Research Administration Manager - Office of Research

Classification Title:

Research Administration Manager

Classification Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree and four years of experience in grant and contract administration; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Description:

The College of Medicine’s Office of Research is seeking a Research Administration Manager to lead the Office of Excellence in Research Management and is responsible for overseeing comprehensive, full-cycle research administration services.

This includes strategic oversight of Office operations, pre- and post-award administration, regulatory compliance, and the development of college-wide training and mentorship initiatives. The incumbent serves as a primary liaison between the Office of Research and departments within the College of Medicine, ensuring effective, compliant, and collaborative research administration across all phases of sponsored program activity.

About This Role:

Office Management and Strategic Oversight

• Provides strategic oversight for project budget preparation and grant proposal submissions, ensuring compliance with agency, sponsored research, and College of Medicine guidelines.
• Manages review of state contracts, internal budgets, and required proposal documentation, including UFIRST entry and conflict of interest disclosures.
• Serves as liaison between the College of Medicine, DSP, and core offices to ensure effective communication and coordination.
• Maintains and analyzes performance metrics (e.g., proposal volume, turnaround time, compliance) to drive process improvements.
• Collaborates with department and Office of Research leadership on staffing forecasts, system enhancements, and long-term strategic planning.

Pre-Award and Post-Award Administration – College and Department Level

• Provides strategic oversight of all pre-award and post-award research administration activities at the college and department levels.
• Oversees project budget preparation and submission processes in compliance with agency, institutional, and College of Medicine guidelines.
• Manages coordination and submission of grant proposals, including UFIRST entry, internal budgets, and conflict of interest disclosures.
• Reviews and ensures accuracy of state contracts, award documents, and related financial information.
• Serves as a liaison between departments, the College of Medicine, DSP, and other central offices to facilitate smooth proposal and award management.
• Monitors and interprets policy changes related to research administration, advising stakeholders accordingly.
• Maintains performance dashboards tracking proposal volume, turnaround times, compliance, and other key metrics to support data-informed decision-making.
• Supports departments in resolving pre- and post-award challenges, aligning administrative processes with research goals and faculty needs.
• Coordinates regular check-ins with department leadership to align on priorities, provide guidance, and anticipate changes in research activity.
• Collaborates with Office of Research leadership on strategic initiatives, staffing forecasts, and continuous improvement of tools, systems, and workflows.

Training, Mentorship, and Outreach - College Level

• Leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of onboarding and continuing education programs for research administrators and faculty.
• Collaborates with COM leadership and research stakeholders to identify knowledge gaps and develop targeted training content in pre-award, post-award, compliance, and financial management.
• Develops and delivers multi-format training (in-person, virtual, asynchronous) and maintains shared onboarding plans to ensure consistency across departments.
• Facilitates mentorship and skill-building for new research administrators, supporting long-term professional development.
• Evaluates training effectiveness through feedback and performance metrics, updating materials and methods to meet evolving needs.
• Creates clear, user-friendly training resources and promotes cross-training and knowledge-sharing to strengthen operational consistency and collaboration.

Resource Development and Compliance - College Level

• Oversees the development, organization, and regular updating of research administration resources, including SOPs, templates, guides, and policy summaries.
• Ensures materials reflect current federal, sponsor, university, and college policies, partnering with central offices and leadership to maintain alignment and compliance.
• Oversees the creation of user-friendly content and tools to support administrators and faculty across the full research lifecycle, in