Research Administrator 4 (6207U) ProS Region - 64950
University of California, Berkeley
Location
Berkeley, CA | United States
Job description
Research Administrator 4 (6207U) ProS Region - 64950 About Berkeley
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.
The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.
We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles , our Principles of Community , and our Strategic Plan .
At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu .
Departmental Overview The Professional Schools Region (ProS) provides reliable, high-quality administrative support to faculty, academics, staff, student employees, and retirees in support of the UC Berkeley mission of teaching, research, and public service.
Our aim is to build a team that is 100% committed to you. Over time, the ProS team members are determined to become familiar with the unique issues, terminology, funders, sponsors, vendors, and circumstances in the ProS region that will enable us to provide service that you'll find responsive, meaningful, and relevant.
We are extremely proud of the team we have put together and are working hard to provide faculty, staff, and students in our region with expert advice and reliable support services that foster academic and professional success.
Application Review Date The First Review Date for this job is: 2/27/2024
Responsibilities The Research Administration function within ProS provides service during the contracts and grants life cycle to UC Berkeley's Principle Investigators (PI) and Principle Directors (PD). By streamlining services in areas such as human resources, purchasing, and grants administration, ProS will help PIs and PDs navigate the campus administrative processes and focus on the research that comprises a large part of the UC Berkeley mission. ProS provides department level pre-award and post-award support services to all research professionals on campus, in close collaboration with the Sponsored Projects Office, Industry Alliances Office, Extramural Funds Accounting, and other central compliance groups. The position is a fully remote position, provided the candidate is able to manage the expected workload in a competent and professional manner.
The Research Administrator 4 within ProS provides analytical and financial support in proposal processing, contract and grant administration, and budget development, including some pre-award proposal initiatives, management of funds post-award, and closeout activities for federal, state, local and private sponsors. This work involves activities associated with forecasting, planning, and managing of research portfolios by performing some or all of the following: coordinating and identifying and developing and/or presenting proposals, contracts and other agreements; reviewing proposals to ensure institutional compliance; negotiating, administering and monitoring contract and grant awards, including compliance with regulations, terms and conditions; financial management and reporting; and sub award/subcontract issuance and administration.
The Research Administrator 4 will report to and receive assignments from the Contracts and Grants Supervisor 2. The incumbent will work with the supervisor to ensure a balanced workload. The incumbent will manage complex contracts and grants such as center grants and those with unique requirements. The incumbent will mentor and train employees at the Research Administrator 2 and 3 levels to resolve issues and help them gain a better understanding of research administration within ProS.
- Leads the organization, planning, establishment and monitoring of fiscal budget control of contracts and grants administration, submissions, budgets, support documents, gifts, endowments and privately funded projects for faculty research programs. Ensures complete and accurate collection of research management administration data at all stages of the contract and grant lifecycle. Researches policies and makes recommendations regarding unit workflow and procedures. Ensures that awarded projects are carried out according to campus policy and sponsor requirements.
- Responsible with very minimal supervision for providing analytical support for highly complex financial budgets working directly with the faculty on Federal, State, and Foundation grants and contracts. Executes analytics on financial budgets and reports. Responsible for creating specialized reports for the region regarding items such as deficit clearing and suspense clearing and guiding and reaching out to less experience RAs to walk them through the process, which has significant impact on departmental funding.
- Responsible for contract and grants and non-contract and grants, center funds, gifts, endowment, fiscal monitoring and projections to be within the budget guidelines, sponsor guidelines, and University guidelines and disseminating the information to the PIs. Provides alternative suggestions to PIs when there is a roadblock around policy or procedure and guides them in the correct direction of what is allowable, allocable, and reasonable. Be a resource for all other RAs in policies and procedures as they are required to maintain the most current knowledge passed down by the University or the funding agency.
- Responsible for complex problem solving that arises during award lifecycle from award modifications to the closeout to ensure guidelines are met by other RAs as well.
- Provides post-award financial administration and management for complex research funds in accordance with campus policy and agency requirements from Notice of Award and set up to final closeout. Comprehensive post-award sub-recipient monitoring and administration. Provides highly complex projections, analysis and recommendations.
