Research Operations Manager (Lab & Grants)

NC State College of Engineering; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision

Retirement Programs

Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs

12 Holidays Each Year

Tuition and Academic Assistance

Wellness Programs

Childcare benefits

Job summary

NC State University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering seeks a Research Operations Coordinator to serve as the central administrative, financial, and operational lead for a major research group in Raleigh, NC.

This role bridges research administration and laboratory operations, coordinating budgets, procurement, sponsor reporting, and service center billing to keep programs compliant and on track.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated understanding of pre- and post-award processes, budget tracking, sponsor guidelines (Uniform Guidance, federal circulars), and proposal submission portals (RED, Research.gov, eRA Commons).
• Proficient in financial software and ERP platforms (PeopleSoft Financials, Marketplace, P-Card reconciliation systems, Smartsheet/Excel).
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to manage competing deadlines in a high-stakes research environment with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills to interface effectively with faculty, students, university leadership, facilities staff, and external sponsors.

Responsibilities

• Monitor active project budgets and sub-segments across a multi-million-dollar grant portfolio and coordinate rebudgeting, account modifications, summer salary planning, project extension requests, and closeout preparations in alignment with College Research Administration guidelines.
• Initiate and reconcile high-volume financial transactions, including Vouchers, Journal Vouchers (JVs), Inter-Departmental Transfers (IDTs), P-Card reconciliations, and travel reimbursements in compliance with university and sponsor guidelines.
• Assist PIs with proposal development for federal, state, and corporate submissions by preparing RED records, drafting non-technical proposal sections, building preliminary budgets, gathering required documentation, and coordinating submission timelines with central proposal development units. Collect financial and technical data to assist PIs with quarterly, annual, and final progress reports for external sponsors and industry subcontractors.
• Draft and maintain Laboratory Use Agreements for specialized research facilities/centers, manage user activity logs and scheduling, and drive timely invoicing and billing for internal and external lab users.
• Serve as a local resource for university, state, and federal sponsor policies across academic, financial, procurement, and human resource functions. Independently resolve complex administrative issues and adapt workflows to meet evolving research needs.

Skills

Organizational skills

Written communication

Interpersonal communication

Time management

Pre- and post-award knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education, or a related field

Tools

PeopleSoft Financials

Marketplace

P-Card reconciliation systems

Smartsheet

Excel

Job description

NC State University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering seeks a Research Operations Coordinator to serve as the central administrative, financial, and operational lead for a major research group in Raleigh, NC.

This role bridges research administration and laboratory operations, coordinating budgets, procurement, sponsor reporting, and service center billing to keep programs compliant and on track.