Post-Award Research Administrator

at  George Mason University

Department: Col of Engineering and Computing
Classification: Financial Svcs Specialist 1
Job Category: Classified Staff
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Experience with creating budgets or other financial plans;
• Experience validating and reconciling financial transactions and processing necessary forms for any corrections;
• Experience working in a customer service environment supporting other teams or organizations with deadline related tasks;
• Understanding of financial processes and controls including the reconciliation process;
• Understanding, adoption, and adherence to SOP and training is required;
• Proficient in the use of computers with solid working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point);
• High-level interpersonal skills in a professional environment, excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to work with colleagues/team members to jointly solve questions and challenges in their daily work;
• Ability to analyze data and formulate conclusions;
• Ability to learn and adapt to changing technologies related to grants and contracts management;
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects/tasks simultaneously;
• Ability to work with the post-award specialists and solve problems, answer questions, and give guidance on post-award activities and other grants management topics on a daily basis;
• Ability to manage research budgets, interpret allowable costs, and other specific financial issues is expected;
• Ability to perform work effectively with minimal oversight or supervision; and
• Excellent customer service orientation; deadline oriented and ability to work effectively under pressure.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field;
• Experience in Sponsored Programs Administration or related field;
• Experience in Higher Education Research Administration;
• Experience submitting proposals to Federal and Nonfederal sponsors;
• Experience ensuring compliance with processes, requirements and regulations;
• Knowledge of federal rules and regulations / terms and conditions relating to research grant and/or contract activity;
• Knowledge of University policies and procedures relating to grant and contracts activity;
• Knowledge of University processes, systems and offices related to and/or involved in grant and contract submission and management;
• Knowledge of the Banner Financial system or demonstrated ability to learn complex electronic systems; and
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Pre-award Research Administrator (CPRA) certification.

Works with senior-level local sponsored research administrators, understands and develops skills related to the following tasks:

• Follows and adheres to processes and activities related to post-award function;
• Perform post-award activities for a department or center within the CEC. Post-award activities include, but are not limited to, assisting faculty/PI in the financial, regulatory, and reporting of grant and contract awards; and
• High engagement with investigators and collaborative with Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is expected.

Confers with PI and Pre-award support staff at collaborating institutions to secure necessary subawards documents for proposals.

• Upon award acceptance, defines account establishment parameters, including billing and reporting requirements, budget, and cost sharing obligations;
• Distributes award information to PIs, co-PIs and relevant staff and other research units;
• Coordinates with relevant individuals to make adjustments to payroll for all budgeted positions (including relative cost sharing positions); and
• Expenditures should reflect Investigator’s scientific activity.

Reviews and reconciles award expenditures and budgets, making adjustments, as necessary.

• Projects and forecasts future award expenditures;
• Manages budget, reporting and compliance timelines through the lifecycle of the grant or contract;
• Communicates with PIs on a regular basis regarding budget and expense adjustments and revisions;
• Completes financial reports to be sent to sponsor, as required by the award terms and conditions;
• Monitors compliance with agency and University regulations regarding reporting;
• Completes invoice for sponsor (for certain award types only);
• Assists PIs with non-financial report submissions, as necessary;
• Coordinates and submits requests for No Cost Extensions, Carryover, rebudgeting requests, changes in scope, and other changes to the award; ensures all requests are done in compliance with sponsor guidelines and University policies;
• Facilitates the approval of invoices to pay subcontractors;
• Applies federal and university rules to management of effort allocation appropriately for individuals compensated whole or in part from federal awards;
• Assists in transferring awards out of the university;
• Responsible for closeout of all funded projects consistent with university process and timelines;
• Follows and adheres to defined business practices related to post-award functions; and
• High engagement with investigators and collaborative with Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is expected. Reconciliations and other documents completed within specified guidelines.

Logs and processes the set-up of new, continuation, and prior approval accounts.

• Evaluates documentation for accuracy, reviews scope of work, and reviews file for missing information, if necessary;
• Assists in processing various modifications to awards including carryovers, de-obligations, PI changes, levels of effort changes, project team modifications, department changes, and account maintenance;
• Processes requests to create new projects, program income, or cost share accounts after the project has been established; and
• Provides review of projects as outlined in the specified guidelines and procedures.

Performs other related duties as assigned.