Research Manager Jobs

About The Position

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.