to meet sponsor deadlines.
• Support award negotiations and reporting requirements with OSP.

Skills

Proposal development

Budget preparation

Communication

Organizational skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Proposal management software

Databases

Job description

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family‑friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140‑year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

Location

Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center

Job Description

This position will be responsible for the management and oversight of pre‑award activities relating to federal, industry and foundation sponsored research studies for multiple Divisions in conjunction with OSP. This includes assisting principal investigators in budget preparation, proposal development, award negotiation and non‑financial post‑award management. This position will work with the division administrator to ensure compliance with funding agency, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, and Lurie Children’s policies and guidelines. Provides training and education to other research staff related to external funding sources, development of quality proposals, and reporting requirements and will be expected to make recommendations to investigators and research staff on process improvement to create and/or maintain practices and procedures such as maintenance of an awards database, review of requirements for performance reports or grant renewals and refinement of current sponsored research practices to enhance the research enterprise.

Essential Job Functions

• Assists principal investigators in preparing applications for funding, including budget development, and develop and provide detailed proposal checklists and timelines to manage workflows and help guide faculty and their staff through the proposal development process.
• Implements and interprets research and financial policies and procedures in conjunction with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). And provide guidance throughout the budget development process, ensuring agency compliance and accuracy prior to proposal submission
• Works with faculty to identify new federal and foundation funding opportunities, provides insight on funding terms and conditions and submission requirements.
• When Lurie Children’s is a Subrecipient on another organization’s grant/contract, serve as liaison to lead entity for sub‑award/subcontract documentation and submission.
• Manages all pending proposals/progress reports, and other deliverable/timelines within sponsor deadlines.
• Coordinates with the OSP to facilitate award negotiations and execution, as well as sub‑award agreement creation and monitoring.
• Responsible for timely assembly and production of annual federal/sponsor progress reports, just in time submissions, no‑cost extensions, contract amendments and assists in the completion of required reports with OSP.
• Other job functions as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 2 years of research award administration required.
• Demonstrated working experience with computer‑based proposal management systems, databases and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to establish priorities and react promptly to the demands of multiple investigators with a large number of diverse research studies.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance, cost accounting standards, indirect cost rate application, FAR and CFR required.
• Prior experience research administration software.
• Ability to work independently managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Education

Bachelor's Degree (Required)

Pay Range

$65,520.00-$107,120.00 Salary

At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs.

Benefits

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Employer paid group term life and disability
• Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave
• 403(b) with a 5% employer match

Various Voluntary Benefits

• Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability
• Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage
• Tuition assistance
• Student loan servicing and support
• Adoption benefits
• Backup Childcare and Eldercare
• Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members
• Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities
• Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its affiliates (collectively “Lurie Children’s”), we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For questions about how to request an accommodation please contact: [e-mail]

AI Notice

Lurie Children’s utilizes certain AI-enabled features within our recruiting platform to support candidate engagement and assist recruiters in identifying and prioritizing applicants whose experience aligns with job requirements. All employment decisions are made by individuals.

It is a civil rights violation with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, or employment for an employer to use artificial intelligence that has the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act or to use zip codes as a proxy for protected classes.

For questions about the use of artificial intelligence in this process or any additional support, please contact: [e-mail]