Post-Award Specialist

Post-Award Specialist

BioSciences at Rice is home to undergraduate and doctoral degree programs in Biochemistry & Cell Biology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. We are investigating fundamental properties of living organisms and impacts on the future quality of life on earth.

The post-award specialist supports the Department of BioSciences at Rice with all aspects of post-award research accounting, grant and fund future spending projections, and reporting. The incumbent will provide deep and independent analytical and financial management of post-award research administration. This person serves as liaison between departmental faculty and Research Accounting. In addition to research grants, accounts to be managed for BioSciences faculty include faculty monies, University funds, and gift funds. This person is responsible for the administration of grants, funds, subs, and contracts of assigned faculty to ensure compliance with sponsoring agencies, the awards, and university policies. This position prepares various projections and financial reports for departmental faculty, the Departmental Chair, Executive Administrator, the Accounting Manager, and other entities and meets with said parties to present those reports/projections and their analysis.

The ideal candidate for this position has a basic understanding of research administration and accounting practices in higher education. The position requires proactive judgment, responsiveness, initiative, and being able to manage multiple tasks while demonstrating excellent interpersonal and communication skills within and outside the department. This role requires a detail-oriented, organized, and analytical professional who can work independently as well as in a team environment.

This position offers a hybrid work schedule after a probationary period. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

The expected hiring salary range is $63,731 to $75,000 annually.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Two or more (2+) years of related administrative experience
• Skills:
• Intermediate knowledge of spreadsheet, email, and database software programs
• Working knowledge of research administration guidelines, regulations, and policies
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Preferences:

• Some research administration experience (i.e grant administration to various agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, DARPA, CPRIT, etc.)
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, or finance
• Experience in a higher education environment with proficiency in organizational financial analyses
• Experience with iO
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while managing concurrent deadlines

Essential Functions:

• Manages post?award administration for a portfolio of grants and contracts
• Responsible for using financial forecasting tools to confirm that each Principal Investigator (PI) is solvent and can meet their financial obligations for the budget year. In addition, working with financial forecasting tools, identify available budget surplus, budget deficits, and burn rates for each PI and help them plan accordingly.
• Gathers data and analyzes information to assist in recommendations and optimization of appropriate use of funding sources.
• Monitors expense allocations, tracks balance, conducts variance analysis, and projects burn rate and future utilization.
• Participates in account close out activities
• Reviews, tracks, and monitors expenditures, including high-value / high-risk expenditures and cost-sharing commitments
• Ensures Subcontract statements of work, budget, and budget justification are received and approved by the PI
• Coordinates and reviews account setup; reviews, tracks, and approves expenditures; monitors budgets; provides data for financial and progress reports as needed
• Responds to Accounting audit inquiries
• Serves as a liaison with OSR, RCA, internal audit, funding agencies and organizations, subcontractors, institutes, centers, and other departments
• Manages effort commitments of key project personnel
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Assists with administrative duties such as coordinating research-related travel, purchasing equipment and supplies, and scheduling meetings and events