Senior Sponsored Research Administrator - Mellon College of Science

Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that stands among the world’s most renowned education institutions. With ground-breaking brain science, path-breaking performances, creative start-ups, big data, big ambitions, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we invent it. If you’re passionate about joining a community that challenges the curious to deliver work that matters, your journey starts here!

The Mellon College of Science (MCS) is home to four departments and many programs and research centers that cross disciplines. We approach scientific problems from fresh angles using creative interdisciplinary approaches while drawing on our departmental strengths in the core sciences. MCS faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized for their research in a variety of fields, including polymer science, cosmology, mathematical finance, and neuroscience.

The Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences are searching for a Senior Sponsored Research Administrator to manage Pre-award Administration for both departments and provide expert level post award budget support as well. This is a dynamic opportunity for someone who thrives in an interesting and challenging work environment.

You will contribute to the department by providing professional level support for proposal development and submission, including but not limited to proposal and budget review, review of agency solicitations and RFPs, as well as completion of applicable representations and certifications. This position will include providing budget support on existing sponsored awards on an as-needed basis. This is a vital position to the departments, and you will contribute in many ways to its overall success.

Responsibilities will include:

Cradle to grave submission of proposals to the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) and Sponsors:

• Prepare proposal development and ensure budgetary compliance.
• Prepare proposal package for compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Completion of representations and certifications.

Compliance & Routing:

• Identify required protocol (e.g., human subjects, animal subjects, rDNA) and disclosure (e.g., conflict of interest) requirements and notify Compliance Administrator.
• Enter proposal into Sponsor proposal package and complete routing requirements in SPARCS.

Faculty Support & Collaboration:

• Work with PIs to organize and assemble proposals and to assist PIs in the organization and assembly of complex multi-investigator proposals that may include multiple institutions.
• You will have daily interaction with faculty, staff and researchers, federal and non-federal sponsors, finance and research representatives from subcontracting institutions, CMU's Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Research Integrity and Compliance, and Sponsored Projects Accounting Office, as well as finance and research administration counterparts campus-wide.
• You will participate as an active and collaborative member of the Chemistry and Biological Sciences Research Administration team, participating in team meetings, trainings, and professional development.

Provide information and training to principal investigators and others:

• Provide information regarding potential funding agencies.
• Assist principal investigators to meet agency and sponsor deadlines.
• Provide principal investigator with any materials received from OSP, agency or industry sponsor, and any specific instruction or restrictions that pertain to the award.
• Provide information to compliance administrator on inclusion of humans, animals, hazardous materials, rDNA if applicable.
• Advise partners regarding agency or industry sponsor communication and solicitation requirements during the review, after submission, and during the award process.
• Interpret regulations and guidelines for program funding (both university and agency) for multiple moderately complex grants.

Financial Planning & Reporting:

• Provide faculty members with various options and scenarios that can be used in a proposal's planning or during the execution of the work (i.e., assessing labor allocation and distribution across multiple awards, etc).
• Develops budgets for faculty members and assists in proposal creation and submission, including the preparation of proposal budgets, often with multiple subcontractors.
• Provides reporting to business manager, department head and college of proposal and award data for annual and other reporting purposes.

Candidate Profile & Valued Competencies

We are looking for someone who will possess in-depth knowledge of CMU research administration policies and procedures and will frequently interface with other university departments (OSP, SPA, etc.) and sponsoring agencies. You should be comfortable with and adept at working with a broad range of people and must provide excellent customer service with a very strong attention to detail.

Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University.  We are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Key Skills & Abilities

You should demonstrate:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, in a time-sensitive, high-volume work environment while managing several projects at a time.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies as they relate to sponsored programs including federal, state, and local agency regulations/procedures, FAR, CAS, GAAP, and OMB Uniform Guidance governing research administration.
• Proficiency with electronic and budgeting tools, Microsoft Suite, along with an understanding of databases.
• Capability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, work independently under pressure, and meet inflexible deadlines.
• Ability to be very detail-oriented to comply with sponsor proposal requirements.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and contribute to a strong collegial team culture.
• Knowledge and skill with Oracle Self Service Applications (SSA) and Core Applications (Grants Management, Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable).
• Demonstrate appropriate sensitivity to maintaining and safeguarding confidentiality.
• Ability to prioritize projects/tasks and meet deadlines, maintain accurate and detailed records, and maintain high levels of accuracy in all work produced.
• Ability to work under pressure with frequent interruptions, meet deadlines, prioritize work, and deal with people professionally and effectively, while remaining calm and project/task-oriented.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• At least 5 or more years of sponsored research administration or related business administration experience in an academic setting required.
• NCURA or SRA certification preferred.
• A combination of education and proven experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

Requirements:

• Successful completion of a pre-employment background check

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance. 

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!

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