Sponsored Projects Administrator, Associate

Job Summary/Basic Function:

Provide leadership, fiscal oversight, and sponsored project administration services for principal investigators and departmental and college staff who have externally-funded projects.

Level Scope:

Entry-level professional with limited or no prior experience to contribute on a project or work team. Incumbent learns to use professional concepts to resolve problems of limited scope and complexity under close supervision while achieving day-to-day objectives. Works on developmental assignments that are initially routine in nature, requiring limited judgment and decision making. This level is typically focused on self-development. Requires theoretical knowledge through specific education and training. Typically hold a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.

Essential Functions:

95% of the time the Sponsored Projects Administrator, Associate must:

• Provide fiscal management services to faculty and staff and collaborate with key personnel to ensure comprehensive oversight of basic to moderately complex sponsored projects.
• Communicate with sponsor agency contacts.
• In coordination with the audit lead, support agency audits, desk reviews, and financial inquiries.
• Create and submit fiscal reports, invoices, and draws as required by the sponsoring agency.
• Analyze costs for compliance with federal cost principles and reconcile the University’s financial ledger with sponsored project budgets and expenditures.      
• Review and understand basic to moderate award terms and conditions, including cost sharing requirements; review and analyze expenditures for compliance.
• Follow up with the principal investigator/department and/or college personnel to gain additional information and documentation as needed.
• Collaboratively work with stakeholders to identify areas needing improvement and present possible solutions.
• With support, advise in the application of federal, state, award, and university policies to award management.
• Direct principal investigators in responding to sponsor inquiries such as; spending, progress, or verifications.
• Assist the OSP Post-Award Coordinator in managing the Post-Award email inbox by assigning emails to team members as appropriate.
• Conduct review of cost transfers and other journal entries for adherence to all applicable regulations and requirements.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to monitor and apply changing compliance requirements.
• Solicit guidance from senior and principal OSP Sponsored Projects Administrators, OSP Functional Supervisors, Business Operations Manager, Post-Award Deputy Assistant Director, and Assistant Director, Post-Award as needed to ensure the appropriate interpretation of regulations.
• Train and consult with OSP, departmental, and college support staff in matters of research administration.
• Assist in disseminating information to principal investigators and OSP, department, and college support staff regarding changes to sponsor policies and procedures.

5% of the time the Sponsored Projects Administrator, Associate must:

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to efficiently and timely manage many competing priorities and time-sensitive projects, including the ability to satisfy sponsor deadlines.
• Superior attention to detail when reviewing documents.
• Ability to manage basic to moderate awards.
• Ability to work collaboratively to resolve issues.
• Excellent and timely customer service to faculty members, administrators and staff.
• Ability to represent the interests of the research enterprise to internal and external customers, including the ability to understand and explain Federal and State statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to think independently and make qualified judgments.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and familiarity with accounting systems.
• Ability to read and understand contract language relative to fiscal administration of sponsored projects.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state and University regulations with support from supervisor.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications:

Two years of professional experience in higher education or research administration.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary range is $50,065.60 to