Assistant Director, Research Administration

Department: URC Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/10

Job Summary:

Provides strategic leadership and advanced problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. Acts as the chief research administrator for a dept. or division & oversees the administration of the entire grants & contracts portfolio, some of which are very complex involving multiple years, venues, collaborators, subcontractors, etc. & ensures fulfillment of all requirements & compliance with rules & regulations.

University Research Institutes & Centers Administration (URICA), within the Office for Research, seeks candidates for an Assistant Director Research Administration to oversee pre-award activity across University Research Institute's and Center's (URICs) leading-edge interdisciplinary research. The Assistant Director Research Administration will be a key position to enable the continued growth of research in URICs, by leading the URICA centralized pre-award support team. This position presents an exceptional opportunity to develop large and complex proposals spanning a vast array of sponsors and mechanisms at the intersections of traditional disciplines.

The Assistant Director Research Administration will assist URICs business staff for transitioning award management to individual URICs and develop collaboration between URIC-embedded Research Administrators and URICA's Research Administrators. The Assistant Director Research Administration will report to the Sr. Director, URICA and directly supervise the URICA research administration team, implementing and fostering service center support for faculty proposals submitted through URICs and other supported units. This position will work directly with investigators on the largest and most complex submissions. URICA also supports additional units (currently Kellogg School of Business, Medill School of Journalism, and The Graduate School) that leverage URICA's structure and expertise to support their research portfolios. The ideal candidate will thrive within a deadline-driven environment that is complex and requires continual learning and grace under pressure.

The Assistant Director Research Administration will support the OR mission and values by exhibiting the following: understand empathy, model accountability, ensure fairness, embrace community and value creativity. The incumbent will strive to provide excellent service when performing job responsibilities

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

Complexity

• Typically administers or oversees entire research projects such as:
  • Research portfolio for a larger department
  • Government contracts
  • Center or program grants
  • International projects
  • Master agreements with industry

Pre-Award

• Provides creative, strategic leadership in pre-award administration of research grants &/or contracts, expertly balancing customer service and compliance needs.
• Establishes procedures at the large unit level related to pre-award administration.
• Coordinates federal contract proposals, international proposals, and proposals with difficult/troublesome terms and large sponsored agreements with industry partners.
• Uses metrics to monitor report and adjust unit pre-award performance.

Post-Award

• Provides expertise regarding post-award research administration.

Financial

• Ensures that budgets are created, proposed & administered in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Resolves complex issues such as determining appropriate & reasonable cost-sharing percentages on complex grants involving multiple locations; effort reporting problems; under- or over-spent grant budgets; recommend changes to eliminate deficit balances; overdrafts.
• Provides information to senior management that is used for department budgeting purposes.
  

Human Resources

• Hires, evaluates, promotes, &/or counsel staff.
• Oversees training for all staff regarding research administration in unit.
• Consults with faculty as grants are funded regarding job descriptions; selecting & hiring new staff; and as grants end regarding lay-offs, terminations, etc.

Compliance

• Ensures resolution of all compliance problems & issues, including those involving research safety, animal subjects, human subjects and conflict of interest.
  

Supervision

• Supervises administrative, financial &/or IT positions.
• Mentors other administrative staff in research administration, in URICs.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of 7 years' experience required with 4 years of research administration and 3 years of research, finance, administrative or other relevant experience.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Organization, time management, detail oriented
• Multi-tasking, communication
• Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active, manage stress
• Managing people
• Provide leadership by cooperatively anticipating, coordinating, strategizing

Target hiring range for this position will be between $98,000-$120,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

#LI-EN1