Senior Grants Research Administrator

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Summary:

The College of Humanities and Sciences Sponsored Programs Office (CHS-SPO) at Virginia Commonwealth University is seeking applicants for Senior Grants Research Administrator positions. The successful candidates will support both the Director and Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs and will be responsible for the training of pre/post-award activities, serving as point of contact for the CHS-SPO team, and will assist in the development of outreach activities for CHS faculty and staff.

In addition, these individuals will focus on high-priority and complex proposals, financial activities, and ensuring compliance at all levels. They will focus on cross-training to ensure skill flexibility and the day-to-day aspects of pre- and post-award research administration for an assigned grants portfolio including reviewing funding opportunities, budget development, coordinating subcontract arrangements, award verification and set up, preparation of sponsor-required financial reports, index reconciliation, and review/submission of various post-award administrative tasks (i.e., NCEs, re-budgeting requests, prior approval requests, etc.). Incumbents will be expected to work both independently and collaboratively with the CHS-SPO team.

The VCU job series for these positions is Senior Research Administrator in the Research and Innovation job family.  For more information, please see VCU Human Resources’ Job Family and Salary Ranges at https://hr.vcu.edu/career-development/compensation-/.  

VCU combines learning, research, creativity, service and discovery with a commitment to inclusive excellence. Ranked by U.S. News as one of the 30 “most innovative” public universities in the country, VCU is a premier, urban, public research university home to multiple nationally ranked programs. Here your success is supported, and your career can thrive.

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will add your military years of service to our leave plan. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

Typical Duties

Leadership Development, Oversight and Monitoring: 35%
•Assists the Director and Assistant Director of CHS-SPO to coordinate leadership and development activities in support of the promotion and growth of externally funded activities.
•Assists in the development and implementation pre/post-award focused training and outreach efforts to the institutional faculty and staff.
•Manages complex sponsored portfolios of various departmental faculty.
•Provides recommendations for policies and procedures relating to pre-and post-award administration by identifying areas where such polices need to be developed, and to integrate these recommendations into CHS-SPO’s mission.
•Notifies the Director of CHS-SPO of critical and/or sensitive issues related to the management and administration of sponsored projects, including interpretation of related University policies and sponsor regulations.
•Secondary reviewer and unit approver of proposal submissions. Responsible for assuring that proposals adhere to CHS, institutional and sponsor policies and requirements.
•Reviews and approves research grant related journal voucher entries, cost transfers, purchases (RealSource and P-card), travel, and research related hiring requests.
•Assists in the oversight and coordination of pre-award actions, post-award actions, the monthly grant reconciliation process, effort reporting and cost share management.
•This position may supervise 1-2 Grant Research Administrators.

Pre-Award Duties: 30%
•Assist with grant proposal processing tasks including preparation of grant, subcontract, and contract proposals for new research projects and continuation/supplemental funding proposals for existing projects
•Review funding opportunity announcements
•Assist faculty with budget development
•Review proposal documents for compliance, completion of internal and sponsor forms (budget justifications, biographical sketches, institutional background descriptions, etc.)

Post-Award Duties: 30%
•Perform monthly financial reconciliation of assigned sponsored program indexes
•Fulfill grant management responsibilities (e.g. award review and setup, no cost extensions (NCEs) prior approval requests, re-budgeting requests, and effort reporting)
•Provide detailed review and analysis of award agreements and contract documents to maintain compliance with local, state, university, and federal regulations
•Assist faculty with grant financial reports
•Initiate the grant close out process at the conclusion of research projects

Other Duties as Assigned: 5%
•Completes other duties as assigned in a timely and professional manner as requested by the Director or Assistant Director of CHS-SPO.

The individual will be expected to work collaboratively with VCU’s Office of Grants & Contracts to resolve accounting issues as well as VCU’s Division of Sponsored Programs to coordinate the submission of grant proposals and post award administrative actions and reports.

As a member of the CHS-SPO Team, the individual will assist by providing answers and education to College of Humanities and Sciences’ employees on issues pertaining to grants and federal compliance.

Preferred Qualifications

•Certifications such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA), Certified Pre-Award Administrator (CPRA), or relevant certification in Project Management.

Minimum Qualifications

•Bachelor's degree in related field and/or five or more years of experience in research administration.
•Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
•Knowledge of state and federal regulations related to research administration, including Uniform Guidance (2CFR200), and cost accounting standards.
•Knowledge and experience working with grant and contract procedures.
•Ability to apply and interpret university and federal policies, procedures, laws, and regulations concerning sponsored projects.
•Open and collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation.
•Ability to work well under deadline pressures, exhibiting sound judgment without sacrificing accuracy or customer service.
•Excellent computer skills in the use of MS Office with emphasis on Excel spreadsheets and MS Word processing.
•Knowledge of various electronic sponsor portal systems.
•Ability to prioritize work and handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
•Ability to reason, think logically, and analyze situations to achieve resolution of problems or concerns.
•Demonstrated ability to research, investigate, analyze, and evaluate all project-related data regarding budgets and expenditures for each assigned project.
•Exceptional communication, organization skills, customer service, and interpersonal skills.
•Must have the ability to effectively and clearly answer inquiries of faculty, staff, and sponsors.

Typical Physical and Cognitive Requirements

Physical Demands
Light lifting (<20 lbs.)               marginal
Pushing/pulling                        marginal
Walking                                    essential
Standing                                   marginal
Climbing                                   essential
Sitting                                       essential
Reaching                                   marginal
Bending                                    marginal
Repetitive motion                     marginal

Emotional Demands
Fast pace                                   essential
Average pace                            marginal
Multiple stimuli                         essential
Frequent change                       essential
Intense customer interaction    essential

Mental/Sensory Demands
Memory                                    essential
Reasoning                                 essential
Hearing                                     essential
Reading                                     essential
Analyzing                                  essential
Logic                                         essential
Verbal communication              essential
Written communication            essential

Felicia Harris
s2fmharr@vcu.edu
804-827-0861