Position Summary:

The Senior Research Administrative Services Specialist in the ASG department plays a lead role in planning, coordinating, and overseeing complex research administrative activities. Working with a high degree of independence, the specialist ensures compliance with government and private sponsor requirements, develops and implements effective administrative procedures, and interprets evolving policies and regulations. The role also includes mentoring and training junior staff in best practices, strengthening operational excellence and regulatory compliance across the research enterprise.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Independently assists Principal Investigator with complex pre and/or post award administration and coordinating.
• Independently reviews grants and contract proposals packets and awards for special conditions/restrictions and follows established controls as needed to ensure full compliance. Produce reports for reporting requirements, Just in Time( JIT) needs, and regulatory award needs.
• Regularly handles confidential information and sensitive issues. May manage faculty and staff files, as well as weekly time reports, vacations, sick leaves, and time and effort reports. May approve all department/division expenditures. May review and obtain necessary approvals for all personnel action forms regarding appointments, promotions, separations, salary actions, fund source changes, and other types of personnel action. Ensures actions are processed accurately and in a timely manner in the human resources and financial management systems.
• Provides assistance to Principal Investigators and their staff in reviewing and approving expenditures to ensure allowability and allocability available to them by counseling and/or disseminating information and guidelines of the various granting agencies.
• Distributes to Principal Investigators pertinent information relating to contractual provisions and obligations.
• Addresses needs to adjust budgets dependent upon contract requirements.
• Oversees activities in establishing grant protocol with institutions that may be involved in similar activities as named by the grant. Proposes and implements protocol adjustments to address funding mechanism needs.
• Oversees the development of progress plans with professional organizations relative to the objective and purpose of grant funding for a particular area of research or training.
• Compiles and verifies financial and personnel reports for grants and contracts at the departmental or school level.
• Negotiate with agency regarding renewal of contract/subcontract.
• Oversees proper close-out of grants and contracts, including final financial reports to grant agency.
• Oversees and maintains inventory of assets procured under contract and grant accounts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Effective communication and negotiation skills.
• Database and spreadsheet skills.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) by Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) preferred

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree required May substitute required education with equivalent years of experience beyond the minimum experience requirement.

Minimum Experience:

3 years of experience required in administration required

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.