Robotics Research Administrator Senior

The University of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Michigan's Michigan Engineering department seeks an experienced Research Administrator to handle pre- and post-award activities for sponsored projects. You will coordinate budgets, ensure compliance, and liaise with ORSP and college offices while supporting faculty.

This role offers a hybrid/remote work arrangement with some in-person meetings and requires state residency in Michigan. The successful candidate will balance deadlines, attend to detail, and deliver timely

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible grant and contract administration experience.
• Excellent communication skills are required.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.
• Strong attention to detail and dependability.

Responsibilities

• Pre-Award: Develop budgets and budget justifications, coordinate cost share, review guidelines and prepare internal forms.
• Post-Award: Review projects across funds, monitor transactions, and prepare monthly financial reports.
• Coordinate with faculty and offices (ORSP, College of Engineering) on administration and compliance.
• Assist with financial progress reports and project closeout activities.
• Help document best practices and participate in process improvements.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Independent work

Attention to detail

Dependability

Judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Excel

Business Objects

M-Pathways

Job description

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Who We Are

At Michigan Engineering, we develop the talent and technologies that move society forward and serve our state and national interests. Through discovery and innovation, we create the foundational knowledge and practical technologies to solve not only today's most pressing challenges, but also power industries and change lives. Our programs and community are designed to promote personal well-being and achievement - enabling everyone to unlock their potential and contribute with confidence.

Job Summary

The Department of Robotics seeks an experienced research administrator to perform pre- and post-award activities related to sponsored research. The successful candidate will be a proactive, customer service-oriented professional who works collaboratively with the Robotics Research Administration team and reports to the Unit Administrator.

Robotics allows Research Administration staff to work primarily remote schedules, but may require occasional in-person meetings. The selected candidate must be a resident of the state of Michigan.

Research Administrators support Michigan Engineering research projects by coordinating budgets and timelines, securing funding, and helping the work stay on track. This is crucial work that enables our research teams to tackle humanity's toughest problems. To learn more about Research Administration at Michigan Engineering, view our short video here .

Responsibilities*

Pre-Award Research Administration

• Develop budgets and budget justifications including coordinating cost share requests and assisting with indirect cost waiver requests when needed.
• Review and adhering to proposal submission guidelines.
• Facilitate and/or complete sponsor forms.
• Prepare Proposal Approval Forms (PAF), Material Transfer Agreements (MTA), Unfunded Agreements (UFA) and other internal forms as needed.
• Prepare and maintain documents for submission packages including responding to just-in-time requests.
• Serve as liaison for faculty with College of Engineering and University central offices (i.e. Office of Research and Sponsored Projects [ORSP]).

Post-Award Research Administration & Financial Stewardship

• Review assigned project/grants in a variety of funds including general, gift, recharge, and sponsored research using MReports, Business Objects and other tools. This includes reviewing financial transactions.
• Project and update encumbrances.
• Conduct faculty portfolio analysis including monitoring appropriateness for grant funding and allowability. Alert project directors and administration to areas of concern. Make recommendations and take actions to resolve issues.
• Responsible for ensuring adherence to various sponsored research and university policies and procedures.
• Prepare monthly reports, illustrating revenues, encumbrances, and projected balances.
• Partner with faculty, human resources, and student services to coordinate and track graduate student (GSRA), Research Fellow, and staff effort on projects.
• Respond to requests for financial information from sponsors.
• Review and facilitate Financial Status Reports (FSRs) and complete Uniform Guidance (UG) Reports with Sponsored Programs.

Assist with project closeout process.

• P repare journal entries as required.
• Assist with financial progress reports.
• Work with faculty to ensure students are fully funded each term.
• Work with faculty to ensure offset requirements are met.
• Participate in continuous process improvement efforts.
• Help document best practices and procedures for research administration.

The candidate will ideally spend 50% on pre-award and 50% on post-award. However, this is subject to the candidate's experience and strengths, and the needs of our team.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible grant and contract administration experience.
• Excellent communication skills are required.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.
• Strong attention to detail and dependability.

Skills You Have

• Ability to interpret and communicate Department, University, and Sponsor guidelines and policies.
• Demonstrated experience with multi-project financial review and analysis, with the ability to track and project financial activity and commitments.
• Knowledge of U-M financial practices and processes strongly preferred.
• Prior experience with federal funding agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOD and DoE strongly preferred.
• Mastery of Excel and ability to adapt to changing technology is essential.
• Must have the ability to work in a team environment, collaborate effectively with coworkers, and provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to organize and synthesize complex information about particular financial aspects, resulting in clear and comprehensive summaries.
• Candidates will need to exhibit sound judgment, follow work through to completion, and meet high work standards, as well as the ability to set priorities and manage competing deadlines.
• Demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication skills is essential.
• Demonstrated experience in the use of Business Objects and M-Pathways.

Desired Qualifications*

• Previous experience with the U-M eResearch Proposal Management system.
• Previous experience with data mining in MPathways, Business Objects, and other complementary systems is desired.
• Knowledge and application of project management best practices in a changing organizational landscape.

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 .

Additional Information

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 anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checksare performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

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.