Assistant Director — Research Administrator III

at  Michigan State University

Reporting to the Director of DER, the Assistant Director will support the day-to-day operational management and oversight of planning and managing the research proposal, budget processes, and fee-for-service activities for the College of Engineering. The Assistant Director will assist the Director in these areas, ensuring that all processes are executed efficiently and effectively, while the overall responsibility for direct management remains with the Director.

This role involves serving as a resource for faculty and staff on all aspects of proposal preparation and submission, testing, complex budgeting, research data analysis, compilation, and reporting. The successful candidate will support the Director in the following areas:

• Developing administrative goals, policies, and procedures.
• Providing first-level quality assurance of research proposals, budgets, and college reports for chairs, deans, faculty, and national external reports.

In addition, the Assistant Director will maintain a workload of advanced/complex proposals, particularly for high-level sponsors, increasing as needed. They will also assist with leading the fee-for-service operations, supporting college cost-share processes, verifying indirect cost return and expenditure reports, and advising the Director on planned process improvement strategies and their implementation within the college’s day-to-day proposal operations.
Moreover, the Assistant Director will take a mentoring role within the department, helping to guide and support the professional development of other Research Administrators. Other duties as assigned by the Director or Senior Associate Dean for Research may also be included.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Business Administration, Finance, or a research-related field; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in research administration, including the area of pre or post-award processes, or a related field such as regulatory administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. The job also requires Essentials of Research Administration, an MSU Certificate series or equivalent, and familiarity with Kuali Coeus. The job may require National Certification as a Certified Research Administrator within two years of hire.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Four years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in research administration, including pre or post-award processes or related fields such as regulatory administration, experience with word processing, spreadsheet, and database software. Service-oriented approach and problem-solving skills to facilitate proposal submission. Experience with other university units such as Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), Contract and Grant Administration (CGA), MSU Technologies (MSUT), Business Connect, Conflict of Interest, and various compliance units. Experience including, but not limited to, MSU policies and procedures, proposal budgets, budget justifications, solicitations, and handling of compliance and submission issues to succeed in a portfolio of federal, state, industrial, and non-profit grant and contract agencies. Ability to create, manage, and revise Microsoft Access databases and prepare unit and college reports; experience with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office software. Familiarity with university policies and procedures. Significant understanding of specific sponsor guidelines and regulations, including NIH, NSF, and other significant agencies; experience in Grants.gov and Fastlane. The Assistant Director must maintain currency in the field through continuous learning, training, and continued proposal development.

• Developing administrative goals, policies, and procedures.
• Providing first-level quality assurance of research proposals, budgets, and college reports for chairs, deans, faculty, and national external reports