Job Title: Vice President of Research Operations & CRA
Department: Office of Research Affairs (ORA)
Shift: 1st
Specialty: Research
Job Number: 2022-3663
Date Posted: 08/24/2022
Position Type: Executive

Job Qualifications:

Vice President of Research Operations & CRA

The incumbent oversees the Office of Research Affairs (ORA) which is responsible for overall research administration and shares in the financial administration of the institution's grants and contracts. This ORA supports all research activity in health services, population, clinical, translational, and basic science research. The ORA is responsible for regulatory operations including the IRB, IBC, Biohazard, and IACUC committees and their adherence to regulations and policies. The ORA directs the administration of grants and contracts received by the institution, including supporting Corporate Finance with the financial management of funds and external audits of research-related activity. The ORA develops and maintains effective and efficient policies and processes that support sponsored award management and regulatory compliance.

The ORA provides assistance with proposal preparation and research fiscal management support for sponsored project funds, ensuring adherence with Federal, state, local government, other sponsors, and Rush regulations and policies. The ORA also develops and administers policies and procedures that ensure adherence to regulations in pre-award and post-award stages, including proposal negotiation/acceptance, assisting Corporate Finance with the information required for invoicing, financial reports, letter of credit draws, collecting accounts receivable, reconciling and closing accounts, assisting with the institution's time and effort reporting process, monitoring fiscal controls, preparing recurring and special reports and analyses, and developing and delivering training to departmental staff and the overall Rush community.

The ORA is guided by a strategy that embraces transparency and accountability and balances customer service, operational accountability, and data-driven continuous performance improvement. The Chief Research Administrator will be responsible for accountability to this strategy as well as developing the institutional research strategy for future growth. The individual who holds this position exemplifies the Rush mission, vision, and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

Position Summary:
This position reports to the Institutional Official of Rush University.
The incumbent works closely with both the Vice Provost, Research, and the Chief Business Official who share overall responsibility for the ORA. Services emanating from the ORA for which the VPRO has responsibility include, sponsored programs administration (including pre-award proposal preparation, support to Corporate Finance (for post-award research fund management), research and fiscal regulatory operations, clinical research administration, animal care/use, and information technology systems supporting research. The VPRO will have oversight over operational aspects of clinical research administration and will collaborate with the assistant vice provost for clinical research and the Rush legal team (contracting).

This position is responsible for fostering external sponsor and regulatory relationships and providing leadership for the pre-and post-award service and activities of administrators located within the colleges and units conducting research at Rush. The responsibilities of the VPRO extend across the institution and medical center and are conducted in collaboration with all campus and patient-care locations of Rush.

Summary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the Vice Provost for Research, Deans, Department Chairs, and other leadership in establishing strategic plans for research administration - including measurable goals, milestones, and achievement objectives. Support strategic efforts in staff recruiting, space/facility planning, and the development of annual budgets.
• Provide leadership, operational management, coordination, and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the ORA and research administration. Recommends adjustments to policies and new policies as required to meet strategic directions.
• Work with Rush Deans, Vice Presidents, Directors, and other senior leadership to obtain the necessary support for administrative actions that impact research administration and facilitate the introduction of research administration initiatives for faculty.
• Represent the interests of the Deans, Chairs, faculty, staff, and leadership in defining, developing, and implementing institutional business operations to effectively encourage and support research administration, sponsored programs, and regulatory activities.
• Collaborate with institutional leadership to address client service, strategic planning, work process review and enhancement, the development of information systems, education needs, human resources, budget, finance, and infrastructure for research administration.
• Initiate process redesign to improve operating metrics and service levels provided to the institution's grant and contract recipients, departmental administrators, and central staff. Identify and recommend system enhancements to minimize obstacles, streamline processes, and increase the efficiency of research administration-related activities.
• In collaboration with corporate offices such as Finance, develop and implement comprehensive training and education programs related to research administration initiatives - including training and education formats tailored to the needs of faculty, department staff, and Centers.
• Mediate research administration concerns and facilitate the removal of obstacles.
• Promote and continuously assess research regulatory compliance with sponsor regulations, policies, and federal and state laws that govern externally sponsored research activities.
• Sponsor important research administration initiatives within Rush.

