Sr. Research Administrator, Oncology
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Summary
The Senior Research Administrator serves as a trusted partner to Oncology investigators and research teams, providing expert support across the full lifecycle of sponsored projects, with a primary focus on post-award grants and contract administration. This role is responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of complex sponsored awards while ensuring sound financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and exceptional customer service in support of the Department of Oncology's research mission.
Job description
The Senior Research Administrator independently oversees award management activities, including financial monitoring, reconciliation, reporting, compliance oversight, subaward administration, and resolution of complex administrative and financial issues. As needed, the position also supports pre-award activities, including proposal development, budget preparation, review of submission materials, and interpretation of sponsor guidelines and requirements.
Working in a highly collaborative environment, the Senior Research Administrator partners closely with investigators, research teams, Finance Operations, Grants Operations, Grants Accounting, sponsor institutions, and other institutional stakeholders to ensure effective management of sponsored funding throughout the award lifecycle. This role serves as a key resource for faculty and staff, providing guidance on sponsor requirements, regulatory compliance, financial management, and research administration best practices.
Job Responsibilities
- Manage administration of grants and sponsored programs (e.g., review of proposal documents including budget, monitoring of subawards, primarily award lifecycle management).
- Ensure compliance with federal, sponsor or institutional guidelines related to grants.
- Implement and monitor compliance with current accounting standards, policies, procedures and regulatory guidelines.
- Proactively work with cross-functional teams (e.g., research team, sponsor institutions) on matters related to audits and complex issue resolution.
- Actively contributes to the development of policies and procedures to ensure high-quality services of own team/department.
- Lead development and maintenance of analytical & departmental reports including account reconciliations.
- Reconcile and analyze grants and contracts in compliance with internal and departmental policy while adhering to established deadlines.
- Identify opportunities and provide inputs to improve efficiency/automate current processes.
- Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
- Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required
- 4+ years of experience in grant administration processes as applicable to grants and sponsored programs or accounting experience or related financial information systems
- Experience working with relevant regulations
- Experience working with cross-functional teams
- Proven performance in earlier role
Company overview
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a world-renowned pediatric research and treatment institution headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, dedicated to advancing cures for childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded in 1962 by entertainer Danny Thomas, it stands as the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted exclusively to children. The hospital operates on a unique funding model where families never receive bills for treatment, travel, housing, or food, with costs exceeding $2 billion annually primarily supported by donations through its fundraising organization ALSAC. St. Jude treats approximately 8,600 patients each year from all 50 states and around the world, with a focus on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, brain tumors, sickle cell disease, and infectious diseases. The institution employs over 7,000 staff members and maintains eight affiliate clinics across the United States. Through its St. Jude Global initiative, the hospital shares research and treatment protocols internationally, partnering with more than 350 institutions in over 90 countries. St. Jude has been instrumental in increasing childhood cancer survival rates from 20% in 1962 to over 80% today, while maintaining a robust research program that includes gene therapy, bone marrow transplantation, and precision medicine approaches.