Senior Director of Research Administration

Department:

MCC Research AdministrationSalary/Grade:

EXS/12

Job Summary:The Director leads the strategic management and day-to-day operation of the Office of Research Administration at The McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (McC) at Northwestern University (NU). The position reports to the Senior Associate Dean for Operations and Research. In recent years, McC has experienced significant growth both in proposals to and awards from external funding agencies. Currently at Northwestern, McCormick research expenditures are second only to the Feinberg School of Medicine in dollar amount.The Director oversees pre- and post-award research administration for nine academic departments and several research centers representing more than 180 Principal Investigators (PIs) as well as inter-disciplinary research administration with the Feinberg School of Medicine and five other schools at NU. The Director is responsible for compliance with federal and other sponsor policies and NU policies and procedures as well as establishing McC policies and procedures that are aligned with those at the University level. This position supervises 17 exempt staff members. The Director position interacts with management heads of other units at NU, including the Office of Research (OR), Office of Sponsored Research (OSR), Innovation and New Ventures (INVO), Accounting Services for Research & Sponsored Programs (ASRSP), NU and McC Corporate Relations, and external sponsors in support of McC's research mission.Specific Responsibilities:STRATEGIC LEADERSHIPLead the vision, mission and operating principles of the McC Office of Research AdministrationCommunicate and collaborate with McC's 180+ PIs in support of their research effortsStructure the McC Office of Research Administration staff to best serve the requirements of the office and the needs of the facultyDevelop collaborative relationships with the NU Office of Research (OR) including the Office for Sponsored Research (OSR), Office for Research Safety (ORS), Office of Research Integrity (ORI), and INVO, as well as the NU Office of Accounting Services for Research & Sponsored Programs (ASRSP)Ensure operational excellence in the services offered by the McC Office of Research Administration in support of McC's research missionEstablish and employ best practices in research administration based on NU and peer institution reviewIdentify sponsored funding opportunities aligned with McC strategy and strengthsWork with McC administration in developing strategy and policy related to research administrationPOLICY, PROCEDURE & COMPLIANCEEnsure institutional and regulatory compliance including matters relating to NU Cost Accounting Standards, OSR, ACUC, IRB, and ASRSP (includes effort reporting, cost sharing, sub-recipient monitoring, salary restrictions, etc.)Determine McC research administration procedures to enable uniform complianceOversee the collection, interpretation and communication (and sometimes development) of external, NU and McC policies and procedures. Ensure that the policies are articulated to key stakeholders - PIs and staffOPERATIONSOversee the administrative and budget development portions of proposals and submission of materials to OSREnsure timely and accurate pre- and post-award and close-out management across the schoolCollaborate with Department Chairs and department Business Administrators (BAs) to achieve each department's research mission and goals; provide analysis and recommendation of financial research administration procedures in departmentNurture a collaborative culture with McC BAs and McC AdministratorsOversee the annual preparation of research expenditure reports and analysis for internal and external reports and surveys, including ASEE and USNews and World ReportServe as McC school signatory for external proposal submissionsServe as Level 3 approver for financial transactions on sponsored projectsInitiate regular and ad hoc analysis and reporting of McC research administration metricsWork with staff and upper administration to problem-solve situations involving sponsored researchCollaborate with McC Administration, Finance, and Planning on salary recovery, recharge centers, cost-sharing, and other administrative mattersProvide advanced problem solving in support of McC's research operation.STAFF SUPERVISIONSupervise and mentor 17 McC Research Administration staff including recruitment, hiring, training and performance managementManage the assimilation of RAs into their individual departmentOther duties as assigned by the DeanMinimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in finance or business management or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired.5-7 years' experience in research administration with progressively larger responsibilities3+ years' successful staff management and supervisory experience including mentoring and training experienceMinimum Competencies:Demonstrated competency in senior management responsibilities, including strategic planning, leadership, financial stewardship and organizational teamworkWorking knowledge of OMB Circulars affecting an institution of higher education, the Federal Demonstration Partnership/Research Terms & Conditions and other relevant federal agencies'-specific terms and conditionsExcellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and analytic skillsAbility to work independently and in groups as a valued team memberProven success as a problem solver and in managing multiple projects while maintaining staff satisfactionProfessional maturity, personal integrity proven ability to approach matters with diplomacyKnowledge of Research.gov, Grants.gov, and other electronic proposal/award management systemsKnowledge of basic intellectual property principlesPreferred Qualifications:Master's DegreeResearch Administration experience at a senior level in a major research universityPreferred Competencies:Knowledge of academic business enterprise systems such as PeopleSoft, InfoEd, ERS, Cognos.Target hiring range for this position will be between $107,049 - $150,539 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

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