Career Center

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 specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is seeking a Research Administrator Lead to oversee our team of Research Administrators and maintain a deep level of advanced knowledge of principles, practices and procedures used in research administration. This individual will advise Principal Investigators on best practices to achieve an effective, quality proposal and/or post-award management (e.g., forecasting) in addition to regularly applying comprehensive knowledge of the sponsored project lifecycle. The successful candidate will have superior skills required to accomplish mission critical objectives with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and take a leadership role in promoting innovative professional growth for our research administration staff. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated candidate looking to foster collaboration, break barriers, and impart positive change. The Quality Collaborative Clinical Info Analyst and Clinical Research Project Manger will report to this position. This position will report to the Orthopaedic Surgery Chief Department Administrator, Vik Sukumar, MHSA, and includes other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISING

• Coach, review and delegate work to lower-level professionals. May assist with leading the work of others and assigning tasks. Acts as a resource for junior staff.
• Verify others' work for accurate completion of proposal information, including all needed supporting documentation
• Provide training to junior staff and help with development of department orientation materials
• Support all administrative supervisory aspects including but not limited to interviewing, hiring, orienting, timesheet approval, coaching, disciplining, etc.
• Participate in goal setting for direct reports, quarterly touch-base meetings and annual valuation.

FACULTY RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT

• Provide Principal Investigator with monitoring reconciliation of grants and contracts to ensure expenses are being paid according to contract
• Assemble materials for post-award compliance applications (e.g., human subjects, animals)
• Independently manage the post-award process (e.g., reconciliation, internal and external financial reporting) and monitor awards received
• Interpret regulations and guidelines of multiple programs funding with relatively complex and broad guidelines for spending. Assist project directors in interpreting sponsor or third party regulations. Review and approve expenditures for materials, equipment, support staff and travel.

DEPT. LEADERSHIP

• Assist in developing and implementing administrative policies and procedures
• Maintain Unit compliance records as needed.
• Counsel staff on all topics related to post-award administration
• May provide accounting support (e.g., journal entries, vouchers, non-pod's). May prepare monthly and yearly budget projections and plans for management approval for a moderate number of project grants. May create, maintain and reconcile detailed budgets and take corrective action when necessary
• Provide subject matter expertise within Orthopaedic research administration and advise on technical aspects. Resolve local issues varying in complexity
• Manage large projects or processes with limited oversight from CDA
• Review transactions and resolve issues that requires a more complex level of financial understanding such as cost-sharing and/or effort reporting knowledge. Develop complex project budget per sponsor requirements/guidelines. Create multi-year budgets for complex projects
• Follow prescribed processes and offers suggestions to processes. Inform CDA of any issues that cannot be handled independently
• Ensure compliance with all appropriate policies and procedures. Ability to identify misconduct, noncompliance and nonperformance and properly report. May resolve larger-size compliance related issues. Identify potential compliance related issues and offer suggestions for handling before escalating larger issues to Supervisor. Participate in the development and implementation of departmental policies
• May review complex sponsor guidelines and accurately interpret solicitation requirements for application with University policies. • Identify internal offices providing support to research in schools/colleges/units and understand their roles and responsibilities
• Understanding of Enterprise-wide administrative systems
• Build and maintain relationships with internal departments, colleagues, and external individuals
• Serve on internal and external committees and workgroups. Represent the department to other administrators with moderate authority to make commitments on behalf of the unit.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience
• 6+ in research administration.
• Ability to make decisions independently based upon established processes and work experience with programs
• Advanced skills in Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Demonstrated understanding of multiple constituency groups in the University and works to improve relationships among those groups
• Demonstrated knowledge of trends in higher education relating to their constituency group and functional area
• Advanced knowledge of the deadline policy and purpose for Sponsors, ORSP, and units and understanding of how they relate

• Master's degree - finance/research or related degree
• Research administration certification from an accredited organization
• 5+ yrs experience in finance and research administration.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

U-M COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters when eligible, are required for all University of Michigan students, faculty and staff across all campuses, including Michigan Medicine.  This includes those working remotely.   More information on this new policy is available on the Campus Blueprint website or the UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint websites.