Research Administration Manager

University of Wisconsin Madison•Madison, WI

About The Position

The School of Pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks an experienced research administration professional to provide comprehensive pre- and post-award support for faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders. The Research Administration Manager manages the sponsored funding and contract portfolios of 10–15 Principal Investigators across the grant lifecycle. The role serves as a primary point of contact for faculty, college research administration leadership, and campus partners, supporting proposal development, award setup and management, sponsor and institutional reporting requirements, and project closeout. The manager handles competing priorities and deadlines, exercises independent judgment on complex grants and contracts, and contributes leadership and expertise to the research administration team, school, and university community. The position is part of a team consisting of the Director/Assistant Dean for Research Administration, 2.5 Research Administration Managers, and a Post Award Accountant. The team works closely with the School of Pharmacy Business Office, Human Resources, and Payroll colleagues.

Requirements

At least three years of grants administration experience in an academic setting.
Experience applying fiscal and administrative rules, regulations, and procedures for administering sponsored projects.
Experience with pre- and post-award research administration, including grant proposal development and/or budget planning or management.
Successful experience working in a team environment.
Highly effective, professional verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work on multiple projects with tight deadlines, with strong attention to detail, organization, prioritization, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
Desire and ability to engage in ongoing process-improvement projects.
Proficiency with Excel, Outlook, Microsoft Office, and Google Drive.
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Research Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Responsible for ensuring continuous eligibility to work in the United States on or before the effective date of appointment.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with federal sponsors, including NIH, NSF, DOE, and DOD.
Experience with Workday ERP and UW RAMP.

Responsibilities

Provide training to faculty, staff, and/or administrators on sponsored-project policies, procedures, and execution.
May submit proposals, agreements, or invoices to sponsors on behalf of a principal investigator or project director.
Execute research administration operational policies and procedures, including financial, administrative, staffing, and compliance processes.
Review and approve programmatic transactions throughout the sponsored-project lifecycle to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor policies and procedures.
May supervise the day-to-day activities of research administration staff.
Serve as a resource to unit leadership and staff and as a liaison to partners and stakeholders.
Carry out proposal submission, contract negotiation, and/or award setup activities on behalf of the unit.
Perform activities related to financial compliance, audit, and reporting.
Manage sponsored funding and contract portfolios for 10–15 Principal Investigators across the grant lifecycle.
Support proposal development, award setup and management, sponsor and institutional reporting requirements, and closeout.
Manage competing priorities and deadlines, exercise independent judgment on complex grants and contracts, and contribute expertise and leadership to the research administration team.