[Hiring] Research Administrator II @Rice University

Role Description

Within the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing Research Administration team, the Research Administrator II independently manages the administrative and financial components of sponsored projects and supports principal investigators throughout the award lifecycle. This position has a particular focus on large-scale, complex, and multi-party awards requiring disciplined project planning, financial forecasting, risk identification, stakeholder coordination, and timely follow-through.

• Develops and reviews proposal budgets.
• Coordinates submissions with the Office of Sponsored Research.
• Oversees award setup and financial activity.
• Monitors compliance and deliverables.
• Maintains complete and accurate project documentation.
• Assesses the overall financial health of assigned projects.
• Provides principal investigators with reliable information and proactive guidance for successful project execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two or more (2+) years of related experience in research administration, sponsored-project administration, grants management, financial administration, or project management.

Requirements

• Proficiency with word-processing, spreadsheet, email, database, and related business software.
• Knowledge of sponsored-project budgeting, financial forecasting, proposal administration, compliance, and recordkeeping.
• Ability to analyze the financial health of sponsored projects, identify variances and risks, and support responsible financial management.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills, with the initiative to identify issues and recommend solutions.
• Strong customer-service and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with principal investigators, research administrators, central offices, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to apply project-management practices—including planning, prioritization, risk identification, stakeholder coordination, and follow-through—to complex sponsored projects.
• Ability to work independently and contribute effectively within a team while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

Benefits

• Starting at $75,000/year.
• Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
• This is a regular, full-time, benefits eligible position.

Essential Functions

• Independently plans, manages, and oversees the administrative and financial aspects of assigned sponsored projects, including large-scale and complex awards.
• Translates award requirements into project plans, timelines, financial forecasts, deliverables, and administrative processes; monitors progress and identifies risks.
• Develops and finalizes proposal budgets and budget justifications with principal investigators and prepares cost-sharing documentation when applicable.
• Reviews proposal and award requirements, verifies financial and administrative information, and monitors compliance with sponsor, university, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Coordinates collection and review of subaward statements of work, budgets, budget justifications, and related documentation and confirms principal investigator approval.
• Creates and verifies complete and accurate proposal records in Cayuse and coordinates submissions with the Office of Sponsored Research.
• Coordinates award and account setup; reviews and tracks expenditures and commitments; monitors budgets and forecasts; and provides information for financial and progress reports.
• Works with faculty and administrative partners to ensure charges are appropriate, allowable, allocable, and recorded correctly and supports timely corrective action.
• Coordinates post-award actions including rebudgeting, prior approvals, no-cost extensions, progress-reporting support, subaward administration, and account closeout.
• Serves as liaison among investigators, central research offices, administrators, subrecipients, and other stakeholders; maintains complete records and performs other duties as assigned.