Research Administration Manager
About The Position
This position provides strategic direction and operational oversight for post-award research administration across departments and units served by the CLAS Research Office. The manager will establish consistent workflows, internal controls, service expectations, and quality standards while monitoring portfolio activity and emerging financial or compliance risks. Responsibilities include overseeing award setup and account structures; financial monitoring and forecasting; payroll and effort; award modifications; subawards; sponsor reporting coordination; project closeout; and other post-award activities. The manager will also help resolve complex or escalated financial and administrative matters and provide direct portfolio support when needed during transitions, high-volume periods, or other critical situations. The role also involves serving as an advanced resource to faculty, research administrators, departments, and College leadership on post-award financial and compliance requirements, providing guidance on various complex post-award matters. The position will identify emerging risks, recommend corrective actions, support audits and compliance reviews, and help ensure that sponsored projects are administered in accordance with sponsor, institutional, state, and federal requirements. Additionally, the manager will supervise, coach, and mentor post-award research administration staff, assign and balance work, monitor service levels, provide technical guidance, support resolution of complex issues, and create opportunities for staff development and cross-training. The role includes leading structured onboarding and continuing education for post-award research administrators and fostering a culture of shared knowledge, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Building strong relationships with Principal Investigators, departmental staff, College leadership, and central administrative offices is key, as is facilitating recurring portfolio reviews, communicating financial and compliance matters clearly, anticipating upcoming needs, and helping faculty and administrators make informed decisions. The position serves as a key liaison among the CLAS Research Office, departments, DSP, Contracts & Grants, and other university partners. The Research Administration Manager will play an important role in developing the infrastructure needed to support the CLAS Research Office's goals, including developing and improving procedures, tools, templates, checklists, training materials, internal controls, performance measures, and other resources supporting post-award administration. The position will monitor changes in sponsor and federal requirements, identify recurring operational or compliance challenges, and work with Research Office leadership to develop practical and scalable solutions.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree and four years of experience in grant and contract administration; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Nice To Haves
- Significant experience in sponsored research administration, with strong knowledge of post-award financial management and compliance.
- Demonstrated leadership experience, including supervising, developing, training, or mentoring staff.
- Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to independently interpret complex requirements, identify risk, and develop practical solutions.
- Experience developing or improving processes, tools, resources, or service delivery.
- Demonstrated commitment to professionalism, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
- Experience working effectively with faculty, departmental staff, institutional leadership, and central administrative offices.
- Proficiency with research administration, financial, reporting, and productivity systems; experience with University of Florida systems and processes is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Oversee award setup and account structures
- Financial monitoring and forecasting
- Manage payroll and effort
- Handle award modifications
- Manage subawards
- Coordinate sponsor reporting
- Oversee project closeout
- Provide guidance on allowability, allocability, reasonableness, award restrictions, prior approvals, cost sharing, participant support, rebudgeting, effort, payroll, subawards, and award changes
- Identify emerging risks and recommend corrective actions
- Support audits and compliance reviews
- Ensure sponsored projects are administered in accordance with sponsor, institutional, state, and federal requirements
- Supervise, coach, and mentor post-award research administration staff
- Assign and balance work, monitor service levels, and provide technical guidance
- Support resolution of complex issues for staff
- Create opportunities for staff development and cross-training
- Lead structured onboarding and continuing education for post-award research administrators
- Develop a culture of shared knowledge, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Build strong relationships with Principal Investigators, departmental staff, College leadership, and central administrative offices
- Facilitate recurring portfolio reviews
- Communicate financial and compliance matters clearly
- Anticipate upcoming needs
- Develop and improve procedures, tools, templates, checklists, training materials, internal controls, performance measures, and other resources supporting post-award administration
- Monitor changes in sponsor and federal requirements
- Identify recurring operational or compliance challenges
- Work with Research Office leadership to develop practical and scalable solutions
Benefits
- Suite of excellent benefits
- Retirement options
- Paid leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
