Research and Finance Administrator

Special Instruction to Applicants: Please attach a cover letter and a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application.

Position Summary

The Research and Finance Administrator supports the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department with all aspects of post-award research accounting, grant and fund management, analysis, and reporting. This person serves as the liaison between departmental Faculty and Research Accounting. In addition to research grants, accounts to be managed for department faculty include faculty funds, University funds, and gift funds. This position prepares various financial reports and projections for departmental faculty. This person meets with said parties monthly to present those reports/projections and their analysis. The incumbent must be cognizant of the requirements in each fund/grant/contract administered.

This position is hiring at a starting salary of $53,440 to $70,830 per year.

The George R. Brown School of Engineering ranks among the top 20 of undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff and students in an inclusive environment

We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought; and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Essential Functions

• Prepares, oversees, tracks, and reports on complex proposals, submission process, and status
• Provides PI guidance on requirements of the IRB, IACUC, COI, IBC, and researches related regulations including proposal submission and award set-up
• Serves as a liaison with OSR, RCA, IRB, IACUC, OTT, internal audit, funding agencies and organizations, subcontractors, institutes, centers and other departments
• Coordinates with faculty to ensure all charges are allocated properly
• Interprets award documents and advises PI on award spending, over- / under-spending
• Establishes procedures at the unit level related to post-award administration
• Prepares, finalizes and monitors project budgets and projections in accordance to research guidelines
• Prepares, reviews and submits required reports, including progress and routine financial reports
• Coordinates and reviews account setup, account close out activities, and close out analysis
• Reviews, tracks, monitors and approves expenditures, including high-value / high-risk expenditures and cost-sharing commitments
• Identifies the need for and requests no-cost extensions
• Responds to Accounting audit inquiries
• Monitors and oversees compliance in general and related to funds and revenue
• Manages effort commitments of key project personnel
• Manages and supervises staff workflow, professional development including post award activities
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions / Information

• Has frequent contact with division staff and other university offices
• Assist Rice Global Forum with some additional research administration
• Hybrid work schedule

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Five years of related experience in finance or research grant administration
• Skills Required
• • High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite specifically Excel and database software programs
  • Extensive knowledge of research administration guidelines, policies and regulations
  • Excellent leadership and organizational skills and detailed oriented
  • Excellent analysis, critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Substitutions

• In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Oracle-based or similar ERP systems
• Rice and/or other higher education experience
• Experience with procedure development and innovation

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Current Rice University COVID policies, which include vaccination, face mask, testing, gatherings, occupancy limits, and travel policies can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies