Senior Manager, Post Award Administration

Department
BSD ADM - Research Administration

Job Summary
The job supervises and monitors a team of support staff responsible to administer pre-award and/or post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals/funding within a department or unit.

Responsibilities

Leadership:

• Reporting to the Director of Post-Award, the Senior Manager will supervise and lead a team of post-award coordinators administrators, ensuring effective coordination and collaboration within the team.
• Oversee the outgoing subaward process.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and professional development opportunities for team members.
• Set performance expectations, conduct regular evaluations, and provide constructive feedback.
• Manages employees by establishing annual performance goals, allocating resources, assessing annual performance, and determining individual merit, incentive and/or promotional increases.

Implementation of Policies/SOPs:

• Work with the Director of Post-Award to update post-award policies and standard operating procedures in alignment with institutional guidelines and federal regulations for procedures directly related to coordinator duties.
• Regularly review and update policies to ensure compliance with evolving regulations and best practices.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and streamline and optimize post-award processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Portfolio Management:

• Works with faculty and staff to manage all post-award activities for a dedicated portfolio of complex awards. Provide regular financial projections and monitor all transactions.
• Prepare and ensure timely submission of all financial reporting.
• Request agency prior approval for award changes as necessary.

Other:

• Supervises employees that provides specialized support for the research enterprise within a department or unit, including post-award administration for all sponsored activity.
• Serves as liaison between PIs, University administrative offices, and external agencies.
• Supervises employees directly including selection, training, performance appraisal and work allocation. Ensures service and communication to PIs, standardized information, best practices development, and that all faculty and research staff are aware of any new grant policies and changes.
• Monitors industry trends and remains current with agency and regulatory changes. Plans for department/ unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Competencies

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and provide exceptional customer service.
• Commitment to the University of Chicago's mission and values.

Working Conditions

• Office Environment.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
Financial Management

Role Impact
People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours
40

Drug Test Required
No

Health Screen Required
No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No

Pay Rate Type
Salary

FLSA Status
Exempt

Pay Range
$90,000.00 - $115,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.