Post Central Manager, Research Administration

Baylor University • Waco, TX

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

Baylor University is seeking a Post-Central Manager to provide active day-to-day management and operational accountability for Baylor's post-award research financial administration team. The Manager directly supervises the grant financial analysts, manages workload and performance, and ensures timely, accurate execution of core processes and quality controls. The Manager collaborates with the Team Lead on complex processes, technical guidance, workflow continuity, and escalation of operational issues. This position is eligible for hybrid work.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree and eight years of relevant work experience are required.
• All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• An experienced leader with strong knowledge of post-award financial administration and the ability to sustain and enhance efficient, effective operations.
• Active staff supervision, development, performance management, and accountability
• Strong knowledge of post-award sponsored-research financial administration
• Sound judgment in operational approvals, risk identification, and escalation
• Ability to balance competing priorities, meet performance expectations, and take ownership of outcomes and issue resolution
• Commitment to standardized procedures, quality control, measurable service, and continuous improvement
• Clear communication and collaborative leadership across faculty, research administration, finance, and systems partners

Nice To Haves

• A Master's degree and supervisory experience in a research administration position is preferred.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) and/or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credentials are desirable additional qualifications but are not required.
• A combination of education and experience will be considered in lieu of one another.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise the post-award grant financial analysts through regular one-on-one meetings, clear expectations, timely feedback, coaching, and documented follow-through
• Assign and rebalance portfolios and operational duties; monitor capacity, timeliness, quality, and completion against established service standards and key performance indicators
• Manage critical processes and develop staff through structured training, cross-training, mentoring, and progressively challenging assignments
• Manage the end-to-end IGNITE (Oracle Cloud PPM) invoicing process and expanded monthly close activities, ensuring timely completion, documentation, review, and resolution of exceptions
• Provide management review and approval for new awards and award modifications in CARA (Huron Research Suite) and IGNITE in accordance with delegated authority and established controls
• Manage and approve cost transfers and oversee deliverable tracking and completion, including timely escalation of overdue or unresolved items
• Monitor accounts receivable, advance accounts, project statuses, closeouts, and other portfolio risks; assign corrective action and verify completion
• Maintain a limited portfolio or other direct operational workload as assigned to preserve current process knowledge without displacing the Manager's primary supervisory responsibilities
• Maintain Post-Central standard operating procedures, control points, approval paths, documentation standards, and escalation requirements
• Perform and direct targeted quality-control reviews; identify recurring errors, determine root causes, assign remediation, and confirm that corrective actions are sustained
• Use operational metrics and exception reporting to evaluate timeliness, aging, accuracy, workload, and risk
• Support the business validation and adoption of AI-enabled quality-control tools for award setup, modifications, portfolio review, cost share, invoicing, closeout, and data-quality exceptions
• Contribute to discussions regarding system changes and integrations and communicate their operational and financial impacts to the Senior Director and Director of Research Administration Systems
• Ensure post-award activities comply with all applicable regulations, sponsor terms and conditions, and Baylor policies and procedures
• Maintain complete, accurate, and auditable sponsored-project records, including award documentation, approvals, reports, correspondence, and evidence of review
• Provide responsive and professional service to faculty, unit research administrators, OVPR colleagues, Baylor central offices, and sponsors
• Serve as an expert operational resource and participate in policy, procedure, training, and process-improvement initiatives affecting the post-award research enterprise
• Perform all other duties as assigned to support Baylor’s mission
• Ability to comply with university policies
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision insurance
• generous time off
• tuition remission
• outstanding automatic retirement contributions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager