FULL-TIME. Hybrid flexible schedule after orientation, in office 3 days per week/remote 2 days per week.
The Senior Research Administrator for the New England of Optometry (NECO) provides regulatory expertise, professional guidance, and administrative support to the Director of Research and Principal Investigators (PIs) in order to encourage and support the application for external research funding, and to ensure that such funding is used for authorized/allowable purposes in compliance with applicable grant and contract terms, federal and state regulations, and NECO policies and procedures. Support of these goals is accomplished through prudent development and management of budgets and allowable expenses, effort reporting, approvals of cost transfers, sub-recipient monitoring, review of federal administrative and non-salary costs, and serving as the key resource for compliance-related issues and the coordination of various audits. This Senior Research Administrator works highly independently to manage the pre-proposal, proposal development, and post-award (financial compliance) activities for a diverse set of federal and non-federal sponsored research projects, sub-awards, and/or cross-school initiatives.
Responsibilities include:
- Pre-Proposal and Proposal Development Activities (reporting to and working closely with the Director of Research):
- Discuss early phases of project ideas with PIs to assist in identifying potential funding opportunities relevant to NECO’s research interests.
- Assist PIs with assembling the components of research proposals for submission to a variety of sponsors including federal, state, nonprofit, industry and internal/college; the various stages of proposal development including budget preparation and budget justification, certification forms, cover sheets, contracts and legal review, memoranda of understanding (industry sponsored), institutional letters of support, data sharing and publications agreements, and adherence to sponsor, government and NECO guidelines.
- Assist PIs in managing required reporting, including assembling and submitting progress reports (RPPR)s, Just in Time (JIT) Reports, invention statements, closeout reports and responding to any other requests for information from sponsors.
- Assist PIs in submitting prior approval requests to sponsors, including No Cost Extensions, Budget revisions, changes in project scope or principal investigators.
- Monitor updates to college, state, and federal research policies, procedures and regulations and communicate changes that may impact the NECO research community to NECO faculty and staff.
- Grant Administration/Management Activities (reporting to and working closely with the Director of Research):
- Assist PIs with sponsor communication and correspondence; notify PIs when progress reports are due.
- Collaborate with the Director of Research and NECO librarians in areas such as data management, research metrics, and protocols for depositing research materials in NECO's institutional repository.
- Identify areas of potential institutional risk for consideration/assessment by the Director of Research at NECO.
- Advise faculty on research compliance issues including, but not limited to financial conflict of interest reporting, effort reporting, IRB/IACUC regulations, and data management best practices.
- Assist in the development and coordination of educational/training programs on research compliance topics.
- Collaborate with the Director of Research and Administration on the development, review, and revision of NECO research policies.
- Post-award Financial Compliance Activities (reporting to and working closely with the Executive Director of Finance):
- Ensure incoming awards are set up properly in the NECO systems.
- Work with Human Resources and the Business Office to update effort allocations for faculty and staff on new awards (as specified in the grant budgets).
- Assemble and execute subawards and subcontracts with external institutions.
- Review for appropriateness expenditures on research grants and contracts to ensure compliance with all applicable sponsor and institutional policies.
- Provide monthly budget summaries and projections to PIs to identify possible shortfalls and aid in financial planning.
- Ensure all aspects of invoicing for industry-sponsored projects and clinical trials meet generally accepted accounting principles and federal standards for invoices.
- Track project milestones and receivables, create and track project invoices.
- Establish billing agreements to be handled by the Senior Accountant for Grants and Contracts.
- Book journal entries, recognize revenue, execute federal drawdowns, etc.
- Provide financial data and other documents as needed for the annual institutional audit.
- Serve as a financial manager drawing down funds in the payment management system.
- Manage the Biannual effort reporting.
- Coordinate financial conflict of interest reporting for researchers.
- Coordinate activities associated with application for changes in indirect cost rates.
NECO is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, or veteran status.
New England College of Optometry offers a robust benefits program including:
- 3 plan options for BCBS medical coverage (employer subsidized at 75% or greater)
- Mental Health and Wellness benefits
- BCBS Dental
- Discounted vision services
- 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off for sick, vacation, and personal days
- Employer-paid life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability
- Voluntary Insurance: life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident
- Voluntary Benefits: employee discounts and pet insurance
- 9% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan after 1 year of service with no vesting schedule or match requirement
- Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum 3 years of research grants administration experience in higher education that includes NIH-funded applications and experience with eRACommons.
- Experience and knowledge of government and private agency sponsors, contract/grant regulations, procurement, budgeting, accounting and financial management.
- In-depth knowledge of research administration compliance requirements, applicable laws, and regulations.
- Demonstrated accounting skills and knowledge of basic accounting principles such as booking journal entries, recognizing revenue, federal drawdowns, etc.
- Resilience, flexibility and comfort in adapting to changing conditions in a small academic environment.
- Excellent writing, editing, analytical and oral communication skills along with an ability to distill complex contracting concepts into understandable language.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office and expertise in Excel.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills and extreme attention to detail.
- Knowledge of grant databases and familiarity with the biomedical and medical research world preferred but not required.
- CRA certification and membership in NCURA and SRA desired.
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