College Research Administration Manager

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks:Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us!

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

BASIC FUNCTION

Howard University seeks an experienced College Research Administration Manager to provide comprehensive pre- and post-award research administration support to assigned colleges and departments. The position serves as a primary research administration partner to faculty and college leadership, supporting sponsored projects throughout the lifecycle from proposal development and submission through award management and closeout.

The College Research Administration Manager works closely with Principal Investigators (PIs) to translate research plans into compliant and operationally sound proposals and awards; monitors the financial and administrative health of sponsored projects; identifies issues requiring action; and coordinates with the Office of Research and other University offices to facilitate timely resolution.

The position requires broad knowledge of research administration, strong financial and analytical skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple sponsored projects and priorities in a complex academic environment.

NATURE AND SCOPE

The College Research Administration Manager serves as the primary point of contact for pre- and post-award research administration support for assigned departments and colleges. The position has a primary reporting line to the Office of Research for strategic oversight, training, professional standards, and compliance, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to designated college research leadership for alignment with college priorities.

The position serves as a bridge between faculty, college administration, and central University offices. The incumbent is responsible for understanding the administrative and financial status of the assigned sponsored-project portfolio, identifying actions needed to support successful project execution, and coordinating those actions through appropriate University processes.

The position does not hold institutional signature or sponsor submission authority and does not independently approve financial transactions or corrections requiring separate institutional approval.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Pre-Award Research Administration

· Advise and assist PIs with proposal development, including interpretation of funding opportunities, sponsor requirements, eligibility, deadlines, required documentation, and institutional requirements.

· Develop and review proposal budgets and budget justifications, including salary and effort, fringe benefits, facilities and administrative (F&A) costs, participant support, subrecipient costs, cost sharing, and other project expenses.

· Coordinate proposal components, institutional approvals, compliance requirements, and subrecipient documentation and ensure proposals are complete and accurate before routing to the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO).

· Serve as the primary college-level liaison for proposal development and routing, coordinating with SPO, Research Development, Research Compliance, and other University offices as needed.

2. Award Activation and Ongoing Administration

· Review Notices of Award and sponsor terms and conditions and communicate key financial, administrative, reporting, and compliance requirements to PIs and college stakeholders.

· Support the transition from proposal to award by reviewing awarded budgets, periods of performance, cost-sharing commitments, personnel plans, restrictions, and other key terms and coordinating necessary award setup actions with appropriate University offices.

· Coordinate administrative actions throughout the award lifecycle, including amendments, prior approvals, no-cost extensions, progress reporting, subrecipient actions, and other sponsor or institutional requirements.

· Maintain accurate award records, deadlines, outstanding actions, and supporting documentation for assigned projects.

3. Financial Stewardship and Award Monitoring

· Monitor sponsored-project budgets, expenditures, payroll, commitments, and available balances to assess financial health and alignment with the approved budget and period of performance.

· Prepare and communicate financial reports, projections, and other analyses to PIs and college leadership and identify potential over- or under-spending, questionable or potentially unallowable costs, expiring balances, and other financial risks.

· Review payroll charging and costing allocations for sponsored personnel and identify missing, expired, or potentially incorrect allocations.

· Identify financial discrepancies requiring correction and work with PIs and appropriate college and University offices to determine and document appropriate corrective action.

· Initiate, facilitate, or coordinate payroll accounting adjustments (PAAs), cost transfers, costing-allocation changes, and other financial actions through established University processes, consistent with assigned system access and institutional responsibilities.

· Track identified financial issues and corrective actions through resolution and confirm that the sponsored project accurately reflects appropriate and supportable charges.

4. Compliance and Financial Judgment

· Apply University policy, sponsor requirements, and applicable federal regulations, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), in the administration of sponsored projects.

· Evaluate expenditures and proposed actions for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, consistency, appropriate documentation, and alignment with sponsor and award requirements.

· Identify circumstances requiring prior approval, additional documentation, or review by SPO, Finance, Research Compliance, or another responsible University office.

· Escalate complex, unusual, or higher-risk matters when additional technical expertise or institutional review is required.

5. Closeout and Portfolio Management

· Monitor approaching award end dates and work proactively with PIs and appropriate University offices to address remaining expenditures, payroll, commitments, subrecipient activity, deliverables, and outstanding administrative actions.

· Support timely award closeout by coordinating final financial and administrative review and resolving outstanding items within the CRA's area of responsibility.

· Maintain visibility into unresolved actions, responsible parties, deadlines, and next steps across the assigned portfolio and follow issues through resolution.

· Coordinate with SPO and other central offices on final sponsor reporting and other institutionally retained closeout responsibilities.

6. Faculty Support, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement

· Serve as a trusted research administration resource to PIs, department administrators, and college leadership, translating complex sponsor and University requirements into clear, actionable guidance.

· Work collaboratively with SPO, Research Development, Research Compliance, Finance, Human Resources, Payroll, Procurement, and other University offices to facilitate effective sponsored-project administration.

· Participate in training and professional development and maintain current knowledge of sponsor requirements, University systems, policies, and research administration practices.

· Identify recurring administrative barriers, financial risks, and process gaps and contribute to improvements in tools, workflows, guidance, and training across the College Research Administration (CRA) program.

· Perform other related duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Research Administration: Working knowledge of the sponsored-project lifecycle and the respective responsibilities of PIs, departmental and college research administration, and central University offices.

Proposal and Budget Development: Ability to interpret sponsor requirements and develop accurate, compliant proposal budgets and supporting documentation.

Financial Stewardship: Ability to interpret sponsored-project financial activity, analyze expenditures, monitor payroll and costing, prepare financial projections, identify discrepancies, and facilitate appropriate corrective action.

Regulatory Knowledge and Judgment: Working knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), sponsor requirements, cost principles, and institutional policies, with sound judgment regarding when additional review or approval is required.

Systems and Analysis: Proficiency with research administration and financial systems and Excel; ability to retrieve, organize, analyze, reconcile, and communicate financial and award information.

Service and Communication: Ability to communicate complex administrative, financial, and sponsor requirements clearly to faculty and other stakeholders and provide responsive, solutions-oriented support.

Organization and Accountability: Ability to manage competing priorities, multiple awards, and time-sensitive deadlines while maintaining accurate records and following identified issues through resolution.

Collaboration: Ability to work effectively across colleges and central University offices and to distinguish matters within the CRA's responsibility from those requiring action or approval by another institutional function.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

· Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, accounting, public administration, the sciences, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience will be considered.

· Five or more years of progressively responsible research administration or sponsored-project management experience, preferably in a university or academic research environment.

· Demonstrated experience supporting sponsored projects across multiple stages of the award lifecycle, including proposal development and budgeting and post-award financial management.

· Working knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and sponsor requirements applicable to sponsored-project administration.

· Demonstrated experience reviewing and analyzing sponsored-project financial activity, including budgets, expenditures, payroll or personnel costs, and financial reconciliations.

· Experience identifying financial discrepancies and supporting or coordinating appropriate corrective actions, such as cost transfers, payroll corrections, or changes to prospective salary allocations.

· Proficiency with financial and/or electronic research administration systems and Excel.

· Strong analytical, organizational, written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer-service skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Hands-on experience with Workday Grants/Financial Management and Cayuse SP, or comparable enterprise financial and electronic research administration systems.

· Experience supporting both federal and nonfederal sponsored projects.

· Experience working in a college, school, department, or other decentralized academic research administration environment.

· Certification in research administration (CRA, CPRA, CFRA, or equivalent).

Hybrid flexible preferred.

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

Expected Pay Range: $90,909 - $100,000