Research Administration Manager

Job Description:

Saybrook University is seeking a full-time Research Administration Manager to join the Office of Research Innovation and Sponsored Programs (ORISP).

The Research Administration Manager will report to the Dean of Research and Sponsored Programs and provide strategic oversight and hands-on management for the university’s research administration, including sponsored programs, dissertation services, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) functions. This position plays a pivotal role in facilitating research and scholarship at the university by supporting faculty and student researchers in securing and managing external funding, ensuring regulatory compliance, guiding dissertation services, and supporting the ethical review of research through the IRB. This role requires collaboration across academic and administrative departments and fosters a robust research culture aligned with the university’s mission and strategic goals.

Position Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Grant Proposal Development:

• Guide faculty, researchers, and students in identifying funding opportunities and crafting competitive grant proposals.

• Review proposals for clarity, compliance with sponsor guidelines, and alignment with institutional priorities before submission and sponsor-specific requirements, budgetary limitations, and deadline expectations.

2. Pre-Award and Post-Award Administration:

• Oversee all pre-award activities, including eligibility verification, regulatory checks, and budget preparation, ensuring timely and accurate proposal submission.

• Manage post-award administration, including budget oversight, sponsor reporting, and ongoing compliance with institutional and external guidelines.

• Act as a liaison with funding agencies, internal departments, and the Community Solution System colleagues to resolve issues and provide ongoing support to Principal Investigators (PIs).

3. Dissertation Services Administration:

• Contribute to the administration of dissertation services, including processes for forming dissertation committees and submitting milestone reports to support dissertation students and faculty with the dissertation timeline and process.

• Work closely with graduate students, faculty, and academic departments to streamline the dissertation process and ensure a smooth pathway to final submission and degree completion.

4. Institutional Review Board (IRB) Support:

• Serve as an administrative support liaison for the university’s IRB, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and federal regulations related to human subjects research.

• Help guide researchers through the IRB application process, including protocol submission, modification, and continuation procedures.

5. Regulatory Compliance and Reporting:

• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, including guidelines specific to NIH, NSF, OMB Uniform Guidance, and other major funding agencies.

• Prepare and submit required institutional and federal reports and assist with internal and external audits or reviews.

• Develop, maintain, and disseminate knowledge of changing regulatory requirements that impact sponsored programs, IRBs, and dissertation services.

6. Faculty, Student, and Staff Training and Support:

• Develop and deliver training sessions, workshops, and informational resources for faculty, students, and staff on identifying grant opportunities, proposal writing, research compliance, IRB applications, and dissertation processes.

• Provide ongoing support and one-on-one guidance to faculty, students, and staff at every stage of the research lifecycle, from finding funding sources to managing post-award requirements.

• Serve as a knowledgeable resource for interpreting university and sponsor policies, addressing questions, and helping users navigate internal and external research administration processes.

7. Process Improvement and Strategic Planning:

• Develop and regularly evaluate and improve processes related to research administration, sponsored program management, dissertation services, and IRB compliance.

• Collaborate with university leadership to develop and implement policies and procedures that reflect current regulations, support efficient workflows, and advance the institution’s strategic research goals.

8. Professional Development:

• Actively participate in professional development to stay current on ethical standards and regulatory changes and remain informed of research administration trends and best practices, integrating them into departmental processes and guidance.

Position Requirements

· Master’s degree and 3- 5 years of experience in research administration, grants management, IRB management, or equivalent, ideally within a higher education setting.

Position Qualifications:

· A Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or IRB certification (e.g., CIP) or willingness to pursue professional certifications is desirable.

· Knowledge of federal and state research funding mechanisms, human subjects research ethics, and dissertation service practices.

· Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to interact with diverse stakeholders.

· Proficiency in research management software, budgeting tools, and grant and IRB submission platforms.

· Strong organizational, communication, project management, and information presentation skills, with an ability to handle multiple responsibilities.

· Experience managing student workers and working with diverse stakeholders.

Saybrook University offers a generous compensation and benefits package. Some of our key benefits include: paid time-off, medical and dental coverage, company-paid life and disability insurance, retirement plan, and multiple flexible spending accounts (FSA).

Saybrook University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About Saybrook University:

Saybrook University was founded over 40 years ago by some of the greatest minds of the 20th century and continues to inspire a new generation of innovators. A non-profit regionally accredited university known for its commitment to humanistic studies and rigorous research, Saybrook University’s academic model puts the student at the center of everything we do to provide a unique, transformational, learning experience. Saybrook offers advanced degrees in organizational systems, psychology, mind-body medicine, and counseling, all in flexible learning formats to help students continue to be active contributors to the fields they work in while they advance their education. Saybrook University is proud to be a community of creative, compassionate innovators dedicated to pursing new ways of thinking and doing for our professions, organizations, and communities.

Compensation & Benefits

https://www.saybrook.edu/about/careers/

Saybrook University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.