| Benefits of working at VCU |
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here. |
| Duties & Responsibilities |
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability. Position Primary
Purpose and General Duties: The VCU School of Medicine Office of
Research Administration (SOMRA) is looking for candidates interested in
pursuing or continuing a career in Research Administration. From bench to bedside, we are at the
forefront of scientific discoveries that advance health care for humanity. This
role ensures compliance with sponsor guidelines, university policies, and
federal regulations while supporting principal investigators (PIs) in effective
grant management.
We are a shared service model and
provide support to SOM departments. As a member of the SOMRA team, the selected
candidate for this position will be responsible for providing direct post-award
administrative support to investigators conducting basic, clinical, and
translational research in a variety of departments and centers at VCU. Less experienced candidates will be provided
training and mentoring to acquire all needed skills and are encouraged to
apply. The primary responsibilities for this
position include: - Serve as the primary point of contact for post-award administration for their portfolio’s departments and PIs.
- Award Establishment: Work with researchers and VCU offices to ensure awards are set-up appropriately for financial and administrative management
- Financial Management: monitor expenditures for allowability, allocability, and reasonableness; prepare financial analysis and projections for researchers to keep them informed and aid in research program decision making.
- Effort Management: work with researchers to ensure accurate effort and payroll allocations to projects
- Responsible for budget forecasting, including analyzing financial trends, projecting future costs, and ensuring alignment with funding allocations
- Post-award actions: facilitate administrative components of progress reporting, amendments, continuations, supplements, no cost extensions, and close-outs
Successful candidates will demonstrate
the ability to think critically, assess challenges, and develop strategic
approaches to problem-solving
This posting is an open search for varying
levels of prior research administration experience. SOMRA will provide an
opportunity for selected candidates to grow those skills in a fast-paced,
diverse environment. The position will also present opportunities for continued
career growth in the field for those presenting a willingness to learn, ability
to be pro-active, and work collaboratively with a diverse group of faculty and
staff across VCU.
This position is eligible for remote
work. Candidates living outside the
Richmond metro region are encouraged to apply, but may be required to come
on-site on occasion (no more than twice annually) for in-service training and
professional development activities. |
| Qualifications |
Minimum Qualifications:
- Associate Research Administrator: Bachelor’s degree and prior relevant work experience in a financial, compliance or research related field; 1 or more years prior work experience preferred. Additional work experience will be considered in lieu of degree.Some prior research administration experience preferred.
- Candidates with 2 or more years of direct pre and post award research administration experience may be considered for Research Administrator slotting.
- Must possess ability to interpret and apply complex government regulations and contractual terms.
- Must have excellent customer service skills, written and verbal communication skills, be pro-active in asking questions and seeking guidance when needed.
- Strong problem solving and time management skills are essential, including ability to prioritize and manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- Must be precise, thorough, and reliable and perform daily activities with minimal supervision.
- Must be proficient in the use of computers with an ability to learn new systems and software applications with ease. Proficiency in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe required.
- RA candidates: Must be proficient in the following areas: budget development, analyze financial transactions for trends and variances; expense forecasting; creating reports and tracking tools; financial reconciliation, monitoring for compliance to sponsor and institutional terms/policy.
- Ability to work as part of a dynamic team in a diverse environment required.
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience in administrative and financial management in an academic setting (to include a working knowledge of state/university purchasing, travel, personnel administration policies and procedures) will be preferred.
- For RA consideration; in addition to direct experience requirements, Certified Research Administrators (CRA) or those with ability and desire to obtain a CRA w/in 2 years preferred.
- Master’s Degree preferred
- Additionally, general understanding of
IRB and IACUC policies pertaining to regulatory requirements in animal and
human research is a plus.
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