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Inside Higher Ed · 1 day ago

Research Support Specialist – Grants & Finance (Remote Opportunity)

United States

Full-time

Remote

Senior Level

5+ years exp

Inside Higher Ed is a prominent institution affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university. The Research Support Specialist – Grants & Finance plays a critical role in supporting the financial and operational needs of large-scale research awards, providing expertise in research accounting, budgeting, and procurement.

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Responsibilities

Collaborates with Principal Investigators (PIs), research administrators, and support staff to prepare for the financial and administrative demands of newly awarded, large-scale research projects

Provides preemptive guidance on budgeting, financial planning, and procurement strategies to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor guidelines

Acts as a liaison between the VCRE office and campus stakeholders to facilitate efficient set-up and early-stage management of major awards

Develops forecasting tools and resource allocation plans to anticipate financial needs and potential challenges for large-scale research projects

Supports resolution of incidents and complex issues related to post-award financial management by providing guidance and problem-solving expertise

Performs in-depth analysis of financial, procurement, and compliance concerns related to ongoing research projects and implements corrective actions as needed

Coordinates with relevant college and department level staff, as well as individual PIs to ensure prompt resolution of issues and facilitate communication between stakeholders

Serves as a subject matter expert in research accounting, budgeting, and procurement, offering guidance to staff across the campus on best practices and institutional policies

Supports training initiatives and workshops for College-level post-award support staff to enhance campus-wide capabilities in research financial management

Provides recommendations to the AVCRSS for process improvements, policy updates, and tools that enhance post-award support effectiveness

Ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies in all areas of research accounting, budgeting, and procurement

Collaborates with internal auditors and compliance officers to review and refine procedures

Assists in preparing reports, data analyses, and presentations for senior leadership

Performs other duties as assigned

Qualification

Research accountingBudgetingProcurementFinancial managementCertified Research AdministratorAnalytical skillsCompliance expertiseFinancial software proficiencyCommunication skillsInterpersonal skillsProblem-solving skillsConfidentiality

Required

Bachelor's degree (preferably in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field)

Five (5) years of experience in research accounting, budgeting, procurement, or financial management within a higher education or research-intensive environment

Certified Research Administrator (CRA) certification (at hire or obtained within 18 months of hire)

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive mindset

Proven ability to manage complex financial and operational scenarios

Expertise in federal and state grant regulations, institutional policies, and compliance

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for collaboration with diverse stakeholders

Proficiency in financial software, accounting systems, and research management tools

Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion