Senior Grant Administrator
NYU Abu Dhabi is pioneering a new model of higher education for a global world, dedicated to excellence in teaching and research and to advancing cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. Drawing on the strengths of the NYU global network, it offers an outstanding liberal arts and sciences education to students from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and around the world, with a distinctive focus on intercultural understanding and leadership. It supports innovative research and graduate education programs that push forward the frontiers of knowledge and respond in powerful and interdisciplinary ways to vital global and local challenges.
Position summary
Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates. In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.
New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Senior Grants Administrator reporting to the Associate Director, Post Award Administration.
This position is a key member of the university’s research operations reporting to the Manager, Post Award Administration. This position will provide oversight and support on all post award operations pertaining to the academic divisions, Research Institute, research infrastructure, external grants and other programs. The position is primarily responsible for central- and project-level financial administration of internal research funds awarded to faculty members, Research Institute center grants, and larger core research infrastructure programs, as well as external grants, ensuring grant expenditures are properly managed and reported to PIs, NYUAD leadership, and the Dean; and providing the point of contact for PIs, research support staff, and department managers. This position will also collaborate with the NYUAD Finance and Budget Office, NYU Office of Sponsored Programs and Sponsored Program Accounting to ensure compliance with established guidelines and best practices. Additionally, this position will have a supervisory role to mentor one grants administrator to support the Post Award Administration Office in budget planning, grant accounting, financial reporting, and compliance for the University’s post-award research operations.
The office is responsible for the post-award financial administration of research and creative projects at NYUAD; this includes internal research funds as well as external grants and contracts. The overall goal of this office is to facilitate the day-to-day management of research funding for faculty members and researchers, thereby optimizing scholarly productivity. The office is also responsible for the establishment and communication of effective sponsored program administration policies, procedures and systems.
Key responsibilities:
Post award research administration
Oversee the post award administration of NYUAD’s research portfolio including all faculty research programs, start-up funds, center grants, Provostial Research Enhancement Funds, the Core Technology Platform, Kawader, Postgraduate Research Fellowship, ER Cost sharing and other competitive grants
Provide support and advice on all post-award research administration matters to divisions/departments by conducting regular meetings
Collaborate with partners in the Office of Academic Appointments and Budget Office to maintain accurate deliverables pertaining to faculty hiring and research awards
Use of the Grants Management system (Cayuse) and all financial systems (FAME, Project Costing, UDW+, BIA, CF authorization, Cayuse, etc.) and updating research accounts based on new awards/contracts/renewals/budget modifications
Assist in new grant setup and related tasks to make funds accessible to faculty/PIs in a proactive manner
Monitor project expenditures for all research grants i.e. Faculty research, Research Infrastructure, Research Institute, external grants, infrastructure programs, etc.
Assist in processing AHRFs and WD positions in coordination with the Office of Academic Appointments in a timely manner
Review and process external engagement submissions
Assist in processing summer salary in coordination with Office of Academic Appointments for Research Institute, Faculty Research, and External Grants
Assist in processing PPTP and other student research support payments on faculty grants
Assist faculty in Cayuse proposal submissions, prepare financial analyses, research award letter drafts and support seamless award letter approvals for faculty research funds
Assist in reviewing and processing expense reimbursements and other routine tasks
Resolve any accounting and reconciliation discrepancies regarding variances in projections, actuals, and budgets of all projects
Assist in providing monthly reports to project PIs and management as required
Complete annual expense review for research grants as per the audit framework
Serve as the team lead for Research Institute center grants, all Research Infrastructure programs and sponsored research reporting
Interact regularly with and provide high quality customer service to faculty members conducting sponsored research; work closely with department leadership and PIs to assess their future direction and immediate concerns
Maintain effective post-award records, reporting sponsored program expenditures, and the establishment of an efficient post-award infrastructure ensuring compliance with local, federal, University and sponsor requirements
Collaborate with the pre-award team and the Office of Research in the budget proposal development reviews, NCE, rollover, etc. for current and new grants including centers, REFs, etc. as per established guidelines (e.g. RRC)
Collaborate regularly with the Pre-Award team, OSP and SPA for seamless execution of external sponsored research grants and contracts; prepare annual and final project financial reports and complete the close-out process
Liaise with NYU SPA and external grant sponsors for carry forwards, NCEs, submission of financial reports, and close out processes
Educate and train the division administrators and faculty on post award administration policies and processes
Perform any on-going reporting, analytical projects, and related administrative tasks on an ad-hoc basis supporting the department
Routinely meet and alert the Manager to issues surrounding post award administration for the assigned areas of responsibility
Research budget development and forecasting
Working under the leadership of the Manager, Post Award Research Administration, plan and develop the annual research budget and expense projections for the division of Science, Research Institute and research infrastructure programs. Prepare budget presentation and reports for NYUAD leadership and the Deans.
Assist the internal NYUAD research funding process as per established guidelines and best practices; participate in developing annual and multi-year grant budgets for new faculty research awards, center grants including funding renewals, etc.
Facilitate any administrative and financial changes to grants, conduct variance analysis, and review monthly expenditures in comparison to approved budgets and resolve budget errors.
Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual budget reports/dashboards for the Provost, NYUAD Leadership, sponsors, and the academic deans
Administer the financial analysis and budget reporting for relevant internal stakeholders
Work in partnership with the Finance & Budget Office to ensure accuracy and compliance of the research financial deliverables
Team support
Provide direct mentorship and support to a junior team member; foster a collaborative, collegial working environment among the team
Post award process improvements
Contribute in developing research administration and expenditure policies which enable flexibility and productivity while ensuring necessary controls
Support the enhancement of the electronic systems needs for the NYUAD post award operations. This includes Cayuse, FAME, Oracle budgeting reporting tool, Tableau, etc.
Policy development
Participate in the development of research-related policies, and reviews of the University financial-related policies that affect research
Required education:
Bachelor’s degree
Required experience:
More than 5 years of experience with budget development and reports for sponsored research grants
Extensive experience generating reports of portfolios of multiple grants for senior management and funding agencies
Exceptional technical, accounting, and communication skills are a must. Full competence and high-level proficiency with Microsoft Excel is essential
Interpersonal skills with diverse populations at all levels in a professional manner
Ability to quickly learn and understand University policies and procedures, and disseminate information to faculty and staff regarding pre and post award management
Ability to work independently, under supervision, and as part of a team
Ability to work effectively with other administrative offices of the university, in particular Finance, Budget and Office of Academic Appointments
Willingness to work flexible hours at times to ensure an effective working relationship between New York and Abu Dhabi offices
Preferred education:
Master’s degree
Continuing professional education in accounting, finance, data management, or research administration an advantage
Preferred experience:
Exceptional technical, accounting, and communication skills are a must. Full competence and high-level proficiency with Microsoft Excel is essential
Interpersonal skills with diverse populations at all levels in a professional manner
Ability to quickly learn and understand University policies and procedures, and disseminate information to faculty and staff regarding pre and post award management
Ability to work independently, under supervision, and as part of a team
Ability to work effectively with other administrative offices of the university, in particular Finance, Budget and Office of Academic Appointments
Willingness to work flexible hours at times to ensure an effective working relationship between New York and Abu Dhabi offices
Other information about NYUAD
NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.