RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR, Sargent College, Administration (24500611680103)

Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is one of the country's leading schools of health and rehabilitation sciences. Home to more than 1300 undergraduate and 450 graduate students, Sargent College combines outstanding faculty and cutting-edge research to provide superb education and clinical experiences. The college has more than 35 on-campus research facilities, clinical centers, and labs. It offers top-ranked degree programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, language and hearing sciences, health science, human physiology, behavior and health, and nutrition.

The Research Administrator, reporting to the Director of Research Administration at Sargent College, helps manage a complex, diverse grant portfolio for the college totaling $16.8 million in FY23. The Research Administrator will provide accurate, responsive, and service-driven pre-award and post-award supports for a dynamic community of investigators with a wide variety of federal, state and industry sponsors. Through collaboration and consultation with principal investigators (PIs) and central administrative offices, including the Office of Research, Postdoctoral Affairs, and Human Resources, they will help ensure compliance and effective management of all awards.

Pre-award responsibilities will include independently preparing grant proposals for submission. This may involve interpretation of sponsor guidelines, budget development, drafting administrative sections, collecting materials, review of application to ensure adherence to sponsor guidelines, and obtaining institutional review/approval. Post-award responsibilities include monitoring the budget, reconciling expenses, monitoring of subawards, effort certifications, preparing detailed financial projections and reports. They will identify any areas of over-or under expenditure to suggest corrective actions and contingency planning. This position will also offer meaningful support to the colleges training grants, trainees, mentors, and PIs.

The role will sustain and support a culture of integrity and operational excellence which celebrates diversity of individuals and ideas. Sargent College believes the cultural and social diversity of our community is vitally important to our academic mission of excellence. We welcome candidates who support our commitment to ensuring BU is an inclusive, equitable, and diverse place where everyone can thrive.

Essential Functions

Proposal Preparation Support (30%)

The Research Administrator actively manages proposal preparation and research compliance, including all aspects of pre-award administration for a designated portfolio of faculty. Pre-award activities include: identifying funding opportunities, reviewing of guidance from sponsors to advise PIs for applications, preparation of grant proposals materials, advising and assisting principal investigators with grant budget development and preparation, facilitating institutional review for compliance with BU policies, correctness per agency guidelines, collecting PI's Conflict of interest sign offs, and coordinating the internal review process to complete the proposal submission. They help develop proposal budgets and provide detailed cost analyses and budget justifications. The Research Administrator takes the lead in reviewing and distributing funding opportunity announcements and preparing materials needed to complete each proposal. The role supports the process of collecting proposal materials from investigators and sub-awardees to complete the proposal package and obtain college and university approvals as needed. Negotiates and facilitates time sensitive requests in the award-making process. 

Direct Faculty Support for Award Management (30%)

The Research Administrator collaborates with faculty, research staff and central offices, and managing workflow of administrative tasks related to facilitate a seamless transition from pre- to post-award. Participate in activities to improve and maintain quality of pre-award administration and policy development and dissemination. This role is responsible for Personnel Activity Report Summaries (PARs) for the Office of Grants and Contracts for their portfolio of principal investigators. The Research Administrator will specifically offer post-award management and oversight for the colleges T32 training grant, to support the PI, mentors, as well as predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and their research aims. The goal of Boston University's training program in Advanced Research Training in Communication Disorders and Sciences is to prepare qualified predoctoral and/or postdoctoral trainees for careers that have a significant impact on the health-related research areas. The role will support post-award activities for other research and training grants within the college. This role proactively builds relationships with faculty members, faculty administrators, and partners with BU's Office of Research to provide expert guidance on all research finance issues. Review complex award terms and advise PIs on practical considerations that may affect the administration of a project. Collaborate with OSP to resolve issues escalating any issues to college or university leadership which pose elevated risk. Anticipate and resolve problems and collaborate to effectively manage stakeholder's expectations.

Research Laboratory Support (20%)

Assist PI and lab managers with grant related purchases, supplies, and travel reimbursement, to ensure that all expense are allowable and allocable to the research project. Other duties may include, assisting the Sr. Research Administrator and Director of Research as needed. 

Compliance and Risk Management (20%)

Supports Sargent Colleges continued efforts to assure compliance with all federal and state level regulations related to research administration. Follows procedures and processes necessary to ensure compliance with all grantor requirements, including fiscal management, fiscal and programmatic reporting, and record retention. Provides financial review of upcoming proposal submissions and awarded grants and contracts, including review of budgets and budget justifications for compliance with grantor and college policies. Coordinates the annual conflict of interest process for all grant funds as well as ensuring conflicts of interest are addressed with the appropriate offices. Collaborate with the Office of Research creating a community of practice for grant staff and project directors to share best practices and ensure exemplary grants management and implementation. 

• 5-7 years of professional experience with at least 3 years of prior research administration experience. 
• Solid understanding of sponsor/university guidelines, policies, and procedures including federal funding agencies such as NIH, NSF, DoD and DoE
• Knowledge of a wide variety of funding award types, which may include NIH Research grants, i.e. R01, R21, and training/fellowship grants, T32, F31 and F32.
• The ability to exercise independent judgement to ensure compliance with established university procedures and policies among research community.
• Strong knowledge and proficiency with federal web-based grants management systems, enterprise financial systems, query tools or grants management tools.
• Excellent attention to detail and a service-oriented approach.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet multiple deadlines and to prioritize between competing tasks and projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with skills to develop positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, faculty, administrators, and central administrative offices.
• BA/BS required.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.