Research Support Officer, open position - ERSO, UC Berkeley Stephanie Gangl 17 Apr 2008 13:06 EST

Hello-

The Engineering Research Support Organization (ERSO) in the College of
Engineering at UC Berkeley is in the process of recruiting for Research
Support Officers to join our research administration team. The career
ladder job description is included below in this message. Candidates
will be matched to the appropriate level based upon relevant experience
and qualifications.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is interested in
developing or furthering a career in research administration. We have a
supportive team with an energetic approach. If you know of anyone who
might be interested in this exciting opportunity please refer them to me
and I will be happy to speak with them about the opportunity and working
in ERSO. Candidates may apply directly at

http://jobs.berkeley.edu

and reference requisition # 8161.

Thanks,
Steph

--
Stephanie Gangl
HR Coordinator
Engineering Research Support Organization
University of California, Berkeley
195M Cory Hall
(ph) 510-643-6740
http://www.erso.berkeley.edu

JOB DESCRIPTION

Engineering Research Support Organization

University of California, Berkeley

Job Title:        Research Support Officer (RSO)

Salary:           3 job levels are on this career ladder.  Candidates
 will be matched to the appropriate level based upon
 experience and qualifications.

The Administrative Specialist full annual range of pay is $33,900 -
$61,000.

The Administrative Analyst full annual range of pay is $37,300 - $67,100.

The Senior Administrative Analyst full annual range of pay is $45,100 -
$81,200.

This position provides analytical, financial and administrative support
directly with faculty in proposal processing, contract and grant
administration, and budget development.  This position manages a full
case load for contracts and grants administration.  This case load
encompasses the entire range of work including pre-award proposal
initiatives seeking external research funding for the Engineering
Research Support Organization (ERSO) faculty, management of funds
post-award, and the proper closeout at the end of the funding cycle.
These activities include monitoring expenses, reconciling accounts,
providing financial analysis, running BFS and BAIRS reports, preparing
and routing journals, and gift processing. This is the mid-level
position of the team that provides financial analyses and support, plus
fiscal management for the full range of funding resources including
federal, state, extramural funded research contracts, public and private
grants, industry money, private gifts, and endowments for scientific
research programs.

 RESPONSIBILITIES:

Contracts and Grants Administration Post-Award and Close-out Process:

For the Post Award Administration:

Primary liaison between PI and campus administration staff for
non-technical requirements. Create sub-award requests. Approves and
monitors procurement transactions and expenditures plus payroll
transactions to research accounts. Monitors financial and inventory
reports. Monitors, tracks, and assures compliance with cost sharing
commitments. Provides monthly projections, analyzes spending patterns,
and recommends adjustments. Prepares ad hoc non-technical statistical
reports under direction. Manages timely reporting process to agencies.
With faculty and RA, revises budgets. After EFA issues fund number, and
allocates funds, verifies budget with EFA. Monitors fund to ensure all
transfers are completed Establishes and monitors gift processing.
Prepares all enterprise-required journal entries.

 For the Close-out Process:

Prepares final 6-month projection with PI at close of funding. Reviews
subcontracts, personnel, and on-going automatic expenses. In conjunction
with faculty and Team Lead guidance, submits NCE request via SPO.
Initiates fund changes or expense transfers. Completes EFA closeout
report.  Monitors BAIRS until all chart strings are deactivated.

 Contracts and Grants Administration Pre-Award:

As the primary faculty liaison, assist PIs with the development of
contract and grant proposals. Prepares the proposal budgets.  Prepares
support documents as required by proposal guidelines.  Coordinates
proposal submission with SPO. Oversees process from submission through
negotiation of final award.

 In addition to all of the above, at the Administrative Analyst Level:

Supports a wider range of sponsors with more stringent requirements.
Primary liaison between PI and campus administration staff for
non-technical requirements for a wider range of sponsors. Create
sub-award requests.  Prepares ad hoc non-technical statistical reports.
Manages timely reporting process to agencies.  Prepares all UC
inter-campus financial journals. In conjunction with faculty, submits
NCE request via SPO. Closes out MICRO state fund annually for all MICRO
awards.

