Research Support Manager - Department of Surgery
Position Summary
The Research Support Manager handles all aspects of the research mission for the Department of Surgery,
covering pre- and post-grant award processes. The Research Support Manager is responsible for
management of the sponsor-funded, internally-funded research projects and research commitments as
part of start-up funding, bridge funding, or research incentive funding. This position also oversees
mentorship meetings for junior faculty and monthly/quarterly finance and research journal clubs and
provides administrative supervision to lab staff and other research support personnel. This would include
assisting with onboarding by requesting appropriate access to labs, shared files, and system programs,
approving payroll and time off requests, overseeing compliances, and processing tuition payments as
needed. The Research Support Manager will work closely with the Vice Chair for Education and the Vice
Chair for Research to administer the clinical research residency program and any future training grants. This
position will determine the need for additional research staff and the availability of funding and will sit as a
member of search committees when positions are posted. This position will also be responsible for final
review and approval of financial and human resource transactions on sponsored funds.
Position Responsibilities
• Identifies trends and determines priorities for the Department of Surgery.
• Develops and monitors financial plans.
• Analyzes data over numerous years to project and makes recommendations to administration for future
year budgeting and planning.
• Provides final departmental approval of all financial and HR transactions on sponsored funds for the
Department of Surgery.
• Hires, trains, and develops employees within the Department of Surgery.
• Acts as member of the Department of Surgery administration finance team.
• Supervises and leads departmental research team, including an accountant, research assistants, clinical
trials coordinators, graduate research assistants, hourly undergraduate students, and any
complimentary appointees in laboratory areas.
• Acts as point of contact for Carver College of Medicine summer medical student program, which
includes determining appropriate funding, onboarding any summer interns, and ensuring access is set
up prior to intern’s start date.
• Ensures accountants are monitoring grant expenditures and ensuring compliance.
• Reviews and approves grant budgets and proposals.
• Serves on Research Administration Team for the Department of Surgery.
• Advises and assists departmental leaders in creating policies and systems that streamline the grant
process.
• Develops plans for future grant submissions including training grants.
• Serves as a liaison with internal departments and external agencies.
• Communicates with Division of Sponsored Programs and the Grant Accounting Office about grants and
assists with year-end reporting, grant closeout, and audit questions.
• Prepares and negotiates private industry sponsored funding opportunities.
• Provides support in transfer of research funding from other institutions for new faculty.
• Provides training sessions for the finance and administrative teams on use of Excel, UIRIS, Cayuse,
Protrav, and other online systems.
• Creates and maintains operations manual for administrative team and specific labs within the
Department of Surgery.
• Reviews and monitors monthly and periodic reports that help the department look at where they stand
financially.
• Creates and monitors research financial matrix report to measure sustainability and productivity.
• Proactively reviews reports to resolve financial discrepancies, minimizing risk to the department.
• Meets with faculty on a regular basis to review research milestones and budgetary issues.
• Other duties or projects as assigned by supervisor.
• Demonstrates respect for all members of the University community in the course of performing one’s
duties and in response to administrators, supervisors, coworkers, and customers.
• Represents the interests of the University and of unit leadership in the use of resources to meet service
and productivity demands within unit goals and budgets; strives to promote continual process and
quality improvement.
• Seeks opportunities to enhance one’s own professional knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to
one’s current position and/or to prepare for potential future roles and overall career development.
Percent of Time: 100%, 40 hours per week
Location: UI Main Campus
Pay Grade: 5A
Benefit Highlights:
• Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, Iowa.
• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://hr.uiowa.edu/benefits/employee-benefits
Education Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, or a related area, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience Requirements
• Minimum of three years of accounting experience.
• Minimum of three years of grants administration experience.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience managing complex information requiring attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team setting.
• Must be proficient in computer software applications.
• Knowledge of finance and accounting practices, financial analysis, and reporting; ability to apply this
knowledge appropriately to a variety of situations.
• Knowledge of and ability to use processes, tools and services for developing and managing grants and
contracts.
• Knowledge of the contractual, compliance and legal matters related to expenditures related to grants
from various federal, state and private funding agencies; ability to evaluate, interpret and improve the
language used in grant contractual agreements.
Desired Qualifications
• Experience with grant budget preparation and monitoring.
• Experience in management and supervision of staff.
• Knowledge of University of Iowa Health Care practices, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge of NIH rules and regulations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to multitask, prioritize, and coordinate multiple duties.
Required application materials include a resume/CV and cover letter. Please attach these under "submission relevant materials." Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filling any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
For additional questions, please contact Devin DeAnda at devin-deanda@uiowa.edu.
Equal opportunity employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
