Research Administrator I

Position SummaryThe mission of the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) Office for Research is to facilitate the highest caliber of biomedical research, from basic to translational to clinical, among the VP&S faculty, students, and staff at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC). As a member of the Pre-Award team, the Research Administrator I contributes to CUIMC's research mission by supporting grant-related pre-award administrative activities for the basic sciences and other participating departments in the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. In this role, the Research Administrator I will leverage their pre-award grant administration knowledge to assist faculty in submission and pre-award administration of grants and contracts. Key areas of responsibility will include assisting PIs in the development, review, and submission of grants; preparing grant budgets; drafting supporting materials; and assisting with annual progress reports. Through this role, the Administrator I can expect to broaden their knowledge of academic grant-funded environments, including complex grants and the landscape of funded research at CUIMC, and contribute to the development of peers on the Pre-Award team. To be successful in this role, the Research Administrator I should be able to apply their full breadth of pre-award grant administration knowledge while demonstrating strong interpersonal and communication skills, attention to detail, and an ability to work collaboratively and independently in a deadline-driven environment. The Administrator I should be enthusiastic about building relationships and working closely with principal investigators to contribute to the advancement of research at CUIMC. ResponsibilitiesPre-Award Grant Administration * Assists PIs in the development, review, and submission of all Federal, State, and foundation grants and contracts applications, with a primary focus on individual investigator grants and multi-component grants. Manages timelines and the overall progression of submission to ensure the on-time completion of high quality, responsive and compliant proposal applications. * Trains under the direction of senior staff to gain knowledge and expertise in complex grants, such as center grants, and training grants. Assists senior staff on pre-award administration of said grants. * Prepares grant budgets and budget justifications based on the aims provided and RFA technical content requirements in full compliance with sponsor/donor and CU policies, as well as engages outside collaborators and establishes subcontracts. * Prepares and compiles all components of each grant submission, ensures that the proposal is formatted, packaged, and submitted in accordance with granting agency requirements. * Drafts supporting documents for grants including letters of intent, letters of support, cover letters, facilities, and resources. * Maintains detailed, up-to-date records of PI's other support, biosketches, and grant submission documents. * Responds to RFAs and summary statements and addresses issues prior to submission. * In coordination with the Post-Award Team and the principal investigators, promotes accurate preparation and timely submission of progress reports as required by sponsoring program. * Tracks the status of pending applications, follows up with investigator regarding review/funding status of application. * Supports investigators in responding to Just-In-Time requests. * Ensures files are complete for awarded applications, secures missing information from principal investigators and/or administrators. * Maintains standards: budget templates, standardized checklists for core staff and PIs tailored to the sponsor/mechanism, standardized filing system using shared drives, updated resources and facilities. * Performs all other duties as assigned within scope of practice and/or training. People and Stakeholder Management * Works c