Research Administration Assistant

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Pre-Award Research Operations (PRO) team in the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) provides centralized pre-award grant proposal preparation and support for Principal Investigators (PIs) across a variety of colleges and academic departments at Cornell University. The PRO team is charged with coordinating the creation, submission, and tracking of grant proposals to federal and state agencies, foundations, and corporate and other private sponsors. The team’s overall goals are to provide consistent, high-quality support and excellent customer service while standardizing procedures and expectations for pre-award grant proposal activity. We have an immediate opening for a Research Administration Assistant to join our team. This is a great opportunity to begin a career in research administration and make a vital contribution to Cornell's research mission.

Requirements

Demonstrated attention to detail
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Exceptional customer service
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a part of a team in a professional office environment, working on and advancing multiple projects simultaneously
High proficiency with Excel, Adobe Acrobat, MSWord, and Outlook
Ability to handle confidential information and materials appropriately
Flexibility and adaptability working and contributing in an environment where change in process/procedures is the norm while maintaining a positive and productive demeanor
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members
Demonstrated competence in current office methods and procedures (including electronic filing techniques, telephone etiquette, and professional writing/email communication)
Familiarity with database management and/or financial management tools
Associate’s degree with 2–4 years of financial or administrative experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree
Additional experience in research administration or working with financial data
Familiarity with Cornell University or another higher education environment
Experience interpreting instructions and compliance requirements and applying that knowledge to particular situations, especially with grant proposals or in a research environment
Experience with grant submission systems (e.g., Grants.gov Workspace, NSF Research.gov, and NIH ASSIST)

Responsibilities

Managing proposal intake
Creating and maintaining proposal records
Overseeing the accuracy of data in proposals
Assessing team workloads to inform the equitable and strategic assignment of proposals across the team
Communicating with Principal Investigators to clarify proposal requirements
Ensuring Grant Coordinators and Pre-Award Specialists receive complete and accurate information to initiate proposal development tasks

Benefits

Comprehensive health care options
Generous retirement contributions
Access to wellness programs
Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
Health and personal leave
Three weeks of vacation
13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1
Two additional floating holidays
Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
Tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program