Associate Research Administrator/Research Administrator - Post-Award, SOMRA

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

Position Primary Purpose and General Duties:

The VCU School of Medicine Office of Research Administration (SOMRA) is looking for candidates interested in pursuing or continuing a career in Research Administration. From bench to bedside, we are at the forefront of scientific discoveries that advance health care for humanity. This role ensures compliance with sponsor guidelines, university policies, and federal regulations while supporting principal investigators (PIs) in effective grant management.

We are a shared service model and provide support to SOM departments. As a member of the SOMRA team, the selected candidate for this position will be responsible for providing direct post-award administrative support to investigators conducting basic, clinical, and translational research in a variety of departments and centers at VCU. Less experienced candidates will be provided training and mentoring to acquire all needed skills and are encouraged to apply.

The primary responsibilities for this position include:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for post-award administration for their portfolio’s departments and PIs.
• Award Establishment: Work with researchers and VCU offices to ensure awards are set-up appropriately for financial and administrative management
• Financial Management: monitor expenditures for allowability, allocability, and reasonableness; prepare financial analysis and projections for researchers to keep them informed and aid in research program decision making.
• Effort Management: work with researchers to ensure accurate effort and payroll allocations to projects
• Responsible for budget forecasting, including analyzing financial trends, projecting future costs, and ensuring alignment with funding allocations
• Post-award actions: facilitate administrative components of progress reporting, amendments, continuations, supplements, no cost extensions, and close-outs

Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to think critically, assess challenges, and develop strategic approaches to problem-solving

This posting is an open search for varying levels of prior research administration experience. SOMRA will provide an opportunity for selected candidates to grow those skills in a fast-paced, diverse environment. The position will also present opportunities for continued career growth in the field for those presenting a willingness to learn, ability to be pro-active, and work collaboratively with a diverse group of faculty and staff across VCU.

This position is eligible for remote work. Candidates living outside the Richmond metro region are encouraged to apply, but may be required to come on-site on occasion (no more than twice annually) for in-service training and professional development activities.