Sponsored Research Administrator- Robotics Institute

Overview

The Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University was established in 1979 to conduct basic and applied research in robotics technologies relevant to industrial and societal tasks. Seeking to combine the practical and the theoretical, we have diversified efforts and approaches to robotics science while retaining the original goal of realizing the potential of the robotics field.

Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute is searching for a Sponsored Research Administrator. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in an interesting and challenging work environment.

Job Functions:

• 30.0% Expense Approvals - Reviews and approves RI's campus ER and PRC expenses. Provides guidance on university's Business and Travel Expense and Purchasing Card policies. Acts as "go to" resource for ER and P-Card questions and concerns. Works closely with institute's faculty, staff, and students to make certain ERs and PRCs and their business justifications meet published policies and guidelines. Answers routine and unique questions directly. Works closely with university's central administration; i.e., Oracle Help Desk, Accounts Payable, Procurement, Internal Audit etc. to aid in meeting university policies. Responds to ER and PRC audit requests from the Finance division. Actively mentors transaction preparers to create transactions in an efficient and compliant manner.
• 50.0% Sponsored Project Administration- Provides professional level budgeting support for the submission of proposals, through use of the University’s SPARCS System. Provides faculty members with various options and scenarios that can be used in a proposal's planning or during the execution of the work (i.e. assessing labor allocation and distribution across multiple awards , etc). Develops forecasts, and budgets for faculty members and assists in proposal creation and submission, including the preparation of proposal budgets, often with multiple subcontractors. May advise senior faculty members, and department administration, on long-term financial viability of department/center related to sponsored funding given multiple grants and contracts from various sources with differing project end dates.
• 20% Post Award Administration - Acts as RI Campus sponsored project post-award administrator. Works closely with SPA on sponsored project award management from account setup, ongoing management and final award closeout. Establishes accounts in financial systems, rebudgets funds, and monitors or modifies awards and expenditures. Completes and/or approves expense and labor re-distributions transactions. Creates payroll redistribution adjustments, feeder cost transfers, and accounts payable redistribution forms and obtain needed signatures for completion and routes form to appropriate department for processing and ensures financial posting of correcting transactions. May monitor and coordinate the subcontracting process and approves invoices or routes them for approval to Principal Investigator/s. Provides standard or custom financial reporting to faculty or sponsors on various sponsored projects and for various programs on monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Conducts variance analysis; researches the causes of variances between planned and actual expenses. Works with other areas of the University (Office of Sponsored Projects, Sponsored Projects Accounting, Procurement, Etc.) on regular basis to solve complex problems related to labor allocation, accounting and post-award related issues. Interprets regulations and guidelines for program funding (both university and agency) for multiple moderately complex grants. Provides monitoring of grants and contracts to ensure expenses are being paid according to contracts. Prepares reports for sponsoring agencies. Provides faculty members with various options and scenarios that can be used in award planning or during the execution of the work (i.e. assessing labor allocation and distribution across multiple awards, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business/Business Administration, Finance or other relevant field required

• 1-3 years of relevant finance or business administration experience required

• 1-3 yrs. - Sponsored Research Administration Experience

• Certified Research Administrator certification preferred

• Higher education experience preferred

Required Skillsets:

You should have excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, as well as good analytical and problem solving skills. Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within the Robotics Institute. Inclusion, collaboration and cultural sensitivity are valued competencies at Carnegie Mellon University. Therefore, we are in search of a team member who is able to effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners with a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Nice to Have Skillsets:

• Microsoft Excel
• SPARCS
• Oracle Financials
• Expense approvals

Additional Information:
        • Work Posture: This position is operating on a hybrid schedule, with an on-campus/in office presence one day a week.  On-campus/in office presence                      requirement may increase.
        • Typical work schedule is Monday-Friday from 8:30-5:00pm.

"Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity."

Inclusion, collaboration and cultural sensitivity are valued competencies at CMU. Therefore, we are in search of a team member who is able to effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Research Administration

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information: 

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. 

• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits

• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran. 

• Statement of Assurance