Senior Research Administrator

Morehouse School of Medicine; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Morehouse School of Medicine is seeking a Senior Research Administrator to provide advanced leadership across pre- and post-award sponsored research activities in Seattle. You will manage high-risk, high-dollar awards and serve as a subject-matter expert on sponsor requirements.

The role involves mentoring staff, forecasting burn rates, and ensuring compliance with OMB Uniform Guidance across complex projects.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience required.
• Experience in sponsored research administration in an academic/medical setting.
• Knowledge of NIH, NSF, and OMB Uniform Guidance.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills; effective communication.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate across teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee complex portfolio of sponsored projects and awards.
• Lead post-award financial oversight and closeout.
• Provide risk management and forecasting for grants.
• Mentor staff and develop training materials.
• Work with central offices and PIs to ensure compliance.

Skills

Sponsored research administration

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Advanced degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Cayuse

Financial reporting tools

Job description

Position Summary

Summary The Senior Research Administrator provides advanced, independent leadership across complex pre- and post-award sponsored research activities. This role manages high-risk, high-dollar, and institutionally sensitive awards and proposals, serves as a subject matter expert for complex sponsor requirements, and acts as a trusted advisor to faculty, department leadership, and central offices. The Senior Research Administrator operates with minimal supervision and is expected to anticipate risk, resolve escalated issues, and mentor less experienced staff.

Core Responsibilities

Advanced Post-Award Oversight (80%)

• Independently manage a complex portfolio of sponsored projects, including large-scale, multi-year, multi-PI, center, training, clinical, and cooperative agreement awards.
• Provide expert-level oversight of cost allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and consistency under OMB Uniform Guidance.
• Lead financial risk management for awards with cost sharing, program income, clinical trial activity, participant support, and carryforward restrictions.
• Conduct proactive financial forecasting, burn-rate analysis, and scenario planning with PIs to prevent deficits and late-stage corrections.
• Resolve complex post-award issues, including cost transfers, retroactive adjustments, sponsor prior approvals, and audit inquiries.
• Oversee complex subrecipient monitoring, including risk assessments, invoice escalations, corrective actions, and coordination with GMO / OSP .
• Lead award closeout for complex projects, ensuring timely, accurate final financial reports and documentation.
• Other duties as assigned. Advanced Pre-Award Leadership (10%)
• Lead pre-award development for complex, high-value, and high-risk proposals (e.g., NIH multi-project grants, P50/P30, U-series, NSF centers, foundations, industry-sponsored research).
• Develop complex budgets and budget justifications involving multiple institutions, cost sharing, foreign components, clinical costs, and regulatory considerations.
• Interpret and apply nuanced sponsor guidelines, special award terms, and policy exceptions.
• Advise PIs strategically on proposal structure, budget strategy, and sponsor expectations.
• Coordinate and lead internal reviews for complex submissions, ensuring alignment with institutional risk tolerance.
• Other duties as assigned. Systems, Process Improvement & Mentorship (10%)
• Serve as a senior subject matter expert for research administration systems (e.g., Cayuse, financial reporting tools).
• Identify systemic issues and recommend process improvements to reduce risk, rework, and cycle times.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Research Administrators and junior staff on complex cases.
• Develop advanced job aids, decision trees, and training content for complex pre- and post-award scenarios.
• Partner with the Operational Compliance Manager to ensure consistent application of SOPs and internal controls.

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience
• Experience in sponsored research administration in an academic, medical, or research environment
• Knowledge of federal regulations ( NIH , NSF , OMB Uniform Guidance)
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise judgment, and work collaboratively across teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• CRA , CPRA , CFRA certification or equivalent preferred