How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your areas of interest, experience, and qualifications for the position described.
Job Summary
The Survey Research Center (SRC) at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) is an international leader in interdisciplinary social science research involving the collection and analysis of data, especially data from scientific sample surveys. SRC conducts some of the most widely cited and influential studies in the world. To maintain this status, we rely on the dedication and talents of our outstanding staff who provide complex support for our research grants and projects.
The Survey Methodology Program (SMP) is a research program within the Survey Research Center (SRC) at the Institute for Social Research (ISR). Since its inception in 1946, SRC has been an important source of innovation in survey research methodology. The Center is recognized for its contributions to the development of new survey methods and for its contributions to a fundamental understanding of the survey process. SMP was established in 1992 with the explicit aim of creating a multidisciplinary team to focus on research in survey methodology and is also home to our educational program the Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science. SMP seeks to hire a Research Administrator Senior to support the administration of sponsored research (with a focus on post award), and budgetary issues related to the educational activities of the SMP primary research staff (PRS) with direct reporting to the SMP Program Administrator.
What You'll Do
Pre-Award Activities:
Preparing, communicating, and tracking proposal timelines and required documents with project teams and coordinating overall organization of submissions
Meeting with faculty and stakeholders to determine overall proposal needs
Interpreting overall sponsor guidelines for varying sponsors and conveying necessary specifications to faculty
Preparing and developing proposal budgets and first stage budget justifications
Preparing/reviewing/finalizing typically required proposal documents (facilities, biosketches, subaward packages, etc)
Routing proposals through eResearch proposal management system at the University of Michigan ensuring timely submissions
Preparing Just in Time documentation and other sponsor requests.
Assist with creation and management of professional services agreements, consulting agreements, unfunded agreements, data use agreements
Maintain sponsor-specific biosketches, Other Support and Current & Pending documents
Post-Award Activities and Financial Management:
Reconcile assigned accounts (sponsored, discretionary) on a monthly basis for accuracy and allowability and to ensure compliance with SRC, U-M, and sponsor guidelines; investigate and resolve issues
Utilize financial knowledge and experience in budget development, forecasting, analyses, reporting, and conveyance of recommendations to PIs, research teams, and colleagues
Initiate and process subcontracts, including drafting sole source justifications, and oversee invoice payments
Process post award changes including time extensions, Uniform Guidance (UG) approvals, carry forward requests, and sponsor reporting requests
Assist with preparing monthly faculty effort spreadsheets to track and project commitments and teaching obligations across time.
Monitor personnel assignments on each project. Regularly review and update personnel funding reports to avoid retroactive changes.
Interpret regulations and guidelines to ensure compliance with sponsor, SRC, ISR, and university guidelines
Ensure timely completion of annual sponsor reports (e.g. RPPR) and assist with the completion of and review of reports prior to submission. Provide assistance in drafting the administrative pieces of sponsor interim and final reports.
Monitor financial activity and maintain management reports for the Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science.
Other post-award responsibilities including, but not limited to: set-up new sponsored projects, request sub-accounts, prepare and submit various award change requests, complete uniform guidance annual reports, complete budget allocations, and complete the closeout of sponsored projects.
Administration:
Prepare PRS expense reports via Concur, and make travel arrangements.
Approve bi-weekly and monthly time sheets.
Assist with other program duties as assigned.
Compliance:
Assist with drafting administrative pieces for Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications for human subjects studies.
Attend SRC and ISR research administration meetings and training to remain current on issues affecting proposal preparation, changes in UM policy and procedures, and to stay current on financial and administrative reporting; represent the program on committees and in meetings to other administrators.
The above statements are intended to describe the broad framework of responsibilities rather than an exhaustive list of duties. Interested applicants will be matched to specific opportunities based on expressed areas of interest and qualifications.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and any eligible family members and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
Generous time off
A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting upon meeting eligibility requirements
Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
Life insurance
Long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Learn more about U-M benefits.
Required Qualifications*
We'd like to hear from you if you have: Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated excellence in sponsored research administration. Professionalism, strong work ethic, demonstrated sense of responsibility, discretion and reliability. Demonstrated ability to take initiative, solve problems, adapt to changes quickly, make independent judgements and follow-up/follow through Demonstrated ability to work effectively independently as well as build collaborative relationships as a member of a team. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Timely and consistent communication and follow-through. Extensive knowledge of federal funding guidelines (UG) and academic policies and procedures related to sponsored research. Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Google suites (Gmail, Calendar, and Drive), Adobe Acrobat, and communication applications such as Zoom. Strong organizational skills that include attention to detail, the ability to assess competing priorities and to multitask, and the ability to achieve results on time. We are especially interested if you also have: Working knowledge of U-M policies, rules, regulations, procurement and purchasing. Demonstrated experience with university business tools such as eResearch, M-Pathways, Business Objects, and other U-M administrative systems. Administrative support experience in a U-M department or program. Familiarity with NIH guidelines, policies, and funding mechanisms University of Michigan Navigate Training We offer flexibility for hybrid work within our overall Center guidelines. Flexible work guidelines for this position is 100% in-office for the training period. After completing the training period, the guidelines are 60% onsite, 3 days in the office and 40% remote, 2 days. Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes. The statements included in this description are intended to reflect the general nature and level of work assigned to this classification and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning. For more about ISR?s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, please click here. Institute for Social Research job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Initial interviews will be held remotely with in-person interviews planned for finalists. Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled. The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.Desired Qualifications*
Work Locations
Modes of Work
Additional Information
Background Screening
Decision Making Process
U-M EEO/AA Statement