Research Specialist

**Research Specialist**:
**Primary Purpose**: The purpose of the Research Specialist is to deliver exemplary specialized financial administration, both pre and post-award, to the research community at the University of Saskatchewan.** **The primary focus are institutional grants (e.g. Canada Foundation for Innovation, Canada Research Chairs, Canada Excellence Research Chairs), but may also support other large-scale programs.** **This position provides coordination and financial administration of successful grants in order to facilitate the objectives of the research activity, minimize administrative complexity, improve researcher experience, and facilitate reporting to granting agencies. These activities minimize risk to researchers and to the University.

There is a significant financial and accounting component to this role. The person holding this position ensures the effective oversight and facilitation of grants and awards finalization and post award activity with external partners, assessing potential risks, monitoring timelines and ensuring that all relevant parties are informed. Through ongoing monitoring of deliverables, potential bottlenecks and roadblocks are identified and appropriate actions formulated in consultation with grant holders and implemented for resolution.

This position is a key member of the institutional programs team within RASI, and works with a broad range of researchers and administrative units including Financial Operations, Research Accounting, Connection Point, Infrastructure, Planning and Land Development, Enterprise Project Management Office, Procurement, and financial officers in colleges, schools and centres.

**Nature of Work**: Reporting to the Associate Director, Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives

(RASI), this position works and interacts with a diverse group of stakeholders (as noted above). The work encompasses a broad range of duties and processes that involve deadlines, peak periods, and situations that require both the ability to work independently, as well as part of a team. The position requires discretion in interpreting various policies, procedures and guidelines. Activities include budget development, submission and approval of grant proposals; award finalization, completion of project deliverables, financial reporting and closing out of awards.

This Research Specialist is required to manage multiple tasks, details, deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment where interruptions and competing priorities are the norm. The ability to respond effectively to a diversity of people and units using appropriate communication skills to collaborate and problem solve is required. The position regularly encounters complex projects and situations, and the impact of error is high. Sound judgment and strict attention to detail, especially related to policies and regulatory requirements, are crucial.

**Accountabilities**:

- Provide proposal development support for institutional and infrastructure projects that includes developing budgets, confirming project costs by working with Procurement and Connection Point to manage quotes, verifying financial information and providing compliance reviews, including adherence to agency and university financial guidelines, and developing budget justifications.
- Provide financial oversight to funded projects, monitor project budgets and provide advice and information to Project Leaders of funded projects regarding timelines, funder guidelines and reporting requirements, applicable university policies, and other critical elements of implementation for successful grantees.
- Work closely with Project Leaders and other university stakeholders to manage budgets and make purchases, ensuring timely procurement for all research infrastructure projects in the portfolio. This may include acquiring quotes, verifying eligibility within project constraints and funder guidelines, verifying availability of funding, reviewing and reconciling contracts, managing purchases and payments, conducting budget management and variance analysis, and completing purchase orders, receiving, database entries journals and accruals.
- Provide accurate, timely and complete financial information to stakeholders, including preparation of monthly reconciliations, annual and final reports to CFI and other funding agencies.
- Monitor changes to the CFI and other relevant funder programs to safeguard university compliance.
- Manage exposure of the university to risks of liability and reputation associated with the construction of new research facilities, involving such challenges as multiple partners, international connections, and field exploration; Identify issues that may impact success for the university and provide recommendations to related committees.
- Manage and maintain records for tracking research projects using university standard methods (e.g. Banner, FAST, UnivRS, other database, hard copy), providing management information and ensu