BSS Research Administrator II

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)

7d•$79,040 - $98,800•Hybrid

About The Position

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is seeking a Budget Analyst II, with the business title of Research Administrator II, to join their Business Shared Services (BSS) team. This role will support the Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science (CPAESS) Program, focusing on the financial management of research proposals and awarded funds. The Research Administrator II will act as a trusted advisor to principal investigators, managing all stages of the award lifecycle, including proposal coordination, active award management, financial analysis for contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants, as well as expense monitoring, forecasting, reconciliation, and reporting. This position requires strong problem-solving and communication skills, collaboration with leadership, and ensuring compliance with federal and sponsor requirements. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of OMB Uniform Guidance, FAR, sponsor requirements, and generally accepted cost principles.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant academic discipline
5 years of experience administering federal funds (grants, awards, contracts, etc.) (or a Masters degree and three years of related experience)
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience which qualifies the individual to perform the duties as described.
Advanced skill in administering grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and task orders in strict compliance with federal and sponsor requirements.
Advanced proficiency in preparing project budgets and submitting proposal packages via federal and institutional platforms (e.g., Grants.gov, Research.gov, UCAR systems).
Advanced ability to perform multi-year budget development, financial analysis, cost control, burn-rate tracking, and key operational statistics.
Advanced skill in leveraging spreadsheet applications (Excel or Google Sheets) to perform complex financial analysis, model scenario data, and present executive status reports.
Intermediate working knowledge of federal award requirements (including OMB Uniform Guidance) as well as UCAR policies, guidelines, and procedures.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with a proven ability to translate complex financial data and rules into clear, accessible language for stakeholders.
Strong analytical skills, with the ability to locate key information sources, anticipate organizational issues before they arise, and implement effective solutions.
Proven ability to drive work independently with minimal oversight while collaborating effectively within a team environment.
Exceptional sensitivity and discretion when handling confidential financial, personnel, and institutional information.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience administering federal awards under OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
Experience managing NOAA contractual vehicles, grants, or cooperative agreements.

Responsibilities

Lead Proposal Administration: Manage end-to-end proposal development for research grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, ensuring seamless alignment with UCAR policies and federal sponsor guidelines.
Budget & Narrative Development: Partner directly with Principal Investigators (PIs) and project leads to build comprehensive, multi-year project budgets, cost proposals, and detailed budget narratives.
Portal & Submission Management: Coordinate data entry, document assembly, and formal proposal uploads across UCAR internal systems and federal sponsor portals (e.g., Research.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons).
Compliance & Risk Assessment: Perform thorough pre-submission compliance checks to verify cost allowability, cost-share requirements, indirect rate applications, and sponsor-specific restrictions.
Full Lifecycle Award Administration: Oversee active direct awards, contract vehicles, and subawards from initial budget distribution through award closeout.
Financial Monitoring & Forecasting: Conduct regular financial reviews, track burn rates, reconcile expenditures, perform cost transfers, and generate accurate rolling forecasts to prevent overruns.
Regulatory Compliance & Audit Readiness: Ensure strict adherence to federal regulations (OMB Uniform Guidance, FAR), sponsor terms, and organizational cost principles, serving as a primary point of contact for audit reviews.
Financial Reporting & Invoicing: Prepare and submit accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, sponsor billing packages, and closeout documentation in accordance with strict deadlines.
Award Modifications & Extensions: Draft and process formal requests for award amendments, budget reallocations, scope changes, and no-cost extensions in coordination with sponsors and UCAR management.
Financial Advisory & Translation: Serve as the designated financial Subject Matter Expert (SME) for PIs, program managers, and department leaders, translating complex regulations, expenditure allowability rules, and financial reports into clear and actionable guidance.
Federal Sponsor Liaison: Act as a responsive financial liaison between UCAR project teams and federal sponsor representatives (e.g., NOAA, NASA, NSF grant officers).
Reporting & Data Visualization: Develop recurring and ad-hoc financial dashboards, metric reports, and summary presentations to provide leadership with clear visibility into portfolio health.
Process Improvement & Tool Optimization: Leverage advanced spreadsheet modeling (PivotTables, macros, complex formulas) and ERP tools to streamline budgeting workflows and reduce reporting turnaround times.