Research Administration Manager

at  University of WisconsinMadison

JOB SUMMARY:

This position manages research administration and financial transactions for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Retirement and Disability Research Center (UW RDRC) and other research awards and programs housed at the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP). The UW RDRC is a federally funded, multi-million dollar applied research program that develops evidence that can assist policymakers, the public, and the media in understanding issues in Social Security, retirement, and disability policy, especially related to economically vulnerable populations. The UW RDRC is an organizational unit within IRP, which is a nonpartisan research institution dedicated to producing and disseminating rigorous evidence to inform policies and programs to combat poverty, inequality, and their effects in the United States through research, training, and outreach. Responsibilities of this full-lifecycle position include working closely with principal investigators and research staff to prepare, route, and submit funding proposals to sponsors, and then setting up projects (including subawards), monitoring expenditures, and managing financials through closeout for awarded funding. This position also holds a purchasing card and processes expense reports. The employee will work with UW Research and Sponsored Programs office and other schools/colleges to foster research collaborations, and they will work with RDRC and IRP leadership to develop and oversee strategic planning and budgeting while ensuring compliance with federal, state, agency and University policies and procedures.

EDUCATION:

Preferred
Bachelor’s Degree
Preferably in accounting, business or a related field

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Qualifications:
1. Three or more years in pre- and/or post-award university research administration.
2. Experience working with complex, automated accounting systems and processes.
3. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
4. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
5. Effective independent problem solving and analytical skills.
6. Demonstrated ability to interpret and adhere to complex policies and procedures.
7. Ability to work across multiple projects and meet dynamic deadlines.
Desired Qualifications:
1. Knowledge and experience working with federal and other funding mechanisms.
2. Knowledge and experience working with UW-based research administration and financial management tools.
3. Professional level and highly efficient use of Microsoft Office or similar software.

Manages research administration activities from proposal preparation through closeout on behalf of a unit. Reviews and approves proposal submissions, contract negotiations, project setups, compliance, and/or financial reporting. Develops and oversees implementation of operations and strategic planning to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements within a school/college/division/unit. May manage a programmatic unit and/or personnel.

• 30% Executes research administration operational policies and procedures including financial, administrative, staffing, and compliance on behalf of a unit
• 10% Reviews and approves programmatic transactions spanning the life-cycle of sponsored projects to ensure compliance with institutional and/or sponsor policies and procedures
• 15% Serves as a key resource to leadership and staff in the unit as well as a liaison to partners and stakeholders
• 20% Executes activities related to proposal submission, contract negotiation, and/or award setup on behalf of a unit
• 15% Executes activities related to financial compliance, audit, or reporting on behalf of a unit
• 5% Provides training to faculty, staff, and/or administrators within the unit regarding policy, procedure, and/or execution of sponsored project administration
• 5% Holds purchasing card and processes expense report

Manages research administration activities from proposal preparation through closeout on behalf of a unit. Reviews and approves proposal submissions, contract negotiations, project setups, compliance, and/or financial reporting. Develops and oversees implementation of operations and strategic planning to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements within a school/college/division/unit. May manage a programmatic unit and/or personnel.

• 30% Executes research administration operational policies and procedures including financial, administrative, staffing, and compliance on behalf of a unit
• 10% Reviews and approves programmatic transactions spanning the life-cycle of sponsored projects to ensure compliance with institutional and/or sponsor policies and procedures
• 15% Serves as a key resource to leadership and staff in the unit as well as a liaison to partners and stakeholders
• 20% Executes activities related to proposal submission, contract negotiation, and/or award setup on behalf of a unit
• 15% Executes activities related to financial compliance, audit, or reporting on behalf of a unit
• 5% Provides training to faculty, staff, and/or administrators within the unit regarding policy, procedure, and/or execution of sponsored project administration
• 5% Holds purchasing card and processes expense reports