Associate Research Administrator - Hybrid Schedule

Department: MED-Basic Science Admin
Salary/Grade: EXS/6

Job Summary:

An Associate Research Administrator for the Basic Sciences Administration (BSA) provides administrative assistance and routine problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. Assistance may include the preparation and/or submission of routine research proposals, grants and/or contracts according to standard practice and/or general instruction. May assist with and/or complete proposal submissions, prepare information used in grant budgets, process, and project financial transactions, and/or effort reporting activities. Constituency will be determined based upon candidate experience and unit needs and will support approximately 4 faculty of varying portfolio size and complexity.

BSA supports the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology, and Physiology, as well as Center for Genetic Medicine, and the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics. The BSA Research Administration Team manages pre- and post-award administration including approvals of procurement and expense reports, proposal development, award setup and management, budget preparation, compliance, effort reporting, financial management, and financial reporting and projections.

Specific Responsibilities:

Complexity

• Typically administers multiple research projects such as:
• Single Principal Investigator (PI) basic proposals, grants and/or contracts
• May assist with components of multi-PI or multi-unit proposals, grants and/or contracts
• NIH R01-approximately $250K/yr. over 5 yrs.
• NIH R21-approximately $150K/yr. over 2 yrs.
• Foundation grants.
• NSF grants.
• Fellowships.
• Non-funded negotiations such as NDAs, user agreements.

Pre-Award

• Completes pre-award administration of grant and/or contract activities.
• Reviews solicitation and determines necessary components.
• Organizes proposal, renewal, and resubmission applications.
• Completes NU SR forms.
• Completes entire application for smaller, less-complicated, simple, standard proposals.

Post-Award

• Completes post-award administration of research grants and/or contracts.
• Reviews account establishment.
• Reviews expenditures.
• Tracks formal re-budgeting.
• Provides data needed for the preparation of interim and final financial and technical progress reports.
• Participates in account close out activities.
• Monitors project under spending and overspending.
• Communicates with PI, other unit, and project personnel, SR, ASRSP and/or sponsor accordingly.

Financial

• Reviews and/or approves transactions.
• Reconciles standard budget and payroll information ensuring that appropriate sponsored accounts are charged.
• Prepares payroll journals to enter or correct funding of salary from sponsored projects.
• Prepares and coordinates signatures on 90-day letters required when transactions are not timely.

Compliance

• Resolves standard and routine compliance problems and issues involving associated NU policies and practices; local, state, federal, agency and sponsor rules, regulations and requirements regarding grant and/or contract administration.
• Become familiar with regulations involving research safety, animal subjects and human subjects.
• Alerts supervisor to potential higher risk compliance issues including research safety, animal subjects and human subjects.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 1 year financial or administrative support experience in a research environment or other relevant experience.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Organization, time management, detail oriented
• Multi-tasking, communication

Target hiring range for this position will be between $56,782 - $79,850 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

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