Sponsored Research Administrator - College of Engineering - Dean's Office
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 College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon is a world-class engineering college recognized for excellence, innovation, and the societal relevance and impact of its pursuits. We produce creative and technically strong engineers and research pioneering solutions to global challenges. We do this with an unprecedented commitment to integrating across engineering, sciences, arts, business, and other disciplines to yield transformative results.
Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering is searching for a Sponsored Research Administrator. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in an exciting and meaningful work environment. You will contribute to the department by providing crucial support by performing a broad range of research grant and contract management functions (i.e. fiscal, compliance, , forecasting, and management) supporting multiple faculty members and/or laboratories that have multiple moderately complex grants with various end dates.
Core responsibilities will include:
- Establishes accounts in financial systems, re-budgets funds and monitors or modifies awards and expenditures.
- Completes expense and labor distributions transactions.
- Approves invoices.
- Monitors computing and other facility charges.
- Interprets regulations and guidelines for program funding (both university and agency) for multiple moderately complex grants.
- Provides monitoring of grants and contracts to ensure expenses are being paid according to contracts.
- Prepares renewals and reports for sponsoring agencies.
- Provides 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 forecasts, and budgets and oversees post-award management through renewal or close-out.
- Provides financial reporting to faculty on various research grants and for various programs on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
- Conducts variance analysis; researches the causes of variances between planned and actual expenses.
- Works with other areas of the university (Office of Sponsored Projects, Sponsored Projects Accounting, Procurement, etc) on a regular basis to solve complex problems related to labor allocation, accounting and related issues;
- Other duties as assigned.
Flexibility, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. Inclusion, collaboration and cultural sensitivity are valued proficiencies at CMU. Therefore, we are in search of a team member who is able to optimally collaborate with a diverse 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.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required
- At least 1 year of Accounting experience or Sponsored Research Administration experience
Requirements:
- Successful 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!
Location
Pittsburgh, PAJob Function
Research AdministrationPosition Type
Staff – RegularFull Time/Part time
Full timePay Basis
SalaryMore Information:
Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
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Carnegie Mellon University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Carnegie Mellon University and has not been reviewed or approved by Carnegie Mellon University.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout, with automatic employer contributions to a TIAA-administered plan at 8% of base salary (and 9.78% for 9‑month academic appointments), plus optional employee deferrals. Vesting after three years is clearly specified, which helps set expectations for long-term value.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental and family support is strengthened by 100% paid parental leave for six weeks and 100% paid maternity leave for 6–8 weeks (delivery-type dependent), effective July 1, 2024. Childcare support is also referenced through a Cyert Center subsidy up to $5,000 per family, alongside no-cost EAP access.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle benefits include free Pittsburgh Regional Transit access and access to fitness classes and facilities, adding recurring non-cash value to the overall package. Pittsburgh’s relatively affordable cost of living can further increase the perceived adequacy of a given salary compared with higher-cost coastal hubs.
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What We Do
Carnegie Mellon University founder Andrew Carnegie said: "My heart is in the work." No statement better captures the passion and drive of our people to make a real difference. At Carnegie Mellon, we're not afraid of the work. Our educational environment creates problem solvers, drivers of innovation and pioneers in technology and the arts. Employers in every field say our graduates are ready to hit the ground running the day they graduate. So, join us. Whether you're looking for a career or an education. Or both.