Detailed Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for all research administration functions within the Office of Research Affairs. Collaborates with entities that have direct oversight for research administration functions not otherwise reporting through ORA (i.e., Legal, Finance, Compliance)
• Support and share responsibility for unit- and Center-based research administrators.
• Direct and oversee a research administration organizational model that is flexible and meets the needs of the research faculty and staff.
• Ensure institutional fiscal/research adherence and maintain a high level of customer service.
• Ensure that the ORA integrates pre-award, post-award, and adherence to regulatory activities such that support for sponsored awards is maintained either through services provided by ORA or other appropriate institutional areas/departments.
• Assist senior leadership with the development and enforcement of institutional policies, procedures, and training that support the conduct of pre- and post-award sponsored programs, research regulatory compliance, and information technology supporting research administration.
• Advocate for research administration operations and initiatives among Rush leadership and the research community.
• Represent the interests of the Vice Provost for Research, Deans, Chairs, VPs, faculty, trainees, and staff in defining, developing, and implementing institutional operations that encourage and support sponsored activities and adherence with policies and regulations.
• Act as a liaison with institutional Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors, and their related staffs to ensure that requirements and regulations related to pre and post-award sponsored projects administration, research regulatory compliance, and information management are communicated, documented and implemented in a manner that serves the research community.
• Represent the Office of Research Affairs on appropriate business and administrative committees/councils of the institution.
• Act as a liaison with extramural sponsors, Federal, state, and local governments, and private sector agencies on matters relating to sponsored programs administration.
• Continuously develop and encourage a "team" approach to enabling research activities with Principal Investigators, department administrators, and other institution staff.
• Monitor institutional sponsored funds and activities according to Federal and state regulations and guidelines, including Federal Office of Management and Budget Guidance. Interpret regulations and guidelines for the institution and advise on policy and procedure development. Evaluate risks and initiate changes where appropriate. Maintain current expertise in all applicable rules, regulations, guidelines, and proposed changes to such.
• Coordinate and continuously monitor ORA performance and audit activities by Federal, state, and independent auditors. Assemble performance improvement unit within ORA and assist departmental personnel with audit activities. Maintain records of audit activity. Work with Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance to provide information that would assist in their functions.
• Assist with the preparation of required financial and accounting reports to sponsors. Assist Finance with account close-out according to institution and sponsor agency policy and good accounting practices.
• Coordinate with Finance regarding billing and collection activity related to grant and contract revenue. Assure that required controls, systems, and reconciliation processes are in place to provide the required information for these activities.
• Assist with financial aspects of the institution's sub-awardee monitoring activities, including reviewing the financial risks related to the sub-awardee and reviewing the sub-awardee invoices to ensure adherence with Federal regulations and both prime and sub-awardee terms and conditions.
• Contribute to the development and preparation of the indirect cost recovery (F&A) proposal; assist with information requests during negotiations with the DHHS.
• Develop annual operating plans and budgets to reflect resources required to achieve objectives and monitor these plans/budgets for variance and needs.
• Perform all other duties as requested by the Vice Provost for Research.

Required Job Qualifications:

• Minimum of a Ph.D. in a relevant field plus deep experience in pre and post-award processes, research and fiscal compliance, and information technologies at a major research Medical Center or significant academic or research institute.
• A minimum of ten years related experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading successful organizational transformation to achieve consistency of service, orientation to faculty or staff, and operational efficiency.
• Excellent interpersonal, management, and organizational skills.
• In-depth knowledge of Federal and other sponsor regulations governing grant and contract administration, including Office of Management & Budget Circulars and Federal Acquisition Regulations.
• General knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies relating to the protection of human subjects, animal welfare, intellectual property, and cost-accounting standards.
• Research business development knowledge and experience dealing with external industry partners - experiences supporting the academic technology transfer process.
• Demonstrated success supervising staff and identifying and engaging resources in a complex, decentralized environment.
• Familiarity with information-systems implementation and electronic research administration.
• Advanced leadership skills.
• Significant experience in directing a significant number of staff who have a variety of functions, jobs and skills.
• Experienced effective public speaker and presenter for staff and institutional leadership meetings, and training programs.
• Experienced in problem-solving dispute resolution.

Company Highlights:
Ranked among the top academic medical centers in the country, Rush University Medical Center is an outstanding place to enhance your career. Everything we do centers on one goal: improving patient care.
The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) has awarded Rush full accreditation for three years. Rush is one of the first academic medical centers in Illinois to receive this accreditation.
As an academic medical center, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, is committed to advancing medical knowledge through research. Investigators at Rush are involved in more than 1,600 projects, including hundreds of clinical studies to test the effectiveness and safety of new therapies and medical devices, as well as to expand scientific and medical knowledge.
RUMC offers a competitive salary, outstanding benefits & the professional advantages of an environment that supports your development & recognizes your achievements.
Rush University is home to one of the first medical colleges in the Midwest and one of the nation's top-ranked nursing colleges, as well as graduate programs in allied health, health systems management and biomedical research.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.