Responsibilities

Position Summary:

The Translational Center for Barrier Microphysiological Systems (TRaCE-bMPS) is a newly funded research center focused on the development of technologies to model human tissues ‘on-chip’ as more effective alternatives to animal testing. The Center emerged from research collaborations between the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Center for Musculoskeletal Research (CMSR), and the Department of Dermatology, and was created in partnership with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). The multidisciplinary work in the TRaCE- bMPS is supported through collaborations with many UR departments and an international team of partners in academia, industry, and government. The center is seeking an experienced and talented Senior Administrator to help build the center in collaboration with the founding faculty and their departments.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rochester (UR) brings together the technical expertise of the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences with the clinical expertise of the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) . The department has established a cooperative environment that fosters innovations in medicine, health care, device design, and research. The department consists of 20 primary BME faculty, supports an undergraduate program of 300 students, and has doctoral and master’s programs with approximately 100 graduate students.

The Senior Research Center and Department Administrator will serve at the senior level in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and report to the Director of the TRaCE-bMPS. The individual will lead the administration and management of the Center, working closely with the TRaCE-bMPS Executive Committee, the faculty and administrators of affiliated departments, centers, and institutes, and with external partners in both industry and academia. The position requires strong leadership, management, and analytical skills, and the motivation to build and grow the Center in support of its mission. The individual should have experience in research and grants administration and with the administration of an organization the size of academic department or larger. The individual will also serve as a university expert and resource in research policy and administration, for example by serving on the Integrated Online Research Administrators Group, the River Campus Research Administrators Group, and the Medical Center Administrators Group.

Under the general direction of the Center Director and TRaCE-bMPS Executive Committee but with considerable latitude to exercise independent judgement, the Senior Research and Center Administrator will manage the operations of the center including its core research enterprise. This will require pre-award and post-award grants management activities such as proposal and budget preparation and coordination with numerous internal University offices including the Office of Research and Project Administration (ORPA), Office of Research Accounting and Costing Standards (ORACS), University Audit and the Deans Office. Maintaining positive and effective working relationships is paramount for this role.

Because the Senior Administrator will be the founding administrator of the TRaCE- bMPS, the individual must be willing to perform both large and small tasks in support of the Center’s early growth. Examples of small tasks will include day-to- day purchasing, accounting, reimbursements, organizing meetings, managing schedules, arranging travel and visits, social media postings, etc. The Senior Research Center and Department Administrator will help grow the center by building an administrative team through hiring. As the Center grows, many smaller tasks will be delegated to new hires with the Senior Administrator serving as the direct supervisor for these hires.

As an additional role during the Center’s growth, the Senior Administrator will work closely with a Staff Accountant in the Department of Biomedical Engineering to manage financial accounts associated with the Center and the Director. These activities will include developing financial reports and projections for the Center and other assigned accounts, coordinating salary allocations, and overseeing spending including purchase orders and supply agreements.

Responsibilities:

General Center Administration (40%)

• Provide the administrative leadership needed to establish and grow the TRaCE-bMPS by working in partnership with the TRaCE-bMPS Executive Committee, its founding organizations at the University of Rochester (the BME and Dermatology Departments, The Center for Musculoskeletal Research, and The Clinical and Translational Science Institute), and other stakeholders within and outside the University.

• Lead the Center’s HR Personnel Administration by overseeing hiring, appointments, and payroll for staff and students, performance evaluations, compensation management, progressive discipline, termination, sick leave and vacation, disability, benefits, visa applications, etc.

• Build a strong administrative support staff as the Center grows.

• Ensure the Center’s compliance with all University policies and procedures.

• Lead outreach and communication efforts for the Center.

• Manage the day-to-day activities of the Center including scheduling, team meetings, visitors, seminars, conferences and workshops, travel, schedules, purchasing, reimbursements, etc.

Administration of the TRaCE-bMPS Research Portfolio (30%)

• Works with the Director and TRaCE-bMPS Executive Committee to analyze research activity and strategically plan the focused growth and advancement of the Center’s research portfolio.

• Works with the Director and TRaCE-bMPS Executive Committee to manage the Center’s interactions, collaborations, and partnerships, both on campus and externally.

• Track research grant submissions and funding and provides analysis summaries for guiding project and Center management.

• Provides guidance and mentoring of Center-affiliated faculty, research staff, and students on grants submission and management processes.

• Coordinates with BME Lead Administrator and Senior Accountant to manage research grants, research activity, salary allocations, and finances associated with the Center and the department.

• Supervise a BME Staff Accountant I involved in financial transactions for the Center and department to ensure adherence to Department Protocols. Provide appropriate training, professional development, and performance evaluation.

• Act as a university expert and resource in research policy and grants administration.

Departmental Administration (30%)

• Work with BME administrators and faculty on BME-related activities and initiatives.

• Manage select department financial accounts.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience

• The position requires extensive knowledge, experience, and skills in research policies and grants administration

• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Strong skills and experience with funding policies and procedures from a wide range of international, federal, state, and industrial funding sources

• Continuous Learning for Administrators of Sponsored Programs (CLASP) certification. Willingness to meet continuous learning requirements by attending regular monthly meetings, electives and Annual CLASP Update as well as the following UR Systems:

• UR Financials

• URGEMS (Encumbrance Accounting System)

• Procure to Pay (P2P) Purchasing system

• HRMS

• IORA

• Cognos

• Willingness to participate in on-going training to stay abreast of compliance issues related to sponsored research and attends these meetings as appropriate.

• Ability to monitor and produce financial reports for principal investigators and sponsors.

• Experience coordinating and managing multiple research projects.

• Strong proficiency with Windows and Mac OS, Microsoft Office and Excel spreadsheets

• Experience with grant programs, such as ASSIST, Grants.gov, NSF eBRAP and Research.gov is preferred

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the University’s mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations.

Pay Range

Pay Range: $68,765 - $103,147 Annually

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job’s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

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