Research Administrator

Research Administrator II/III Job No: 540795 Work Type: Full Time Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL) Categories: Social/Behavioral Science, Grant or Research Administration, Physical/Mathematical Sciences Department: 16010800 - LS-CLAS RESEARCH OFFICE Job Description Classification Title: Research Administrator II/III Classification Minimum Requirements: Research Administrator II - Bachelor's degree and two years of experience in grant and contract administration; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Research Administrator III - Bachelor's degree and three years of experience in grant and contract administration; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Manage a Sponsored Project Portfolio Manage an assigned pre-award or post-award portfolio and serve as a primary research administration contact for faculty, staff, and university partners. Responsibilities may include: Reviewing sponsor requirements, funding opportunities, award terms, deadlines, and reporting obligations. Developing and reviewing budgets, justifications, projections, financial reports, and sponsored project documentation. Coordinating proposal submissions, subrecipient documentation, cost sharing, Just-in-Time requests, award setup, modifications, reporting, and closeout. Monitoring expenditures, payroll, balances, commitments, project timelines, and financial performance. Preparing or coordinating financial and administrative transactions and resolving outstanding portfolio issues. Provide Expert Guidance and Manage Risk You will help faculty and staff understand and meet sponsor and institutional requirements while protecting the interests of the investigator, the college, and the university. Advising faculty and staff on administrative, financial, and compliance requirements. Reviewing proposals, budgets, expenditures, award actions, and documentation for accuracy and compliance. Monitoring effort, cost sharing, salary limitations, participant support, subrecipients, foreign activities, and applicable research compliance requirements. Identifying risks, recommending corrective actions, escalating complex matters, and maintaining audit‑ready documentation. Build Faculty and Campus Partnerships Success in this role requires more than technical knowledge. You will develop relationships, anticipate needs, communicate clearly, and help faculty and staff navigate the administrative side of research with confidence. Communicate regularly regarding proposal deadlines, award activity, financial status, compliance needs, and recommended actions. Coordinate with departments, centers, central offices, sponsors, and collaborating institutions. Support effective transitions between pre‑award and post‑award administration. Prepare portfolio, financial, workload, and operational reports as needed. Help Shape a Growing Research Office The CLAS Research Office values thoughtful improvement, shared knowledge, professional development, and consistent service. Team members are encouraged to contribute ideas and help build practices that benefit both the Research Office and the faculty we support. Developing and improving procedures, tools, templates, training materials, and internal controls. Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and service delivery. Participating in onboarding, training, knowledge sharing, special projects, committees, and workgroups. Appointment Levels Research Administrator II The Research Administrator II independently manages routine to moderately complex research administration activities with general supervision. The position applies established policies and procedures, manages competing priorities, identifies administrative or financial concerns, recommends solutions, and escalates complex matters appropriately. Research Administrator III The Research Administrator III works with a higher degree of independence and may manage complex, high-volume, high-risk, collaborative, or time‑sensitive portfolios. The position independently interprets complex sponsor and institutional requirements, resolves advanced administrative and financial issues, and provides strategic guidance to faculty and staff. The Research Administrator III may also lead or contribute to process improvement initiatives, assist with reviewing complex work, and serve as a technical resource, trainer, or mentor to other research administrators. The position does not have formal supervisory responsibility. Advertised Salary: The salary range for Research Administrator II is $61,000-$70,000, and Research Administrator III is $70,000-$80,000. This is a TEAMS position and is eligible for a suite of excellent benefits, retirement options, and paid leave. Minimum Requirements: Research Administrator II - Bachelor's degree and two years of experience in grant and contract administration; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Research Administrator III - Bachelor's degree and three years of experience in grant and contract administration; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Preferred Qualifications: Successful candidates will demonstrate a combination of the following qualifications appropriate to the level of appointment: Ability to identify administrative, financial, or compliance concerns and develop practical recommendations. Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, written communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to explain complex requirements clearly to individuals with varying levels of research administration experience. Demonstrated commitment to professionalism, integrity, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement. Experience working with faculty, department and center staff, central administrative offices, sponsors, and other institutional partners. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience with electronic research administration, financial, and sponsor systems. Experience with UFIRST, myUFL, PeopleSoft, myInvestiGator, Grants.gov, Research.gov, ASSIST, NSPIRES, or comparable systems. Additional preferred qualifications for appointment at the Research Administrator III level include: Significant experience independently managing complex or high-volume sponsored project portfolios. Experience supporting high-risk, collaborative, multi-institutional, or time-sensitive proposals or awards. Experience with complex requirements involving multi-project submissions, subawards, cost sharing, salary limitations, participant support costs, effort reporting, carryforward, international collaborations, or institutional commitments. Advanced budget development, financial analysis, forecasting, reconciliation, and problem‑solving skills. Demonstrated ability to independently interpret complex sponsor and institutional requirements and provide authoritative guidance. Experience developing procedures, improving processes, training or mentoring staff, reviewing complex work, or serving as a subject matter resource. Health Assessment Required: No Applications Close: 16 August 2026 Our Commitment: The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the U.S. The University of Florida is a public institution and is subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io or the Florida Relay System at View phone number on click.appcast.io (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF. #J-18808-Ljbffr