 In addition to all of the above, at the Senior Administrative Analyst
Level:

Does all of the above on the more challenging and complex funding sources.

Acts a fiscal consultant. Manages widste range of sponsors with varying
policies, restrictions, and deliverables. Provides post-award financial
administration and management for research funds in accordance with
University costing policy and agency requirements. Analyzes expenses,
develops cost projections, provides financial tracking and fiscal
control, and fulfills reporting requirements. Works with SPO, EFA,
Central Purchasing, Disbursements, ERSO Business Services, and other
campus departments and/or recharge units to resolve invoicing problems,
billing/payment discrepancies.  Identifies potential overdraft
situations and devises expenditure plans to avert cost overruns and
disallowances. Performs cost analysis, budget development, and proposal
preparation. Establishes subcontracts and Memorandum Agreements between
institutions.

 REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:
Basic knowledge of OMB circulars such as A-21, A110, A-133, Federal
Acquisition Regulations, and principles of cost accounting standards,
including allowability, allocability, and reasonableness. Knowledge and
one year experience in research pre-awards administration, proposal
preparation/submission processes. Basic working knowledge of
institutions of higher education fiscal policies/procedures and with the
Berkeley Financial System (BFS.)  Ability to learn within the first six
months external sponsor requirements

Experience in managing financial accounts and funds, including cost
projections and budgeting, ability to perform mid-level financial
analysis and basic customized reporting. Proficiency in working with
computer and information management systems. Demonstrated competence in
the use of spreadsheet and database in financial analysis, fiscal
management and financial reports.  Ability to learn within the first six
month basic BAIRS II reports, BIS queries, and pivots.

 Strong organizational, problem solving, and customer service skills.
Good math skills, attention to detail, and ability to work with a high
degree of accuracy. Ability to analyze fiscal data, summarize
information and present it in a logical format. Effective oral and
written communication. Good interpersonal skills to interact with
diverse groups. Ability to work independently and as a team member.
Ability to identify, research, and resolve problems, and follow through
on assignments with directions. Ability to perform mid-level financial
analysis and basic customized reporting. Ability to identify, research,
and resolve problems, and follow through on assignments with minimum
directions. Ability to perform high level financial analysis and
customized reporting.

 A successful candidate will have a minimum of one year as Specialist
in Contracts and Grants pre- and post-award management. Minimally a
two-year degree in accounting or a related field, or equivalent experience.

 A criminal background check will be required before the hiring process
can be completed.

 In addition to all of the above, at the Administrative Analyst Level:

A successful candidate will have demonstrated working knowledge of
regulations and sponsor requirements, a minimum of 3 years experience in
contract and grants management, and minimally a bachelor’s degree in
accounting or a related field, or equivalent experience.  Demonstrated
competence in the use of spreadsheet and database in financial analysis,
fiscal management and financial reports.  Skills in BAIRS II reports,
BIS query, and pivots.
In addition to all of the above, at the Senior Administrative Analyst Level:

Ability to converse with a PI about the science involved and grasp the
concept well enough to translate it into a cohesive fundable proposal
where the budget is a realistic match to the scope of the science being
undertaken. A successful candidate will have a minimum of five years
experience in contract and grants management.

Other:

This is an ERSO career ladder position at Specialist, Analyst, or Senior
Analyst, depending upon the candidate's qualifications.

The Engineering Research Support Organization (ERSO) is a newly formed
organization to consolidate administrative services of the four existing
Engineering ORUs. The mission of ERSO is to provide an integrated and
effective research administrative center to support and encourage
healthy growth in the College of Engineering research enterprise.  The
organization consolidates the four separate research administration
functions into a single, integrated support office, with approximately
85 to 90 professional and clerical staff, reporting within the College
of Engineering, and supporting over 1,300 additional GSRs, postdocs,
visiting scholars, professional, technical and lab staff.  Visit
www.erso.berkeley.edu for more information.

Resume submissions from employees within the four Engineering ORUs will
be reviewed one week prior to other candidates.

--
Stephanie Gangl
HR Coordinator
Engineering Research Support Organization
University of California, Berkeley
195M Cory Hall
(ph) 510-643-6740

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================