Research Administrator I, II

About the role

Make a difference at one of Florida's premier institutions for education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Florida Polytechnic University, ranked the No. 1 public college in the region by U.S. News and World Report, offers a unique working environment that encourages faculty and staff to be part of a culture that prizes collaboration, innovation, and the willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our students and University succeed.

Florida Poly offers a small campus academic environment where students form connections with their faculty and peers as they pursue high-value degrees in engineering and applied sciences.

The University is equipped with cutting-edge facilities and equipment and two award-winning, architecturally distinct academic buildings. Its evolving curriculum, designed to meet the needs of industry and provide a life-long educational foundation for students, has helped the institution grow in prominence since its opening in 2014.

Florida Poly's deliberately small classes, affordability, and outstanding graduate outcomes have helped it earn recognitions such as being named a top value school, in the top 25 nationally for affordability, and in the top five best universities in the South for tech students. Accredited by ABET and SACSCOC, Florida Poly is educating some of the brightest minds in Florida and attracting standout talent from across the nation.

Job Description Summary

Florida Polytechnic University seeks a collaborative and service-oriented Research Administrator to support the University's growing research portfolio and sponsored programs enterprise.

This position will be filled at the Research Administrator I or II level depending upon the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

The Research Administrator supports faculty and institutional leadership throughout the sponsored project lifecycle with a primary focus on post-award administration, sponsored project compliance, financial stewardship, and faculty support. Responsibilities may expand to include pre-award proposal development, budget preparation, proposal review, and award management activities as the University's research portfolio continues to grow.

The successful candidate will work closely with faculty, university administrators, and external sponsors to ensure sponsored projects are administered in accordance with sponsor requirements, university policies, and applicable regulations.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute to the development of a growing research administration function while supporting Florida Polytechnic University's strategic research and innovation goals.

Hiring Note

Florida Polytechnic University is committed to developing talent within the research administration profession. Candidates with strong transferable skills in higher education administration, finance, accounting, compliance, procurement, contracts administration, project management, or related fields are encouraged to apply, even if they do not have extensive prior research administration experience.

Responsibilities

Sponsored Project Administration

• Administer assigned sponsored projects throughout the award lifecycle.
• Assist with award setup, modifications, and closeout.
• Monitor budgets and expenditures.
• Review financial activity for compliance and allowability.
• Track project deadlines and reporting requirements.
• Assist with cost-share administration.
• Support sponsor reporting activities.

Compliance & Stewardship

• Review expenditures for compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Monitor award terms and conditions.
• Support subrecipient monitoring activities.
• Assist with research compliance initiatives.
• Maintain project documentation and records.
• Identify and escalate compliance concerns.

Faculty Support

• Serve as a resource for faculty regarding sponsored project administration.
• Provide guidance on sponsor and institutional requirements.
• Support faculty in managing awarded projects.
• Assist with budget revisions and administrative actions.

Collaboration

• Coordinate with Procurement, Finance, Human Resources, and other administrative units.
• Work collaboratively with the Office of Research Innovation & Commercialization.
• Participate in developing and improving research administration processes.

Minimum Qualifications

Research Administrator I

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• One (1) year of professional experience in:
• Higher education administration,
• Accounting,
• Finance,
• Procurement,
• Compliance,
• Contract administration,
• Project management, or
• Related professional experience.
• Managing operational Activities
• In lieu of a degree, any appropriate combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications may be considered.

Research Administrator II

• Bachelor's degree.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in:
• Research administration,
• Grants management,
• Accounting,
• Finance,
• Compliance,
• Contract administration,
• Project management, or
• Related professional experience.
• Managing operational Activities

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates meeting one or more of the following qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Experience in higher education.
• Experience working with sponsored projects, grants, or contracts.
• Experience supporting federally funded programs.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).
• Experience with budget development and financial analysis.
• Experience interpreting regulations and policies.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential.
• Completion of NCURA, SRAI, or other professional research administration training.
• Experience supporting STEM research programs.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs)

• Ability to interpret and apply policies and regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong customer-service orientation.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with faculty and staff.
• Ability to analyze financial information and identify discrepancies.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment.

Required Licenses, Certifications, And/or Other Specific Requirements of Law:

• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• This position requires a criminal background check, which may include a Level II screening as required by Florida Statute §435.04.
• This position is subject to federal and state privacy regulations.

Normal Work Schedule

This position is salary exempt. The normal work schedule is Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; however, occasional overtime (weekends and evenings) may be required.

LOCATION/WORK MODEL: Full-time/On-site

• Note: Employment-based visa sponsorship will NOT be considered for this position.
• TARGET HIRING SALARY: commensurate with experience.
• Classification Levels
• Research Administrator I
• Entry-level professional position.
• Works under close supervision while developing expertise in sponsored programs administration and research compliance.

Typical salary range

$50,200 - $55,000, commensurate with experience.

Research Administrator II

Journey-level professional position.

Independently manages sponsored project administration activities and provides guidance to faculty and staff.

Typical salary range:$59,500 - $64,750, commensurate with experience.

Application Deadline Date

The position may be open for 14 days with a minimum of 7 days, and screening of applicants may begin immediately.

Application Process

In addition to completing the online application, all applicants are required to upload the following as attachments to the application (preferably in PDF format):

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Three (3) Professional References

If any of these three items are not included, you will not be considered for the position.

References will not be contacted unless you are selected as a finalist for the position.

Diversity Statement

Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. An appointment is not final until proof is provided.

Florida Poly Benefits Information

Florida Poly qualified employees have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of health benefits (through the State of Florida) to help meet their specific needs, as well as the needs of their family. This comprehensive coverage includes flexible spending accounts, medical and life insurance, and worker's compensation.

• Health benefits are administered through People First, on behalf of the State of Florida, as pre-tax insurance plans.
• People First handles all new hire enrollments, coverage changes, premium administration, and dependent eligibility.
• Their Service Center is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• EST, at.

Retirement

• Florida Poly offers great options for retirement.
• From the required selection of a state plan to additional voluntary retirement plans, our employees have many opportunities to save and prepare for their future.
• Click Here for more information.

Other Benefits

• Discounts & Perks
• Annual Leave
• To help promote work-life balance, Florida Poly provides a generous leave program, which includes paid time off and paid holidays. Qualified employees may accrue 22 days of annual leave. In addition, the University observes the holidays listed in our University Holidays policy FPU-1.008.
• Sick Leave
• Qualified employees may also accrue 12 days of annual sick leave and participate in our Sick Pool Program.
• Employee Assistant Program (EAP)

Explore Lakeland Florida

Conveniently located along I-4 between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland is home to Florida Polytechnic University and many other businesses and attractions. Click here to explore Lakeland, Florida.

Special Instructions Regarding Attachments

• Required attachments are listed on each posting.
• Please be sure to attach all required documents in the Resume/CV field before continuing through the application.
• Once your application has been submitted, no changes may be made and additional attachments will not be considered.

An unofficial copy of the degree/transcript is acceptable during the application process. For positions requiring a degree, the official transcripts are required upon hire.

Foreign Transcript: Transcripts issued outside of the United States require a equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the application deadline.

• All document(s) must be received on or before the closing date of the job announcements.
• This position requires a background check, which may include a level II screening as required by the Florida Statute §435.04.