Senior Research Administrator

Department and Salary

Department: MCC Research Administration

Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Provides administrative leadership by incorporating a significant amount of experience in support of McCormick School of Engineering's research programs and mission. The Senior RA will serve in dual roles by providing pre‑ & post‑award research administration for various units throughout the school, as well as designing and maintaining the McCormick research administration training program which includes onboarding of new research administrators and ongoing workshops, training and education for the research administration team iews associated policy & procedures & recommends changes to increase productivity & effectiveness.

The position will report directly to the Senior Director of Research Administration.

Provides pre‑ & post‑award research administration throughout the school, based on need, and as assigned. Using extensive research administration experience, coordinates all aspects of multiple grants & contract pre‑ & post‑award activities. Assists in providing guidance & counsel in regard to grant & contract administration which includes attending internal & external meetings, interpreting clauses, reviewing contracts, & resolving reporting & expense problems.

In collaboration with the Senior Director, Assistant Director, Manager, and other Senior RAs, will identify the training needs of the McCormick research administration team, including but not limited to development of curriculum, development of tools and job aids, and building an accessible training database. Provides training and mentorship to other staff. May supervise 1–2 staff members.

Supervisor provides overall objectives & in consultation with EE develops deadlines. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objectives & overall compliance with policy & procedures. EE completes majority of activities without direction; consulting with supervisor only in regard to new or unusual circumstances.

EE uses judgment & an extensive amount of experience to adapt an advanced knowledge of skills, methods, practices, policies & procedures & a moderate degree of innovation, analysis, & reasoning to plan & prioritize work that is primarily project oriented & involves some extremely difficult problems & decisions. EE interprets policy.

EE takes full ownership of projects As time and budget allows:

• New "Brown Bag" Interested in becoming an RA?
• Need more "How To:" sessions such as:
  • Fill out internal & external paperwork
  • Create & review budget
  • Review sponsor guidelines
  • Read a solicitation
• Five University Business Processes classes (HR700, HR705, HR715, HR725, HR740)
• NU-ORI-Res Dam Training session
• SCS course:
  Grantsmanship for the Research Professional
• NCURA - National Council of University Research Administrators / SRA - Society of Research Administrators International (regional or national meetings)
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
• ASRSP effort reporting 101
• NU Financials budget reconciliation and reporting
• Audit & Advisory best practices

• Administers multiple research projects such as complex multi‑PI or multi‑unit proposals, grants & contracts
• Research portfolio for a more complex small to mid‑sized unit
• NIH U-approximately $500K+/yr over multiple years
• NIH P-approximately $500K+/yr over multiple years
• NIH T-approximately $100–$200K+/yr over multiple years
• DOD and industry awards
• Center or program grants
• Proposals with cost sharing
• Fixed‑price contracts
• Non‑funded negotiations such as NDAs, user agreements

• Manages pre‑award administration of grants and contracts.
• Coordinates proposal submission, budget, and justification preparation.
• Completes sponsor and university proposal forms.
• Coordinates IRB and IACUC protocols; sub‑recipients, facilities, administrative costs, space, and co‑investigator agreements.
• Creatively and proactively evaluates and resolves problems and makes decisions.

• Provides expertise regarding post‑award research administration.
• Ensures that proposed projects meet department goals and required resources.
• Manages and follows through on high‑risk situations.
• Co‑ordinates or oversees…