Job Abstract

Pay Grade: 32E

Context of the Job:

Under limited direction of the Senior Business Officer, the Manager provides counsel on research administration matters with college research expenditures totaling approximately $60M. The Manager leads a team of Grants Analysts who provide service for all post-award activities of contracts and grants administration and maintains productive relationships with constituencies related to the contracts and grants operation in the College. The Manager also plans and executes preventative and corrective action to mitigate risk of non-compliance to avoid potential delay or loss of sponsor funding and additionally he/she completes special financial management projects including report generation using a variety of data sources and techniques.

Major Responsibilities:

Manager Responsibilities

• Direct College Research Administration staff in the post-award oversight activities associated with over 375 grants and contracts resulting in approximately $60 million in annual extramurally funded activities on approximately 700 purpose codes. This activity includes observance and advocacy related to federal terms & conditions as well as federal acquisition regulation clauses.
• Supervise a team of Grants Analysts in all aspects of day-to-day operations of proposal preparation. Manage the allocation and prioritization of workload for assigned staff.
• Serve as primary contact with Research Office leadership on day-to-day activities. Maintain effective and consistent communication, develop rapport to ensure highly cooperative efforts particularly in the area of proposal preparation.
• Develop and recommend solutions to the Sr. Business Officer, the Associate Dean for Research & Entrepreneurship and Research Office leadership to address complex problems and issues.
• Formulate processes and procedures to be used across the College which facilitate administration of research within the framework of UD policies and sponsor terms and conditions.
• Review and approve financial webforms for transactions such as purchase requisitions, user fee allocations, bi-weekly pay, cost-share match and named professor funding, faculty summer salary contracts and other similar forms.
• Develop and conduct Certified Research Administrator training plans and study sessions.
• Mentor and develop new Grants Analysts and continually modify, develop and improve the ORA GA Training Plan.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as necessary.

Sponsored Programs

• Analyze and evaluate awarded grants, contracts, and subcontracts and advise principle investigator (PI), supervisor and/or GA on sponsors' requirements of funded programs during the life of award, not only at closeout, to maintain consistency with terms and conditions to reduce the chance of an audit finding.
• Manage the closeout function for all federal, state, and other sponsored projects, including awards that are frequently multi-year, multi-project awards with varying degrees of complexity.
• Research and interpret applicable federal and other sponsor regulations, guidelines and standards and oversee the processing and closing of contracts and/or grants.
• Review effort reporting, cost share/match documentation, and verify F&A and other expenditures.
• Review capital equipment expenditures, ensure fabrication projects are capitalized, identifying ownership per the terms and prepare requests to transfer equipment to UD when necessary.
• Review and provide justification for expenditures on sponsored programs in response to internal and external auditors.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or other related field with five years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Advanced skills & experience in all aspects of proposal preparation – ability to prepare, teach and supervise development of budgets with a wide range of complexities.
• Advanced knowledge in spreadsheet and database applications.
• Knowledge and expertise of PeopleSoft and various sponsor databases.
• Query writing and report generations using a variety of data sources preferred.
• Strong knowledge of 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance and OMB Circulars A-21, A-110, A-133 and other pertinent external regulations required with the capacity to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures.
• Ability to analyze budgetary expenditures for compliance with approved policies and procedures.
• Work independently, strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Effective analytical and technical skills, including the ability to gather and analyze statistical data in order to generate ad-hoc reports that are meaningful and understandable to those not familiar with the data being reported.
• Ability to conduct detailed analysis of financial trends and prepare highly accurate projections for multiple budget categories.
• Effectively communicate with a wide range of constituents on a variety of research management and financial topics.
• Ability to serve as subject matter expert in research administration.
• Demonstrated experience in seeking and engaging in professional development opportunities to grow the overall knowledge of research administration.

Special Requirements:

• Must complete required training sponsored by the University Research Office within one year of assignment in a contract and grants administration position.
• Commitment towards obtaining certification in Research Administration by a nationally recognized research certification organization.