How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Summary

The Life Sciences Institute (LSI) is looking for a responsible professional to join our Research Administration team. Reporting to the Director of LSI Research Administration (RA), you will be an important member of an established RA team, using your administrative independence and judgment to manage proposal and budget development and pre- and post-award activities for several highly engaged faculty. You will advise faculty on long-term viability for funding and strategies for funding support, identify multiple sources of external and U-M funding opportunities, and use real-time data for budget projections to ensure faculty are knowledgeable of the financial status of their funding sources.

For the Lead Position, you will also provide peer mentoring to other RA team members, and depending on your interests and capacity, will have the opportunities to: represent the LSI RA team in working with LSI trainees, including attending monthly trainee's meetings; lead or assist with RA educational forums, trainings and presentations; and have inclusion on broader campus RA committees. The LSI encourages and supports professional development through membership in regional and national RA associations for all team members.

Mission Statement

Our mission at the Life Sciences Institute is to improve the understanding of the fundamental processes of life, and to develop new ideas to improve human health, through a diverse approach to basic science discovery.

For more information on the Life Sciences Institute: https://www.lsi.umich.edu/

Responsibilities*

Pre-Award

• Identify external and internal funding opportunities relevant to assigned faculty and broader LSI research community, including trainee funding support.
• Ensure the submission of complex proposals to multiple federal (e.g., NIH, NSF) and non-federal sponsors.
• Coordinate the submission of complex multi-PI, multi-component, and Center (e.g., P50, U19) grants.
• Advise and help develop the budget, budget justification, facilities, and other non-technical sections of proposals.
• Prepare the PAF and route internally for approvals within eResearch Proposal Management (eRPM), Grants.gov, NIH ASSIST, and Research.gov or other sponsor systems.
• Respond to just-in-time documents or other sponsor requested information.
• Provide guidance on university, sponsor, and LSI guidelines.
• Maintain information needed for research faculty bios, vitas, and other support documents, and other sponsor required administrative documents.
• (LEAD Only) Be an alternate unit level reviewer and signature authority on proposal submissions.

Post-Award

• Provide post-award accounting and administrative/financial oversight for complex grants and contracts.
• Establish sub-project grants and subcontract requests.
• Monitor faculty and staff effort across multiple projects to minimize retroactive appointment or timesheet changes.
• Maintain complex projections and provide updates on financial status of projects to PIs, project directors, and research administrator lead or manager.
• Ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance (UG), all applicable funding agency, university, and LSI guidelines.
• Monitor for budget revisions, effort changes, carry forward requests, and no cost extensions on grants.
• Prepare and route Award Change Requests (ACR) for approval.
• Prepare RPPRs, FSRs, and other reports due to sponsors.
• Provide financial forecasting for faculty portfolios, providing guidance for funding sources and strategies for managing.
• Prepare and route Unfunded Agreements for approval.

Mentoring (LEAD ONLY)

• Provide peer mentoring to junior team members.
• Represent the RA team at monthly trainee's meetings and oversee and assist with RA educational forums, training and presentations for trainees.
• Manage educational forums and pre-award process improvements in collaboration with the RA director.

Required Qualifications*

Research Administrator Senior level:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5 or more years of progressively responsible research administration experience, including:
  • – Management or direct knowledge of the pre- and post-award process
  • – Management of federal grants including research performance progress reports (RPPRs) in Research.gov, eRA Commons, or similar sponsor systems
  • – Expertise with complex proposal submissions and post-award management of large awards
  • – Demonstrated knowledge of compliance issues, including an in-depth knowledge of Uniform Guidance compliance
  • – Interpret and apply guidelines and policies including Uniform Guidance, budgeting restrictions, and sponsored research policies
• Articulated interest in continued professional development including membership in regional and national RA associations

Research Administrator Lead level:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 7 or more years of progressively responsible research administration experience, including:
  • – Management of the pre- and post-award process
  • – Management of federal grants including research performance progress reports (RPPRs) in Research.gov, eRA Commons, or similar sponsor systems
  • – Demonstrated success with complex proposal submissions and post-award management of large awards
  • – Broad knowledge of compliance issues, including an in-depth knowledge of Uniform Guidance compliance
  • –Ability to work independently to interpret and apply guidelines and policies including Uniform Guidance, budgeting restrictions, and sponsored research policies
• Exhibited interest in continued professional development including membership in regional and national RA associations
• Prior experience with, or interest in, serving as a peer mentor to other RA team members
• Prior experience with, or interest in, presenting and/or leading RA educational forums and trainings
• Prior experience with, or interest in serving on work committees, particularly related to RA topics

Desired Qualifications*

• Knowledge of University of Michigan financial policies
• Knowledge of federal agencies and contract administration
• Working knowledge of databases, query management tools and University systems, such as Business Objects, M-Reports, Concur, and other M-Pathways systems
• University of Michigan RA training program (Navigate: Fundamental or RAIN)
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)

Additional Information

This is a hybrid work location including on-site at the Life Sciences Institute offices in Ann Arbor, with flexible scheduling and remote work opportunities as made available within our overall Institute policy.

Benefits at the University of Michigan

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Maternity and Parental Leave

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

U-M COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

COVID-19 vaccinations, including one booster when eligible, are required for all University of Michigan students, faculty and staff across all campuses, including Michigan Medicine.  This includes those working remotely and temporary workers.   More information on this new policy is available on the U-M Health Response website or the UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint websites.