Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. The University of Michigan is a leading institution that develops talent and technologies to address societal challenges. They are seeking an experienced research administrator to manage sponsored pre- and post-award activities, working collaboratively with faculty and the Research Admin team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Responsibilities
- Assist departmental faculty and researchers with proposal submissions to various federal and non-federal sponsors ensuring deadlines are met
- Developing budgets and budget justifications including coordinating cost-share requests and assisting with IDC waiver requests when needed
- Reviewing and adhering to proposal submission guidelines
- Facilitating or completing sponsor forms
- Preparing Proposal Approval Forms
- Preparing and maintaining documents for submission packages including preparing 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)
- 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
- Projecting and updating encumbrances
- 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
- Respond to requests for financial information from sponsors
- Review and facilitate Financial status reports (FSRs) and complete Uniformed Guidance (UG) Reports with Sponsored Programs
- Prepare 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
Skills
- Bachelor degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, with a minimum of 1 year of experience in grant administration or higher-level financial activities is required
- Prior experience with contract and grant administration or relevant experience in a comparable environment with tight regulatory and compliance requirements
- Excellent communication skills are required
- Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment, along with attention to detail and dependability are essential
- 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, 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 co-workers, 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
- Three-plus years of progressively responsible grant management experience
- Previous experience with the U-M eResearch Proposal Management system
- Previous experience with data mining in MPathways, Business Objects, and other complimentary systems is desired
Benefits
- Generous time off
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
- Maternity and Parental Leave
Company Overview
The University of Michigan is a public research university offering education, innovation, and global business engagement. It was founded in 1817, and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, with a workforce of 10001+ employees. Its website is https://www.umich.edu.