Senior Manager, Research Administration (Contracts) – Part‑Time

About the role

The Office of Research Administration at the University of Miami is seeking a part‑time Senior Manager to lead the contracts team. In this temporary role you will oversee the drafting, review and negotiation of complex sponsored project agreements, ensuring compliance with university and sponsor policies while delivering high‑quality service to faculty and research staff.

Key responsibilities

• Lead a team that drafts, reviews, analyzes and negotiates outbound subaward terms, conducts sub‑recipient risk assessments and audits.
• Collaborate with Principal Investigators, Compliance, IRB, Technology Transfer, Risk Management and other units to manage research initiation efficiently.
• Monitor team performance using real‑time dashboards and ensure Service Level Agreement KPIs are met or exceeded.
• Identify process inefficiencies through data analysis and implement improvements.
• Prepare regular status and performance reports for senior management, tracking metrics such as turnaround time.
• Train, mentor and evaluate staff, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum seven years of experience in research administration, contracts or related areas, preferably in an academic setting.
• Extensive knowledge of sponsored program regulations, OMB circulars, NIH policy statements and related compliance requirements.
• Strong analytical, written and oral communication skills with high attention to detail.
• Proven ability to work independently, meet deadlines and lead multidisciplinary teams.