The University Research Administration (URA) is seeking a Post Award Research Specialist to manage and oversee all financial and non-financial post-award activities for sponsored projects, ensuring compliance with university policies and sponsor terms and conditions, and to identify and remediate deviations from established account management expectations.
Requirements
- Proficiency in the use of University of Chicago systems such as Huron Research Suite, Oracle Cloud, and Workday.
- Strong computer skills including word processing, database management and spreadsheet skills (Microsoft Office suite and Adobe suite a must).
- Ability to develop proficiency and work with various sponsor/third-party electronic systems.
- Interpret sponsor guidelines and regulations to ensure accurate response.
- Incumbents are expected to review Sponsor guidelines and process or manage awards in compliance with university and sponsor policies and assist with other grants and contracts activities.
- Knowledge of the Uniform Guidance or interpretation of similar regulations strongly preferred.
- Participation interpreting sponsored research grants and contracts, and working with budgets, ledgers, invoices and fiscal reporting strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Distributes awards through AURA, establishing accounts in the financial system and updating records as necessary.
- Processes all concurrence requests (CRs) and continuations (CNs) in AURA; ensures cost share is properly established and reported.
- Directs preparation of, monitors and approves sponsor required fiscal and management reports. Prepares and/or reviews billing reports and requests invoices as appropriate. Completes/reviews and approves back-up documentation as necessary prior to submission of reports.
- Reviews and approves cost transfers.
- Partners with business units/departments to monitor post-award activities (grants management), such as submitting progress reports (RPPRs), requesting no-cost extensions, and obtaining sponsor approvals for major changes to project work scope or major changes to anticipated expenditures, etc.
- Manages all close-out activities for sponsored projects, coordinating efforts between the PI, department/unit, and Sponsor.
- Administers and/or coordinates project transfers and closeouts when a faculty member leaves the University.
Other
- Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
- Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
- Extensive prior experience working with sponsored research administration in an academic environment strongly preferred.
- Background and experience working with Federal National Laboratories a plus.
- Ability to maintain composure under pressure, work flexible hours as needed, and respond constructively to feedback.
