Research Coordinator

Overview:
Research Coordinators are responsible for identifying and disseminating funding opportunities, providing review, feedback and support to faculty on their research funding proposals and budgets, assisting the Manager, Senior Manager, or Director level in drafting and reviewing grant and industry contracts, transfer agreements and amendments.

**Responsibilities**:

- Utilize an in-depth and detailed working knowledge of sponsor guidelines and university research procedures

Provide Pre/Post award administrative management of research grants/contracts/awards
- Determine on-going eligibility of faculty members for grants and contracts and complete applicable government agency verification procedures to ensure continuing eligibility;
- Monitor and provide action when required throughout the lifetime of the project from initiation to file closure. Work with a number of parties (e.g., faculty, students, sponsors, financial staff and other administrative staff) to ensure that the research administration role is carried out promptly and accurately;
- Ensure accurate, consistent and efficient data entry and workflow to best support researchers
- Follow up with faculty members and students, or Office of Research managers, as required, in response to database (InfoEd) generated reports;
- Research and recommend enhanced administrative management procedures and policies, and keep current with respect to best practices.

Administer programs internal/external to University
- Manage internal funding or nomination programs in a consistent and transparent fashion. Be able to develop and communicate internal competition procedures. Coordinate review panels as well as participate in and document panel decisions. Provide analysis of internal programs to senior management to support strategic decision making
- Working with all six faculties, centres and institutes, administer simple external sponsored programs; including potential for quotas, internal/external deadlines, eligibility, submission, review (compliance, quality, suitability) eg. COETF, NSERC USRA
- Organize and participate, and take minutes in internal committees, workshops and meetings

Communication and relationship building
- Promote funding opportunities and report results of competitions to university community in a timely manner;
- Develop relationships with sponsors to enable effective communication when questions or concerns arise;
- Communicate with research officers at other institutions;
- Interact professionally with external sponsors, government agencies, faculty members, university administrators, staff and students;
- Collaborate with the Managers/Senior Managers, and the Director, with respect to the effective implementation of any procedures related to research proposals, grants, funding, and partnerships;
- Attend periodic meetings (on or off campus) with sponsors and/or other university representatives regarding program guidelines, best practices, review and reporting procedures and development of proposals;
- Prepare non-routine reports and undertake special projects from generalized requirements;
- Make and/or present verbal presentations as required;
- Assist in the organization of information sessions, sponsor visits and research delegations.

Agreement administration
- Assist the Managers/Senior Managers or Directors in the negotiation of grant agreements and industry contracts;
- Prepare standard draft agreements and amendments, ensuring that all relevant details and documents are included;
- Prepare and submit to external sponsors specific requests for amendments to grant agreements and contracts, such as date extensions and budgetary reallocations, so that research projects are properly monitored;
- Provide effective, helpful responses to inquiries from sponsors, faculty, and staff regarding the terms and conditions of grant agreements and contracts, particularly as they relate to matters such as overhead, reporting deadlines, payment dates, publications, university policies (eg intellectual property)
- Prepare, review and negotiate simple transfer agreements

Qualifications:

- Completion of an undergraduate degree is required, with a Master’s degree preferred or equivalent related education and experience which provides strong knowledge of an academic research environment
- 1-5+ years’ experience in Research Administration preferably in a University environment
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate and edit grant proposals and budgets and experience with research agreements and contracts
- Must have exceptional communication (oral and written), analytical, and organizational skills.
- Must have demonstrated attention-to-detail and problem solving and ability to work with confidential information.
- Must have a keen sense of responsibility, ability and confidence to communicate effectively with researchers from a variety of disciplines within all six faculties, partner institutions, government representatives, industry partners