Summary

Manages the review and approval process of new and non-competing federal, state, and private foundation research grant awards on behalf of the Department of Pediatrics through the College's electronic Biomedical Research Assurance Information Network (BRAIN). Ensures compliance with all federal, sponsor, and institutional policies and guidelines and serves as a liaison between faculty, Baylor College of Medicine, and sponsors. Participates in pre- and/or post-award grant management activities. This position operates in a high volume, deadline driven work environment.

Position is eligible for hybrid work schedule after initial training period. 

Employees with CRA certification are eligible for certification pay.

Job Duties

• Serve as the approver for all department extramural and intramural grant applications ensuring compliance with sponsor guidelines, federal regulations, and institutional requirements.
• Review and certify submission data in the College's electronic Biomedical Research and Assurance Information Network (BRAIN). This includes budget, financial, compliance, and administrative components for approximately 1,700 proposals annually with approximately $250M in funding. 
• Ensure compliance aspects of grant proposals are in accordance with federal guidelines such as research conflict of interest, responsible conduct of research, CITI trainings.
• Develop and implemen department processes and SOPs related to grant/contract/extramural funding submissions.
• Provide pre-award oversight for the administrative and financial operations of grant accounts from submission to funding.
• Train division administrators and research associates in pre-award processes.
• Participate in pre- and post-award grant management activities to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Analyze and integrate data from BRAIN, CTMS, and departmental databases to prepare reports and metrics for institutional leadership.
• Serve as a liaison between sponsors, principal investigators, research staff, and institutional offices.
• Serve as backup reviewer for the effort reporting system to ensure faculty and staff compliance.
• Develop and maintain research administration databases.
• Lead special projects.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.  Certified Research Administrator certification through the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) may substitute for the degree requirement.
• Six years of relevant experience.

Department Specific Criteria

• Mastery and a broad depth of understanding of the pre-award grant and budget process.
• Experience with a variety of grant mechanisms (such as R01, F31/F32, U01, and Career Development Awards) as well as a variety of sponsors, (such as but not limited to American Cancer Society, NIH, CDC, Dept. of Defense, and industry).
• Working knowledge of sponsor application submission systems such as ASSIST, Workspace, and Proposal Central.
• Should be considered an expert on federal and state regulations (NIH, NSF, DSHS, CDC) and serve as a resource for faculty investigators who are submitting grant applications.
• Position requires good reading, writing, and organizational skills, the ability to analyze and problem solve, and a high degree of flexibility in being able to respond to a fast-paced work environment.
• Must have critical thinking skills, be able to operate independently with little to no supervision.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with senior leadership such as TCH Vice President, Chair-Department of Pediatrics, Vice Chairs for Research-Department of Pediatrics, Division administrators, Principal Investigators/faculty.
• Must be able to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Must be able to mutli-task, prioritize, and manage up to 50 grant application reviews at any given time.