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Dartmouth College

Lead Research Administrator

Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, us, 03755


Position Purpose

Provides high level and independent oversight over a portfolio of faculty/investigatory-initiated research projects, including providing financial and pre- and post-award grants administration management and analysis. Applies an expert level of understanding regarding sponsor-specific regulatory requirements and the general principles and practices of financial administration and grants management. Scope of programs overseen are understood to include multiple faculty/investigators and funding sources and multi-site research or program project grants. Provides departmental and institutional support through the training, coaching, and supervision of junior staff in pre- and post-award research administration.

Description

The Dartmouth Cancer Center – Grants Team is seeking a Lead Research Administrator that will provide high level and independent oversight over a portfolio of faculty/investigatory-initiated research projects, including providing financial and pre- and post-award grants administration management and analysis. While this position has a post-award component, the majority component of the role will be focused on pre-award work.

The ideal candidate will have 7-10 years of experience and bring an expert level of understanding regarding sponsor-specific regulatory requirements and the general principles and practices of financial administration and grants management.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp

Bachelor's degree

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years’ experience in research administration, including demonstrated proficiency in both pre-award and post-award.

Demonstrated experience financially managing complex research projects.

Excellent accounting, management, negotiation, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Effectively trains, coaches and mentors team members. May have direct or indirect supervision of junior team members.

Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects and advise and influence stakeholders.

Flexibility and openness to change.

Ability to plan work, set priorities, and respond to pressures, deadlines, and changes in schedules and priorities.

Attention to detail and accuracy.

Ability to maintain and foster a high degree of confidentiality.

Proficiency in database management, spreadsheets, and other computer software.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree and 10+ years’ experience in research administration.

Experience in not-for-profit accounting and grants management in an educational and/or research setting preferred.

Key Accountabilities

Grants Administration:

Working in a self-directed manner, develops, justifies, and provides oversight for multiple complex grants, institutional accounts and operating budgets; monitors fluctuations in funding and makes financial recommendations to faculty/investigators.

Monitors multiple sources of funding and expenditures across complex grant portfolios/ accounts; identifying, researching, and correcting errors on a timely basis to ensure costs are properly allocated.

Collaborates with principal investigators in developing plans (and contingency plans) to meet identified needs and provides regular budget status reports summarizing expenditures to-date and projected expenditures to end of budget period; advises on potential budgetary problems.

Develops and maintains personnel FTE distributions based on grant and/or unit budgets. Manages the payroll authorization and adjustment process for the assigned portfolio. Monitors payroll funding levels; anticipates, identifies potential payroll shortfalls; communicates and advises investigators and unit leaders on shortfalls, and initiates changes as necessary. Monitors supervisor approval in Kronos. Oversees management of labor suspense and clearing accounts.

Develops and maintains budgets for subcontracts; reviews sub-contractor submissions to ensure costs are realistic; directs changes where required.

Supervises the processing of procurement as it relates to the operating and grant portfolio.

Oversees continuing review and analysis of accounting practices to enhance systems and processes as needed in the unit. May arrange or oversee the preparation of accounts payables, deposits, wage transfers and journal transfers. Reconciles monthly reports and resolves discrepancies.

Collaborates with Office of Sponsored Projects to ensure compliance with Dartmouth and granting agency policies. Advises and interprets those policies to department faculty and staff on issues such as allowable costs, charging mechanisms, capital equipment purchases, and use of consultants.

Performs in-depth analyses of the financial impact of implementing proposed new research projects, terminating existing projects, introducing new research services, etc.

Percentage Of Time : 40

Proposal Submission & Support:

Partners with faculty/investigators on the development and framing of grant proposals to be responsive to sponsoring agency interests.

Assists faculty, non-faculty academics (NFA’s), students, and senior staff in preparing proposals to funding sources including development of complex budgets for large proposal submission, ensuring completion of all sponsor and Dartmouth administrative requirements.

Identifies areas in which costs will be incurred, develops estimates of such costs, and prepares proposal budget submissions and scope of work where needed (e.g., laboratory costs, manpower, equipment, supplies, communications, transportation, administrative etc.).

In conjunction with Office of Sponsored Projects, assists faculty with electronic proposal submissions and other electronic research-related processes.

Serves as a pre-award/proposal submission resource to staff and PIs on regulatory, compliance, and sponsor requirements.

Percentage Of Time : 40

Staff Development and Supervision:

Works with Operations Directors, OSP and other institutional partners the formulation of fiscal and administrative procedures for research programs. Develops responses to issues associated with administration of research activities.

Works with Operations Directors, OSP and other institutional partners to organize and provide training as needed in areas related to compliance and disseminate pertinent regulatory changes. Assists with process improvement and training initiatives related to pre-award and post-award activities.

Supervises and mentors more junior research administrators. Coaches, reviews, and delegates work to lower-level professionals and/or sets goals and objectives for team members for the achievement of operational results.

Serves as a resource to both investigators and laboratory and grants administration staff on regulatory, compliance, and sponsor requirements.

Partners with Operations Directors and other unit leaders in advancing priority setting and coordination of finance and administrative staff activities to assure that departmental/unit needs, standards, goals, and deadlines are met.

Percentage Of Time : 15

Other Duties (as assigned):

Interacts with representatives of Dartmouth College, Geisel, Dartmouth Health, other academic institutions, and private foundations to provide information requested, seek clarification of requirements, and collaborate on issues of mutual interest.

Represents the Department on College, Geisel School, and Dartmouth Health committees and at other forums.

May have fiscal oversight of, or provide backup for, funding issues and budgeting process.

Participates in year-end closing process as needed.

Percentage Of Time : 5

Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.

Performs other duties as assigned.

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