Post-Award Research Administrator – Office of the Dean

Overview

The George Mason University Office of the Dean, within the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), invites applications for multiple Post-Award Research Administrators. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the CEC Office:

The Research Administration team, within the CEC Office of the Dean, supports faculty with the financial management and compliance of their research grants and contracts in an efficient manner along with a customer-service focus. The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) has had a rapid growth of research over the past five years with expenditures totaling over $62M in 2021, as well as 398 proposal submissions and 232 awards received in 2021.

Responsibilities:

The primary responsibilities of this position are to work with CEC faculty in the post-award administration of their grants and contracts which includes: regular review, reconciling and projecting award finances, preparing adjustments and corrections to award accounts and budgets, preparing financial reports, hiring faculty and student personnel on research grants and contracts, verifying that the effort is correct and allowable within sponsor and University guidelines, and at the end of the award, ensuring that all financial requirements have been met for closeout of the award, interacting regularly and providing high-quality customer service to faculty members conducting sponsored research, and ensuring adherence to quality standards and all policies and award regulations.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of federal rules and regulations/terms and conditions relating to research grant and/or contract activity;
• Prior experience applying the costing rules and regulations to federally funded projects;
• Prior experience applying federal, university, and college rules to the management of effort allocation for individuals compensated whole or in part from federal awards;
• Understand financial processes and controls including the reconciliation process;
• High-level interpersonal skills in a professional environment are required;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Prior experience analyzing data and formulating conclusions;
• Ability to learn changing technologies related to grants and contracts management;
• Proficient use of computers; requires a solid working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• Prior experience managing and prioritizing multiple projects/tasks simultaneously;
• Prior experience creating high-quality written reports;
• Excellent customer service orientation;
• Prior experience proactively resolving problems and issues in a timely manner;
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision;
• Deadline oriented;
• Prior experience working well under pressure;
• Demonstrated aptitude or ability in mathematics, financial management, and/or accounting;
• Prior experience working with the post-award specialists and solving problems, answering questions, and giving guidance on post-award activities and other grants management topics on a daily basis; and
• Prior experience working with colleagues/team members to jointly solve questions and challenges in their daily work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business;
• Knowledge of University policies and procedures relating to grant and contracts activity;
• Knowledge of University processes, systems, and offices related to and/or involved in grant and contract submission and management;
• Knowledge of the Banner Financial system, or demonstrated ability to learn complex electronic systems;
• Administrator (CRA) certification;
• Certified Pre-award Research Administrator (CPRA) certification; and
• Experience in Sponsored Programs Administration or a related field.

A Force for Innovation in the Heart of Northern Virginia’s Technology Corridor

The College of Engineering and Computing at George Mason University is comprised of the Volgenau School of Engineering and a new School of Computing. The College is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. Ranked nationally in the top 100 in both undergraduate and graduate education, the College boasts more than 9,100 students in 37 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, including several first-in-the-nation offerings. Of the 271 full-time faculty who comprise the College, 91 are tenured, 59 are tenure-track, 89 are instructional faculty, and 32 are research faculty. As part of a nationally ranked research university, its research teams expended $75 million in sponsored research awards in the past year and have projects with over $400 million in current and anticipated awards. The College stands out for its leading research in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics engineering, cybersecurity engineering, biomedical imaging and devices, community-based healthcare, autonomous systems, 5G/Next G communications, systems architecture, computational biomedicine, advanced materials, and manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and more. The College encourages multidisciplinary research and provides ample opportunity for faculty to work with other disciplines.

George Mason University is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, with an enrollment of over 39,000 students studying in over 200 degree programs. Mason is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. It was classified as an R1 research institution in 2016 by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutes of Higher Education. Mason has campuses in Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William. Its proximity to Washington, D.C. provides unmatched geographical access to a number of federal agencies and national laboratories. Northern Virginia is also home to one of the largest concentrations of high-tech firms in the nation, providing excellent opportunities for interaction with industry. The region is consistently rated as being among the best places to live in the country and has an outstanding local public school system.

In conjunction with Amazon’s decision to establish a second headquarters in Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a multi-year plan to invest in the growth of degree programs in computing. George Mason University has committed to accelerate its plans to grow its capacity in computing and high-tech fields. Among the exciting initiatives being undertaken by the university is the launch of the Institute for Digital InnovAtion, a university think tank and incubator to serve the digital economy, and the expansion of its Arlington Campus with a planned 400,000 square foot building that will house the new Institute for Digital InnovAtion. These initiatives reflect hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment by Mason that will rapidly elevate the university’s already leading national position in computing and related areas.

Special Instructions to Applicants  

For full consideration, applicants must complete the online application at https://jobs.gmu.edu/ for position number 02714z; and attach a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information. Full consideration will apply to applicants who submit their completed application by May 16, 2022; however, review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.