- Responsible for providing highly complex financial and research related studies with recommendations to the PI and to the department. Takes on the most difficult portfolio with highly detailed sponsored guidelines that are not standard. And/or manage multiple subawards, international subawards, to ensure they are complying with University and sponsor guidelines. Communicates and works directly with subawardees to solve issues regarding invoicing, budget amounts, allowability, increase/decrease funding, or other modifications/changes that needs to be made.
- Provides highly detailed projection that goes for one or multiple years at a time and recommending PIs on how to shift their budgets within the grant guidelines. Works directly with the department CAO to ensure departmental problems are addressed, deadlines are met, PIs are acting appropriate, and help provide financial budget reporting is accurate.
- Provides guidance and counsel on research administration matters to PI, non-RA ProS staff, and less experienced team staff. Coordinates with supervisor to insure that the BRS RA staff are consistently trained and following established departmental guidelines and procedures for extramural funds accounting and sponsored projects administration. May deliver training to staff.
- Responsible for delivering trainings to BRS staff about research administration process/procedures/guidance. May also deliver trainings to RAs that are outside own region. Lead in trainings to less experienced staff or newly hired staffed. Provides mentorship to staff and feedback for professional development. Leads newly hired staff in training program and helps to assess their development of what they have learned. Makes sure that accurate information is being delivered to newly hired staff and that their transactions are accurate. Delivering information to PIs and non-RA staff in so that it is understandable and speaks on the processes on behalf of Pros Region at meetings.
- Identifies and initiates team efforts at business process improvement toward an end of more efficient operations and/or higher quality service.
- Responsible for looking and working to improve streamlining processes for the internal team and region. Improve department processes or make recommendations and coordinate with the departments to look over current and future state process. Prepares and helps outline (process map) of items identified as needing improvement and leads team meetings to improve upon what is identified.
- Participates in training/educational sessions designed to increase knowledge of professional research administration concepts and practices, and BRS, University, and/or funding agency processes and policies. Seeks information to maintain up to date knowledge in all areas of research administration and shares knowledge and lessons learned with staff.
- Responsible for keeping current on sponsored awards guidance by attending NCURA, SRA, and agency specific trainings in person and bringing back the information to share and train the team with. Reach out to sponsors/funders for updates/clarification of policies and procedures regarding Fed, State, Local awards. Attend all University trainings, workshops, meetings by SPO, CGA, BRS, UCL, etc to gain knowledge on up to date processes and report back/train the team on what is learned. Collaborate with other Universities in process and policy sharing to improve upon our own.
- Performs other duties as assigned. Assists in support of audit as directed by senior staff.
- Assists in support of audit as directed by senior staff. Responsible for maintaining correct information and providing information towards the wiki pages, internal websites. Organizing and leading team events. Reviewing and approving cost transfers of DR, FE, FJ. Assist with summer salary entries. Will assist in audits by providing and collecting backup documentation and organizing them in easy accessible files for the auditors along with answering questions about internal processes.
Required Qualifications
- Extensive knowledge of program administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.
- Advanced knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.
- Ability to manage high volume and complex transactions.
- Ability to perform highly complex financial analysis and customized reporting.
- Demonstrated advanced competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports.
- Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas.
- Maintains knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply sponsor, institutional and departmental policies. Knowledge of current compliance regulations in all areas of research administration.
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal and reporting principles.
- Experience with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements.
- Full knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation, Code of Federal Regulations, sponsor specific policies, intellectual property policy, conflict of interest requirements, publication rights, application of indirect cost rates, and other complex concepts in research administration.
- Ability to interpret policy for others.
- Advanced knowledge of effective grant funding processes, procedures and techniques.
Education and Training
- Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
Salary & Benefits
- This is a 100% time Contract position with full benefits and is eligible for 100% remote work status.
- This Contract position ends one year from the date of hire.
- Exempt and paid monthly.
- This is not a visa opportunity.
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $85,800 - $110,000 annually.
The full pay scale range for this position classification is $85,800 - $158,200 (salary grade 23).
How to Apply To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.
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Conviction History Background This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.
Equal Employment Opportunity The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.
For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, please see the University of California Discrimination, Harassment, and Affirmative Action in the Workplace policy.
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