Research Administration Manager - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is seeking a Research Administration Manager that is responsible for managing pre and post-award financial activities of sponsored
research programs of LAS units participating in shared research administration services. The Manager is responsible for monitoring applicable regulatory and university requirements and guidelines and developing and administering policies and procedures to ensure compliance. The Manager will collaborate with LAS college and departmental business staff and other LAS research administration staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

Pre-Award

• Work with faculty/PIs in the preparation and submission of routine and complex proposals to various
  federal and non-federal sponsors. This includes reviewing and interpreting sponsor regulations and guidelines,
  as well as University policies and procedures and ensuring all requirements are met. Prepare proposal
  application packages for appropriate submission systems, budgets and budget justifications, current and
  pending support, and other documentation as required.
• Build proposals in sponsors’ systems by uploading documents, reviewing data integrity, and verifying
  compliance.
• Collaborate with SPA to resolve issues and finalize proposals.
• Remain current with University and sponsoring agency policies, regulations, and procedures and
  ensure compliance by attending various meetings and trainings offered by Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance (SPaRC), the Office of Business and Financial Services (OBFS), and external meetings such as NSF and NCURA.

Post-Award Financial Management

• Guide faculty/PIs with the management of their funded research programs, including preparing
  financial forecasts. Provide advice on the financial aspects of hiring personnel and major spending decisions,
  such as large equipment purchases.
• Monitor PI effort on sponsored projects to ensure investigators meet effort obligations on their
  awards. Recommend changes in investigator effort and appointment requests as necessary to ensure
  compliance with effort obligations. When necessary, obtain sponsor approval for deviations from budgeted
  effort. Work with appropriate HR contacts on appointments to sponsored projects.
• Analyze sponsored project budgets and review expenditures to assure allowability, integrity and
  accuracy of all financial transactions. Take appropriate action to move unallowable/questionable charges to
  an appropriate funding source.
• Work with unit purchasing contacts as needed to review purchases on grant funds. Serve as a liaison
  to Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) with account set up, management, budgeting, billing, and close
  out activities. Request and monitor anticipation accounts, subaward agreements, no-cost extension, and other
  contract extensions as necessary.
• Work with SPA to review funding terms from sponsors, set up anticipation accounts as required, and
  communicate the plan for effort and appointments with salient stakeholders.
• Maintain award documents in electronic repositories.
• Prepare or oversee the preparation of financial reports and provide reports to faculty and PIs,
  department and college administration, SPA, and/or research sponsors as necessary.
• Coordinate all processing with any third-party entities on a sponsored research fund, for example,
  processing any third-party subawards, working with sponsors for amendments and/or extension, and any other
  related actions needed for the project.
• Prepare reports and invoice supporting documentation for SPA Award Management and/or sponsors as
  needed.
• Review and manage cost share commitments and sub-awards.
• Lead the completion of sponsored project close-out reviews and work with SPA to ensure completed
  projects are closed in a timely manner.
• Lead the semi-annual expenditure confirmation process.
• Develop/improve and implement policies and procedures for post-award financial management,
  including file purge processes and award closeout, to ensure compliance with the University and funding
  agency requirements.

Collaboration

• Serve as a resource for LAS departmental research administration and business office staff and advise
  faculty on departmental, University, and funding agency policies and procedures related to post-award
  activities.
• Train other Office of Research staff as needed.
• Assume additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, economics, or a field related to the position.
• Four years of work experience in a business, university, research, or government environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with understanding and following related Federal and University regulations and policies for the conduct of sponsored research programs.
• Advanced experience with post-award financial management of complex research programs.
• Experience managing awards with cost share and tracking commitments.
• Experience with complex proposal submissions.
• Illinois Certified Research Administration designation.

Successful Candidates Will Have

• Strong background in accounting principles and sponsored research administration
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize.
• Demonstrated exceptional professional service skills, including discretion in professional judgment. Highly developed ability to communicate effectively with others. Proven ability to work in an integrated team.
• Ability to work as a team and as a leader and mentor junior staff members. Excellent customer service, interpersonal, and computer skills.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to multi-task in a high-volume, fast-paced environment. Ability to take independent action and exercise individual authority based upon the level of knowledge and professional experience.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to set priorities and concurrently manage multiple complex tasks in a time sensitive environment
• Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to represent the College and University in a professional manner.
• Ability to perform core job duties independently, exercise good judgment, and complete tasks accurately.
• Ability to anticipate needs and establish priorities.
• Self-motivated with a high degree of personal initiative
• Proficient use of the University of Illinois accounting and reporting systems, including BANNER, Priority Software Business Accounting application, EDDIE, my Research Portal, and various agency proposal submission systems
• Ability to recommend or develop and implement other related systems for sponsored research management as needed
• Knowledge of University guidelines and procedures for general accounting including cost analysis, budget review, journal entries, financial reporting, and personnel administration.
• Knowledge of cost share and tracking processes.
• Knowledge of the operation procedures of the various federal and private funding agencies sufficient to permit quality interaction on all administrative matters pertaining to the various agencies.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5040 - Grants and Contracts Associate position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the deadline date. The budgeted salary range for the position is $75,000 - $90,000. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a thorough assessment of these elements. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule (remote work and in-person work in Champaign-Urbana each week). Sponsorship for Work authorization is not available for this position.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on September 17, 2024. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload your cover letter, resume, and names/contact information for three professional references. Please remember to include specific information on how you meet the qualifications of the position in your application materials, including all relevant experiences. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact lascollegehiring@illinois.edu For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1026292
Job Category: Administrative
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu