Department Research Administrator in the Department of Environmental Health in the School of Public Health

The Department of Environmental Health at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) has a long history and national reputation of interdisciplinary research to address the health effects of environmental exposures. Our work addresses the health effects of exposures to complex mixtures of chemicals, including chemicals contained in consumer products as well as contaminants of water, food, and soil such as lead or mercury. We evaluate the health effects of air pollution and a changing climate, including through the school-wide Center for Climate and Health (https://sites.bu.edu/climateandhealth/) at BUSPH, which is led by environmental health faculty. We are also interested in the adverse effects of non-chemical hazards such as noise, heat, and social stressors, and how different kinds of chemical and non-chemical exposures accumulate or interact to harm health. Vulnerable populations such as children and people living in poverty in the US and internationally are of special interest to us.

Within the Department of Environmental Health there is a Workforce Development group that houses the two BUSPH grant-funded training centers: the federally-funded New England Public Health Training Center (https://www.nephtc.org/) (NEPHTC), and a Massachusetts Department of Health-funded programs, the Local Public Health Institute (https://sites.bu.edu/masslocalinstitute/) (LPHI).

The Research Administrator will be responsible for the full lifecycle of research administration in the Department of Environmental Health, including pre/post-award functions for all Department grants and contracts.

In this role, the incumbent will oversee the development and submission of grant applications with Department faculty and will be responsible for developing and maintaining a database of grant awards and monthly financial reporting for all funded projects. Additionally, the Research Administrator will oversee department payroll transactions, advance accounts and discretionary spending.

Responsible for department pre/post award grant and contract administration, which includes overseeing the entire lifecycle of a grant or contract – from initial discussion of the application, to submission of the final report (science + financial) and account closeout. This includes application preparations, progress reports/continuations, financial transactions related to research (journals and payroll adjustments), monthly financial reporting and closeout (financial reporting to sponsor and closing account with BU), and other tasks as requested by the sponsor and/or school and department. This also includes meeting all internal and sponsor deadlines with accurate reports.

Generate monthly grant and financial reports and reconcile payroll activities and financial accounts with Boston University financial systems; resolve issues with Post Award Finance Office (PAFO) to ensure account compliance for all department accounts (research and discretionary). Provide faculty, department director and department chair with detailed reports monthly on external funding activities.

Responsible for the Department’s payroll activities and corresponding payroll reports. Prepare monthly payroll distribution changes; reconcile salary expenses monthly.

Prepare and submit invoices to primary institutions for subaward agreements. Process invoices for awarded subawards.

Keep current with SPH guidelines and procedures and OSP requirements and procedures. Actively attend and participate in BU SPH Sponsored Projects Operations Committee meetings.

Required Skills

Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years direct experience required.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Required Experience