City : Hamilton

Category : Other

Industry : Education

Employer : McMaster University

Department, Unit or Project Description: 

McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences is a leader in health research and innovation, providing a dynamic and collaborative environment for researchers and professionals. FHS Health Research Services provides leadership, counsel and fundamental services to the health research community. 

Reporting to the Associate Director, Research Grants, the Research Administration Specialist is responsible for the coordination and administration of research grant programs including, but not limited to those seeking funding from federal and provincial government sources which focus on capital infrastructure, faculty renewal, capacity building, fellowships and scholarships programs, and internal competitions.

Purpose and Key Functions

• Provide administrative support in the development, coordination, and submission of research proposals, including those characterized as institutional, by gathering and compiling information from a broad range of sponsors and programs, and developing procedures and tools to serve the University research community.
• Interpret and communicate applicable policies, procedures, and guidelines to project leaders.
• Provide internal timelines and deadlines to researchers for select programs and reports.
• Provide advice to researchers and recommend changes to their funding proposals to ensure compliance eligibility requirements.
• Gather information from investigators including, but not limited to construction estimates, salary information, and vendor quotes for preparing budgets.
• Prepare and revise multi-party, multi-funding, and multi-year budgets throughout the various stages of proposal development.
• Check and verify budget calculations for funding and grant proposals, and analyze the eligibility of matching fund contributions and ensure appropriate audit back-up has been received.
• Project annual cash flow by category and by source of funds.
• Work with colleagues and researchers to resolve post award concerns.
• Create spreadsheets for annual accounting and trend mapping of internal and external research funding which may include information about accounts and amounts for transfer of funding.
• Create award and account notices to document the terms and conditions of the funding.
• Update and maintain information in databases.
• Conduct data quality and validity reviews to ensure the integrity of data required for institutional reporting purposes.
• Proofread agreements from primary sponsors and identify changes in language and reporting requirements.
• Write and maintain a variety of documents including, but not limited to standard operating procedures, program documents and procedures, statistical summary reports and meeting minutes.
• Draft guidance documents for proposal preparations and prepare instructional documents for post award management.
• Assemble and collate guidance document packages for applicants and file management.
• Review past funding history of researchers to determine their eligibility for new funding.
• Respond to information requests from internal and external colleagues, collaborators, and agencies.
• Coordinate and attend meetings as required.
• Assemble application packages as required.
• Ensure the maintenance of filing and electronic record retention.
• Secure appropriate signatures for various documents.