Senior Research Administration & Consulting Specialist

Job Description

Position: Senior Research Administration & Consulting Specialist

Location: Storrs, Connecticut, USA

Experience: 7–10+ Years (Recommended)

Employment Type: Contract / Project-Based

Client: University of Connecticut (UConn)

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Senior Research Administration & Consulting Specialist to provide professional consulting services supporting research administration, sponsored programs, research finance, federal grant compliance, research security, and strategic planning.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience working with higher education institutions, academic health centers, or similar research organizations.

The role involves evaluating research administration processes, improving operational efficiency, supporting financial management, ensuring regulatory compliance, and developing strategic recommendations to strengthen institutional research operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide operational and staffing support for research administration and sponsored programs.

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of research administration business processes and internal controls.

• Perform operational efficiency reviews, organizational assessments, and benchmarking studies.

• Identify operational challenges and recommend process improvements to enhance research administration effectiveness.

• Support research financial management, budgeting, financial planning, and cost analysis.

• Assist with Facilities & Administrative (F&A) rate development, financial analysis, documentation, proposal preparation, and federal negotiations.

• Conduct space surveys, utility studies, and indirect cost allocation analyses.

• Develop and evaluate cost allocation methodologies for research recharge activities.

• Support service center and recharge center operations, including rate development.

• Provide expertise in federal grant administration and regulatory compliance.

• Interpret and implement Uniform Guidance and other applicable federal regulations.

• Support research security activities, including export control and controlled research requirements.

• Assist with audit readiness, audit responses, and corrective action planning.

• Monitor changes in federal regulations, funding priorities, and research compliance requirements.

• Support institutional strategic planning and research administration improvement initiatives.

• Develop policies and procedures supporting regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.

• Identify emerging research administration risks and opportunities and recommend appropriate strategies.

• Conduct professional training, workshops, and development programs for research administration personnel.

• Collaborate with university leadership, research administrators, financial teams, and other stakeholders.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Extensive professional experience in research administration, sponsored programs management, or research consulting.

• Strong knowledge of research administration operations within higher education or comparable research organizations.

• Experience managing or supporting federal grants and sponsored research programs.

• Strong understanding of research finance, financial management, and cost analysis.

• Knowledge of F&A rate development, indirect cost allocation, and federal rate negotiations.

• Experience conducting operational assessments, business process evaluations, and organizational reviews.

• Understanding of Uniform Guidance and federal grant compliance requirements.

• Knowledge of research security, export controls, and research-related regulatory requirements.

• Experience supporting financial audits, audit readiness, and corrective action planning.

• Ability to analyze research administration processes and recommend operational improvements.

• Strong understanding of institutional strategic planning and policy development.

• Excellent analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with research administrators, financial professionals, institutional leadership, and other stakeholders.

• Experience delivering professional training, workshops, and advisory services.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous consulting experience with universities, academic health centers, or major research institutions.

• Demonstrated experience in sponsored research administration and federal grant management.

• Experience supporting F&A rate proposals and federal negotiations.

• Familiarity with research recharge centers, service center rate development, and space utilization studies.

• Experience implementing regulatory changes and improving institutional research compliance.

• Proven ability to conduct operational benchmarking and develop strategic improvement recommendations.