Research Administrator

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

About George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing:
The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing ranks among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs (U.S. News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff, and students in an inclusive environment.
We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought; and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.
Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Position Summary:
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering educates engineers and scientists who become leaders in academia, industry, and government, where they redefine the limits of technology. The scope of our interdisciplinary research collaboration is virtually unmatched, and Rice ECE is globally known for our extensive reach across disciplines, including designing next-generation wireless networks; nanophotonics; terahertz laser spectroscopy; digital systems processing; neuroengineering; machine learning and data science; healthcare devices and analytics; and a plethora of other interests.
The Research Administrator provides deep and independent analytical and financial support in proposal processing and pre- and post-award research administration for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE) at Rice University. They act as a liaison between the principal investigator, central administration, and the funder. The Research Administrator is responsible for complex, multi-investigator, or center grants and serves in an advisory capacity to faculty and senior leadership (dean, department chairs) in areas related to research administration, including compliance. Key duties include assisting the Principal Investigator (PI) with proposal preparation, reviewing sponsor guidelines, and coordinating submission processes. Additionally, responsibilities include preparing non-budget proposal elements, updating specialists on submission progress, and downloading/updating reports for submitted proposals.

Ideal Candidate Statement:
The ideal candidate has experience supporting the administration of research projects by handling tasks such as data entry, document uploads, and information collection.

Workplace Requirements:
Hybrid position: This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $56,000 – $69,000
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
This position is funded by a grant, soft, and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
• 1+ year(s) of administrative experience, which includes some research administration experience (i.e., grant proposal preparation and submission to various governmental agencies including, but not limited to, NSF, DOD, DOE, DARPA, NIH, etc.)
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted

Skills:

• Basic knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, email, and database software programs
• Knowledge of research administration guidelines, regulations, and policies
• Organizational skills
• Customer service
• Problem-solving

Preferences:

• Experience working in an institution of higher education
• 2 years of experience in a higher education environment with proficiency in organizational financial management
• Experience with drafting, organizing, and editing Word documents
• Management of personnel and grants/contracts with federal/state agencies
• Experience with university policies and procedures
• Experience with website creation/maintenance

Essential Functions:

• Provides support in the administration of research projects, including data entry, document uploads, and information collection
• Under supervision, reviews sponsor guidelines and assists the Principal Investigator (PI) with routine proposal preparation or other sponsored agreements
• Ensures subcontract statements of work, budget, and budget justification are received and approved by the PI
• Verifies Cayuse records and works with OSR for submission to sponsor
• Participates in account close-out activities
• Serves as liaison between PI, Office of Sponsored Research, specialists, research groups, and other departments
• Ensures subcontract budgets align with Rice’s budget guidelines and alerts the PI of discrepancies; confirms budget matches sponsor budget and justification 
• Downloads and updates reports for submitted proposals
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Assists with administrative duties such as coordinating research-related travel, purchasing equipment and supplies, and scheduling meetings and events
• Assists with visa applications and Visitor Management System entry
• Coordinates with Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement for activity budgeting and reporting
• Completes Faculty Information System reporting

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.