Summary

The Post-Award Research Administration Associate provides financial and administrative support for sponsored research portfolios supporting Baylor College of Medicine, Molecular and Human Genetics faculty within the Texas Children’s Hospital – Neurological Research Institute (TCH–NRI). This role is responsible for account reconciliation, effort tracking, and ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements. Working as part of a collaborative, function-based team, the associate supports consistent financial management practices and partners with faculty and central offices to address portfolio needs. This position is ideal for candidates seeking to build expertise in post-award research administration within a structured and supportive team environment.

This position is potentially eligible for a hybrid work schedule requiring one day onsite each week, after completing initial training period.  

Employees with CRA certification are eligible for certification pay.

Job Duties

Post-Award Financial Management & Reconciliation 

• Perform comprehensive post-award financial management of assigned sponsored project portfolios, including routine reconciliation of all accounts to ensure accuracy, allowability, and alignment with approved budgets and project timelines.
• Conduct transaction-level review of payroll distributions, procurement activity, subawards, and cost allocations; identify discrepancies and initiate corrective actions, including preparation of compliant cost transfers with appropriate supporting documentation.
• Monitor spending trends, burn rates, and project balances to support appropriate financial management and alignment with institutional policies and sponsor requirements.

Effort Management & Compliance Support 

• Perform review and validation of effort statements to support alignment between salary distributions, committed effort, and project activity.
• Identify discrepancies including over/under commitments and cost share gaps and escalate as appropriate.
• Support effort certification processes to ensure completion in accordance with institutional and sponsor requirements and assist with alignment of personnel funding across active awards.

Faculty Portfolio Support & Reporting 

• Provide post-award financial support for assigned faculty portfolios.
• Prepare standardized portfolio reports, including account status, projections, and identification of financial risks.
• Participate in routine communications with faculty and research teams to review financial activity and provide guidance on cost allowability, rebudgeting, and sponsor requirements, in coordination with departmental leadership.
• Interface with central administrative offices to assist in resolution of financial and compliance-related matters.

Post-Award Process Execution & Operational Support 

• Execute established post-award processes in alignment with departmental standard operating procedures and institutional guidelines to support consistency across TCH–NRI faculty portfolios.
• Maintain organized documentation to support audit readiness and compliance.
• Apply standard workflows and tools to assigned work and escalate complex or non-routine issues to management.

Limited Pre-Award Support & Continuity 

• Provide limited, as-needed support for pre-award activities during peak periods or staffing gaps, including assisting with basic budget preparation and application coordination.
• Maintain awareness of proposal commitments to support continuity between award setup and post-award management.
• 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.
• Two years of relevant experience.