Job Description

Research Administrator

The Department of Bioengineering seeks an experienced Research Administrator to provide comprehensive post-award support for a large and complex portfolio of grants, contracts, and special projects. This position will work directly with faculty to manage award compliance, budgets, reconciliations, projections, and financial reporting, drawing on advanced financial expertise to ensure accuracy, accountability, and strong stewardship of research funds. The Research Administrator will serve as a key advisor and liaison among faculty, central administration, and external sponsors on complex, multi-investigator, or center-level awards. In this critical role, the administrator will help strengthen Bioengineering's research infrastructure while collaborating closely with the Executive Department Business Administrator and Finance and Business Manager to advance the department's strategic and operational goals.

Workplace Requirements: The position entails work on Rice University's campus, with the potential for some remote work/flexible work arrangements. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $64,000 - $69,900

Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree
• In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• Two or more (2+) years of experience in research administration, financial reporting, or financial analysis, including at least 1 year focused specifically on post-award administration

Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of post-award research administration, including budget management, financial reporting, reconciliations, forecasting, compliance monitoring, and close-outs.
• Strong working knowledge of federal regulations and sponsor requirements (e.g., Uniform Guidance, NIH, NSF, DOD/DARPA, DOE/ARPA-H, CPRIT).
• Proficiency with Oracle-based ERP systems (or similar business platforms), Excel, and financial reporting tools; comfort using virtual collaboration platforms such as Zoom.
• Ability to interpret and present complex financial data clearly to faculty, administrators, and external sponsors.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Advanced professional communication skills, with the ability to advise faculty, collaborate across departments, and liaise with external funders.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills, with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to financial and administrative challenges.
• Capacity to develop and improve processes to increase efficiency and strengthen internal controls.

Preferences:

• Experience managing STEM-related research grants and faculty funding, with familiarity in the financial reporting needs of Engineering disciplines.
• Prior experience with Rice University systems and processes (or comparable higher education research administration systems).
• Experience managing grants and contracts with major federal/state agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, DOD/DARPA, DOE/ARPA-H, CPRIT).
• Familiarity with pre-award processes to provide occasional support as needed.

Essential Functions:

• Manage post-award administration for a large and complex portfolio of grants, contracts, and special projects, ensuring compliance with university policies and sponsor requirements.
• Perform advanced financial functions, including reconciliations, forecasting, variance analyses, compliance monitoring, and financial reporting.
• Advise and partner with faculty on financial stewardship of awards, allowable costs, effort reporting, and sponsor compliance.
• Serve as a key liaison among faculty, central administration, and external sponsors on complex, multi-investigator, or center-level awards, providing accurate and timely guidance on financial and administrative matters.
• Ensure subawards, cost-sharing commitments, and project budgets align with institutional and sponsor guidelines, and resolve discrepancies proactively.
• Develop, refine, and implement departmental processes to improve efficiency, strengthen internal controls, and support long-term research administration infrastructure.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental and school-wide financial and research administration operations.

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