Finance and Research Administrator - Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Employer
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Location
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Salary
- Competitive Salary
- Date posted
- Sep 12, 2024
View more categoriesView less categories
- Position Type
- Administrative, Academic Affairs, Research Administration, Business & Administrative Affairs, Financial Affairs, Grants & Contracts
- Employment Type
- Full Time
Job Details
Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that stands among the world’s most renowned education institutions. With ground-breaking brain science, path-breaking performances, creative start-ups, big data, big ambitions, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we invent it. If you’re passionate about joining a community that challenges the curious to deliver work that matters, your journey starts here!
In Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Mechanical Engineering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and complex problem-solving are the pillars of what we do. Our faculty, researchers, and students are revolutionizing focus areas in advanced manufacturing, bioengineering, computational engineering, energy and the environment, product design, and robotics. In addition, they are using their expertise in interdisciplinary- research centers across the university.
The Mechanical Engineering Department is seeking a motivated and Finance and Research Administrator to join our staff team. This role will provide administrative and financial support for grant, contract, or sponsored research administration under the supervision of the Research and Financial Manager. This is an excellent opportunity if you thrive in an interesting and challenging work environment. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work as part of a team. The Finance and Research Administrator role is essential to effective and efficient support within the department and university on critical functions related to research administration.
Core Responsibilities:
Post-Award
- Working closely with Research and Financial manager to assist with post award reporting and other financial transactions.
- Assisting with researching faculty inquiries
- Supporting post-award activities including the processing of modifications and no cost extensions
- Managing award setup for assigned faculty.
- Planning closure or extensions of expiring grants and sends close out notices 90/60/30 days before award end date.
- Preparing awards for closeout, researching issues, and prepares for Manager to review.
- Advising PIs on fiscal policies and procedures as they pertain to the management of research funds.
- Interpreting complex award documents and sponsor terms and conditions
- Acting a liaison for CIT Engineering Research Accelerator, Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), Sponsored Project Accounting SPA, and other related teams for assigned faculty.
- Copying and formatting monthly reporting of accounts to assigned faculty.
- Meeting and reviewing award budget and award funding status with PIs.
- Tracking PI effort commitments for assigned faculty.
- Supporting the personnel planning process
- Monitoring the shared research inbox
- Other post-award duties as requested.
- Managing a sponsored award portfolio for 15-18 assigned faculty.
- Reviewing faculty accounts (both sponsored and internally funded) and distributing monthly reports to faculty.
- Forecasting faculty accounts and notifying appropriate parties of allocation changes (scheduling and transfers)
- Reviewing task funding
- Tracking cost share and preparing reconciliation transactions
- Working closely with Sponsored Projects Accounting (SPA)
- Tracking subaward invoicing and spending
- Maintaining templates and distributing to faculty.
- Staying current in sponsor rules and regulations.
- Attending departmental and university wide meetings, as well as training sessions to learn new programs, policies, and processes.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree required.
- 1-3 years of experience in sponsored research administration or accounting experience
- Familiarity with Federal sponsors like NIH, NSF, DOE (including ARPA-E), DOD, as well as nonfederal sponsors in industry and foundations strongly preferred.
- Experience with using Power BI and Excel (creating pivot tables, vlookup/xlookup, and using macros)
- Ability to condense complex information and communicate effectively and clearly to different stakeholders.
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently.
- Ability to meet deadlines, work under pressure and with frequent interruptions.
- Ability to pay close attention to detail; keep and maintain accurate and detailed reports and records.
- Ability to work with sensitive information, maintain confidentiality and use discretion.
- CRA preferred.
- Successful background check
- This position is a mostly remote with minimal expectations of in-person/on-campus time for monthly staff meetings and other departmental events throughout the year.
Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits available to eligible employees.
Those employees who are benefits eligible have the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of advantages from comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance to an enticing retirement savings program offering a generous employer contribution. You can also unlock your potential with tuition benefits and take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays . Finally, rest easy knowing you are covered by life and accidental death and disability insurance.
Other perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access , and so much more!
For a comprehensive overview of the benefits that may be awaiting you, explore our Benefits page .
At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond just credentials, we consider the role and responsibilities, your invaluable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We acknowledge and appreciate your unique skills and the diverse perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.
Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Job Function
Research Administration
Position Type
Staff – Regular
Full Time/Part time
Full time
Pay Basis
Salary
More Information:
- Please visit “ Why Carnegie
Mellon ” to learn more about becoming part of an
institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
- Click here to view
a listing of employee benefits
- Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity
Employer/Disability/Veteran .
-
Statement of Assurance
Company
Carnegie Mellon University challenges the curious and passionate to imagine and deliver work that matters.
A private, global research university, Carnegie Mellon stands among the world's most renowned educational institutions, and sets its own course.
Carnegie Mellon was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie under the premise that a school established to foster and develop the technical skills of its students would soon produce students and graduates whose work would astound Pittsburgh and the world. Over 120 years later, our institution continues to produce talented alumni and draws faculty and staff eager to be a part of the university's creative, passionate and close-knit community. We place emphasis on practical problem solving, interdisciplinary learning, an entrepreneurial spirit, and collaboration.
Over the past 10 years, more than 400 startups linked to CMU have raised more than $7 billion in follow-on funding. Those investment numbers are especially high because of the sheer size of Pittsburgh’s growing autonomous vehicles cluster – including Uber, Aurora, Waymo and Motional – all of which are here because of their strong ties to CMU.
With cutting-edge brain science, path-breaking performances, innovative startups, driverless cars, big data, big ambitions, Nobel and Turing prizes, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn't imagine the future, we create it.
Pittsburgh is home to over 86,000 students from 10 colleges and universities. Pittsburgh was ranked as one of the top U.S. cities for millennials.
Some 177,000 people work in Pittsburgh's tech-related industries, and their ranks continue to grow as the city tops lists for jobs. Networking opportunities, small business accelerators, and an innovative community make the city appealing to entrepreneurs, especially recent graduates.
Pittsburgh is emerging as a tech and culture hub that The Washington Post praises for its "world-class art museums and colorful neighborhoods."
Robotics and software engineering lead the way. The city is home to Google, Uber and Apple offices and a budding ecosystem of tech startups including Duolingo, Modcloth and 4Moms, all of which have CMU roots.
Many seek Pittsburgh for being a hot spot for entrepreneurship and a model for future cities. Others come for the city's burgeoning food scene.
You’ll find CMU locations nationwide — and worldwide. Silicon Valley. Qatar. Africa. Washington, D.C. To name a few.
If your heart is in your work, come work with us.
Carnegie Mellon University isn't just one of the world’s most renowned educational institutions — it’s also a hotspot for some of the most talented doers, dreamers and difference-makers on the planet. When you join our staff, you’ll become an important part of our mission to create a healthier, safer and more just life for all. No matter what your role or location, you’ll connect and collaborate with dedicated, passionate colleagues — and you’ll have the satisfaction of delivering work that truly matters.
Carnegie Mellon University offers a wide range of competitive employee benefits to help you live well. Benefit eligibility varies based on the hours per week employees are scheduled to work and the employee's geographic location
We seek to cultivate diverse populations and perspectives and promote equity and inclusion. Our devotion to these ideals springs from a core belief in the power of education to be a transformative and enriching force for every person, irrespective of their background, identity or life circumstances.
Inclusion and belonging are intricately interwoven into the very essence of our university, helping to shape our values, policies and practices. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are not only central to our ethos but also indispensable to our pursuit of academic excellence and innovation.
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