Northwestern University · 1 day ago
Research Administrator
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Entry, Mid Level
$70K/yr - $98K/yr
2+ years expNorthwestern University is seeking a Research Administrator to provide administrative leadership and problem solving in support of the Cancer Center's research programs. The role involves managing pre- and post-award research administration, ensuring compliance with regulations, and overseeing the unit's sponsored project portfolio.
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Responsibilities
Provides administrative leadership and intermediate problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission
May provide sole support to a small to mid-sized unit, or support a portion of activities in a larger unit
May provide lifecycle pre- and post-award research administration ensuring the fulfillment of all grant and/or contract and compliance requirements
Manages overall day-to-day research administration activities and may research and identify funding opportunities and faculty and/or PIs with associated research competencies and interests
Ensures that all activities are completed in compliance with associated local, state, federal and institutional rules and regulations
Typically administers multiple research projects such as multi-PI or multi-unit proposals, grants and/or contracts
Manages pre-award administration of grants and/or contracts
Reviews solicitation and proactively resolves any issues/questions within the solicitation with OSR and/or sponsor
Establishes procedures at the small to mid-sized unit level related to pre-award administration
Coordinates large-scale proposals, teaming/collaboration agreements, confidentiality agreements, intellectual property agreements or user agreements
Manage representation of sub-recipients, cost sharing and administrative costs on a proposal
Coordinates the retrieval of IRB and IACUC protocols
Prepares and/or reviews complete budget
Assesses the need for the redistribution of project F&A among multiple redistributed chartstrings
Completes post-award administration of research grants and/or contracts
Reviews account establishment
Manages effort commitments of key project personnel
Approves high-value/high-risk expenditures
Interprets awards documents
Reviews and reports expenditures
Verifies processing of cost share transactions
Develops and reviews expense status with PIs
Provides data needed for interim and final financial and technical progress reports
Facilitates account close out activities, coordinating with ASRSP as needed
Serves as liaison between department and SR, ASRSP, ACUC, IRB, internal audit, funding and regulatory agencies, subcontractors, collaborators, institutes, centers, and other stakeholders as needed
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 and/or effort reporting knowledge
Provides information to senior management that is used for department budgeting purposes
Ensures compliance with all appropriate NU policies and practices; local, state, federal, agency and sponsor rules, regulations and requirements regarding grant and/or contract administration
Recommends changes to improve programs, policy and/or practice
Resolves compliance problems and issues working in conjunction with faculty
Resolves compliance problems and issues involving research safety, animal subjects and human subjects
Alerts supervisor to potential higher risk compliance issues
Performs other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
A bachelor's degree or 5 years financial or administrative support experience
2 years in research administration or 3 years performing fundamental research or clinical trials
Organization, time management, detail oriented, multi tasking
Effective communication, customer focused orientation
Self-starter, diplomatic, pro-active
Preferred
Knowledge of NIH rules and regulations, including the NIH grants policy statement
Knowledge of the OMB uniform guidance
Experience with Northwestern University systems, policies, and procedures
Benefits
Meaningful, competitive, high-quality 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
2026-01-25
Digital Journal
2026-01-23
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