Northwestern University · 4 days ago
Senior Research Administrator
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$79K/yr - $93K/yr
5+ years expNorthwestern University is seeking a Senior Research Administrator to provide administrative leadership in support of the unit's research programs. The role involves coordinating all aspects of multiple grant and contract activities, developing funding opportunities, and ensuring compliance with policies and regulations.
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Responsibilities
Typically administers multiple research projects such as:
Complex multi-PI or multi-unit proposals, grants &/or contracts
Research portfolio for a more complex small to mid-sized unit
NIH U-approximately $500K+/yr. over multiple yrs
NIH P-approximately $500K+/yr. over multiple yrs
NIH T-approximately $100-$200K+/yr. over multiple yrs
DOD and industry awards
Center or program grants
Proposals with cost sharing
Fixed-price contracts
Non-funded negotiations such as NDAs, user agreements
Manages pre-award administration of grants and &/or contracts
Coordinates proposal submission
Coordinates budget and justification preparation
Completes sponsor and university proposal forms
Coordinates IRB and IACUC protocols; sub-recipients, facilities, administrative costs, space, and co-investigator agreements
Creatively and proactively evaluates and resolves problems and makes decisions
Coordinates post-award activities
Monitors execution of all financial transactions in research portfolio
Forecasts & provides information for reports on financial status of projects
Manages day-to-day financial functions
Verifies that protocols are linked to CUFS chart strings; labor distribution assignments
Completes expenditure reviews
Reconciles monthly payroll entries
Verifies & processes cost share entries
Prepares & submits invoices to sponsors
Identifies program income issues
Proposes resolutions to overdrafts
Prepares interim & final financial reports
Facilitates account close out activities
Participates in efforts to improve research administration including serving on university committees related to research administration
Oversees unit's entire sponsored project portfolio
Reviews transactions and resolve issues that requires a more complex level of financial understanding such as cost-sharing &/or effort reporting knowledge
Provides information to senior management that is used for department budgeting purposes
Manages & integrates all departmental staff efforts for grant &/or contract administration
Provides research administration training
Develops staff
Mentors other administrative staff in research administration
Serves as the primary resource for research administration guidance
Ensures compliance with all appropriate NU policies & practices; local, state, federal, agency & sponsor rules, regulations & requirements regarding grant &/or contract administration
Recommends changes to improve programs, policy &/or practice
Resolves compliance problems & issues working in conjunction with faculty
Provides direct supervision to research support staff
Assigns & reviews staff work
Performs other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience
A minimum of 5 years' experience required with 2 years of research administration and 3 years of research, finance, administrative or other relevant experience
Organization, time management, detail oriented
Multi-tasking, communication
Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active, manage stress
Managing people
Provide leadership by cooperatively anticipating, coordinating, strategizing
Benefits
Health care plans
Retirement benefits
Tuition discounts
Comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities
Flexible work arrangements
Programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care
Employee career development
Company
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university that offers academic programs across various fields of study. It is a sub-organization of Northwestern Athletics.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Northwestern University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (325)
2024 (308)
2023 (280)
2022 (282)
2021 (184)
2020 (155)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$98.02MKey Investors
National Peanut BoardAdvanced Research Projects Agency for HealthGRAMMY Museum
2024-10-30Grant
2024-10-04Grant· $34M
2023-11-28Grant· $0.02M
Leadership Team
Diego Klabjan
Professor
Henry Bienen
Interim President
Recent News
2026-01-11
Digital Journal
2026-01-11
2026-01-09
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