Research Support Manager - Department of Surgery

University of Iowa • Iowa City, IA

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The Research Support Manager oversees the research mission for the Department of Surgery, including pre- and post-award grant activities and sponsor-funded and internally funded projects. The role manages research commitments supported by start-up, bridge, and incentive funding, and provides final review and approval of financial and human resources transactions on sponsored funds.

The position supervises departmental research personnel and supports faculty and research programs. Duties include coordinating mentorship meetings and research and finance journal clubs, supporting onboarding and compliance, overseeing payroll and time-off approvals, and working with the Vice Chairs for Education and Research to administer the clinical research residency program and future training grants. The manager assesses staffing and funding needs and participates in search committees.

The role develops and monitors financial plans, budgets, grant proposals, and reporting; supports grant submissions, transfers, closeouts, and audits; and advises department leaders on policies and processes. It also trains administrative and finance teams on relevant software and systems, maintains operations manuals, monitors research financial performance, and works with internal departments and external agencies. The position is a regular salaried role located on the University of Iowa main campus in Iowa City, Iowa, and is listed at 100% time, 40 hours per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, or a related area, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of three years of accounting experience.
• Minimum of three years of grants administration experience.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience managing complex information requiring attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team setting.
• Proficiency in computer software applications.
• Knowledge of finance and accounting practices, financial analysis, and reporting, and ability to apply this knowledge in varied situations.
• Knowledge of and ability to use processes, tools, and services for developing and managing grants and contracts.
• Knowledge of contractual, compliance, and legal matters related to grant expenditures from federal, state, and private funding agencies, and ability to evaluate, interpret, and improve grant contractual language.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with grant budget preparation and monitoring.
• Experience managing and supervising staff.
• Knowledge of University of Iowa Health Care practices, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge of NIH rules and regulations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to multitask, prioritize, and coordinate multiple duties.

Responsibilities

• Identify trends and determine priorities for the Department of Surgery.
• Develop and monitor financial plans, analyze multiyear data, and make recommendations for future budgeting and planning.
• Provide final departmental approval of financial and human resources transactions on sponsored funds.
• Hire, train, develop, supervise, and lead departmental research staff.
• Serve on the Department of Surgery administration finance team and Research Administration Team.
• Coordinate the Carver College of Medicine summer medical student program, including funding decisions, onboarding, and access setup.
• Ensure accountants monitor grant expenditures and compliance.
• Review and approve grant budgets and proposals.
• Advise departmental leaders on policies and systems to streamline the grant process.
• Develop plans for future grant submissions, including training grants.
• Serve as a liaison with internal departments and external agencies.
• Communicate with the Division of Sponsored Programs and Grant Accounting Office; assist with year-end reporting, grant closeout, and audit questions.
• Prepare and negotiate private-industry sponsored funding opportunities.
• Support the transfer of research funding from other institutions for new faculty.
• Train finance and administrative teams on Excel, UIRIS, Cayuse, Protrav, and other online systems.
• Create and maintain operations manuals for the administrative team and department laboratories.
• Review and monitor monthly and periodic financial reports.
• Create and monitor a research financial matrix report to measure sustainability and productivity.
• Review reports proactively and resolve financial discrepancies to minimize departmental risk.
• Meet regularly with faculty to review research milestones and budget issues.
• Oversee mentorship meetings for junior faculty and monthly or quarterly finance and research journal clubs.
• Support onboarding by requesting appropriate access to labs, shared files, and systems; approve payroll and time-off requests; oversee compliance; and process tuition payments as needed.
• Determine the need for additional research staff and availability of funding, and serve on search committees.
• Perform other duties or projects as assigned by the supervisor.
• Demonstrate respect for members of the University community and represent University and unit leadership interests in the use of resources.
• Promote continual process and quality improvement and pursue professional development relevant to the role and career development.

Benefits

• Paid vacation.
• Sick leave.
• Health insurance options.
• Dental insurance options.
• Life insurance options.
• Disability insurance options.
• Employer contributions to retirement plans.

What This Job Offers

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