This position is a member of the Research Advancement (RA) team in the Research and Innovation Office at the University of Minnesota. Research Advancement runs a number of internal grant competitions and award programs designed to seed research and help maintain the U of M as a leading public research institution in the US. In this role, the incumbent interfaces with faculty, research administrators, and research associate deans in all disciplines. They are entrusted to be the lead administrator for two continuous RA programs (i.e. Limited Submissions and Matching Funds), and they team up with RA colleagues on all other RA activities so that competitions can be run through their complete cycle smoothly and efficiently. The role reports directly to the RA manager and it collaborates closely with the Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives and a Faculty Director.

**Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship.**
If offered this position, you must be able to demonstrate authorization to work in the United States at the University of Minnesota by the start date. Any employment offer would be contingent upon verification that you will meet this requirement.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Limited Submissions Program Lead - 50%

• Serve as the lead facilitator and process expert of the Limited Nominations Process for extramural competitions, working in close collaboration with the Faculty Director (FD) for Limited Submissions and the Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives (EDSI).
• Manage and coordinate the day to day activities of the program, owning the limited submission process end to end and making improvements as determined with the FD.
• Harvest limited submissions opportunities from various sources; ensure their timely posting on RIO's website and their prompt advertisement to the research community.
• Monitor open competitions, anticipate deadlines, respond to inquiries, and audit applications.
• Facilitate competitions and applications review when needed, seeking direction and recommendations from the FD to ensure the determination and selection process is rigorous and consistent.
• Track and organize the activities of the reviewers, identify potential conflicts of interest, and coordinate with the Limited Submissions standing review panel and the directors (FD & EDSI).
• Notify principal investigators (researchers) of competition results and correspond with grant administrators in the Sponsored Projects Administration unit.
• Work with RIO's shared services, in particular the Communications team to coordinate announcements, website changes, and other communication-related needs, and ORIS for technology changes and configurations.

AdHoc Seed Grant Funding Competitions Facilitation - 20%

• Manage internal seed grant funding competitions sponsored by Research Advancement.
• Define, review or orchestrate the schedule of competition cycles and key deadlines.
• Guide the configuration of workflow systems that facilitate and automate aspects of the seed grant information management and processing.
• Monitor open competitions, anticipate deadlines, respond to inquiries, and audit applications.
• Identify and recruit potential faculty reviewers who are subject matter experts and have appropriate professional experience. Assess potential conflicts of interest, Track and cross reference the participation of reviewers on all our committees to carefully calibrate and distribute the burden placed on faculty resources.
• Gather and distribute nomination materials, coordinate all meetings, create summaries of data (Excel documents and Google Spreadsheets), record discussion and decisions during review meetings, and compose outcome notices.
• Send notification letters and manage post-award activities such as sending reminders and collecting / acting on activity reports.
• Work with RIO's shared services, in particular the Communications team to coordinate announcements, website changes, and other communication-related needs, and ORIS for technology changes and configurations.

Research Advancement Programs Support and Improvements - 20%

• Triage and respond to email inquiries from faculty and research team members related to the various programs offered by Research Advancement. Ensure all questions are answered in a timely fashion.
• Serve as a backup to teammates and collaborate on other RA grants programs as needed to ensure continuity of service during planned and unplanned absences.
• Develop, document, and maintain up to date job aids, processesses and procedures to facilitate team operations and service resiliency.
• Identify work efficiencies; collaborate with the team and partners participating in the RA programs to streamline activities and operations.
• Provide support to program directors or program owners, complete tasks, and facilitate small projects as assigned.

Matching Funds Program Lead - 10%

• Serve as the lead facilitator and process expert for the Matching Funds program.
• Monitor, review and track incoming matching funds request. Gather and review required supporting materials, and determine eligibility for the program.
• Respond to inquiries and questions, and work with external parties on requests requiring special coordination.
• Route eligible requests for approval and signature in a timely fashion.
• Electronically store matching funds letters for documentation purposes and potential audit; manage file storage following document retention guidelines.

Work With Flexibility Options

The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) and the Research Advancement team endorse a "work with flexibility" approach that offers a welcoming and flexible work environment where everyone is inspired to do their best.

Work Schedule: While our goal is to offer as much flexibility as possible and let staff control when they complete their work while meeting set deadlines, the nature of the services provided by the Research Advancement team to the research community comes with the expectation that services are provided during regular university business hours. The team works together to ensure continuity of services.

Work Location: This position was designated as eligible for a wide range of options, from working fully remote (Profile 4), to partially remote (Profiles 2-3), or entirely in the office (Profile 1). The incumbent will be asked to choose. Note that regardless of the profile selected, this role comes with the requirement to occasionally attend on-campus meetings and on-site events for professional development, collaboration and team effectiveness. Required on-site/on-campus presence is expected to typically be 4 days / month after the onboarding and training period. Because we are a land-grant institution that serves the state, the University will continue to- in most cases- expect employees to live in Minnesota. RIO management retains the right to modify flexible work arrangement agreements on a temporary or permanent basis for any reason at any time.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree plus at least two years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least six years.
• Strong organization skills; ability to plan, organize and manage a variety of assignments with limited guidance.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with tact, and strong customer service skills.
• Excellent collaboration skills; ability to work as a team.
• Strong task management and personal organization; ability to establish a timeline and meet project deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to promote a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace.
• Fluency in using a variety of collaboration software (in particular Google Workspace applications and Microsoft suite of tools)
• Technology curiosity and interest in making the best use of tools to support personal efficiency, improve service effectiveness, promote the efficiency and accuracy of workflows, and ensure the quality of the information collected to provide services.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing seed grants or other competitive funding competitions.
• Process improvement experience.
• Familiarity with research activities at a large, public research institution.

Research Advancement supports interdisciplinary initiatives, administers UMN research grant programs, guides research infrastructure planning, and directs research policy and review. The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) provides approximately $5 million in funding and awards annually to support and nurture the University's systemwide research enterprise.

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you'll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Please visit the for more information regarding benefits.

**Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship.**
If offered this position, you must be able to demonstrate authorization to work in the United States at the University of Minnesota by the start date. Any employment offer would be contingent upon verification that you will meet this requirement.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U:

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).