Cancer Research Assistant Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa is seeking a Research Support Manager who will be responsible for the development, preparation, submission, and post-award administration of grants and contracts for the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Coordinate the preparation and writing; assuring compliance with contract/grant terms in accordance with University policies and funding agency requirements; develop budgets, subcontracts, status reports and management or financial statements; and announcements of funding opportunities.  

Providing administrative support for the P30 Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), a large SPORE grant, and multi-PI multi-project based proposals.  requires exceptional capabilities to work with multiple departments and institutions.  These are the current major grants with additional grants and programs requiring support as they are developed and funded. The CCSG has research programs, a robust clinical trials office and portfolio, and core facilities spanning across multiple colleges and departments on campus.    The P50 Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) SPORE has multiple projects, cores and award programs. 

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement of both on-campus (UI Health Care) and remote work within the state of Iowa upon completion of a 6 month onsite training period, with the majority of work taking place on the U of I/UI Health Care campus.  Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location

Duties to include:

Grant Exploration and Development

Respond to faculty inquiries regarding specific grant opportunities; make recommendations regarding economic feasibility; establish timelines to assure project deadline dates are met; monitor progress of proposal development, develop budgets; comply with internal and sponsor deadlines; obtain institutional approvals; route proposals; authorize and train users on electronic submissions systems.

• Identify and evaluate additional sources of funding for research and development programs; assisting principal investigators and staff with interpretation of guidelines and with the preparation and processing of grant applications; serve as HCCC liaison to external agencies with regard to cancer research efforts of faculty; develop working knowledge of funding opportunities in the area of cancer related research.

• Assist investigators associated with the HCCC in finding and obtaining external and internal research funding.  Perform routine review of grant funding agency regulations to identify/obtain specific grant or guideline information and updates to assure information is integrated into grant submission documents appropriately.

• Coordinate grant submissions for faculty, staff and students associated with the HCCC.  Participate in the development and preparation of grant proposals including budget preparation.  Review and respond to internal requests for information; review and proof information to ensure documents are accurate and complete prior to submission to grant funding agency/organizations.

• Prepare proposals, pre-proposals and letters of collaboration.

• Maintain current knowledge of electronic proposal submission processes for all types of grants; extensive use of Cayuse (similar to Grants.gov) NIH Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) & Proposal Central. Oversee the preparation and submission of forms assuring leadership review and compliance with required guidelines. 

• Lead input validation, system integrity, and reporting functionality for the Research Evaluation System (EVAL) for P30 CCSG data capture and reporting.

• Guide staff and others in the HCCC involved with preparing and processing routing forms utilizing the UIRIS electronic routing forms and other electronic forms related to grants and contracts. Answer questions and provide tutorials as necessary.

• Meet with new faculty/cancer center members to review grant application processes and enhance grant preparation skills.

Post-Award Administration/Financial Responsibility

Oversee and manage a large group of externally and internally funded grants and contracts, including forecasting and interpreting funding agency and University guidelines. Manage budgets for all grants, contracts and programs; work with PIs to ensure required program reports are completed and sent to funding agencies. May assist in budget development, analysis, and recommendations.

• Establish and be responsible for the fiscal management for research programs, contracts, services and administrative support activities.  Establish fiscal controls; monitor budgets and meet with principal investigators/directors and staff to discuss expenditures and recommendations on materials, equipment, and staff recruitment and travel related activities.  Advise faculty and staff on research support activities including the appropriateness of expenditures, contract or grant requirements, extension requirements and changes in policies and procedures.

• Continuously review, coordinate and manage financial status of grants and program activities with preparation of annual progress reports; funding allocations and re-budgeting; adhering to State and Federal guidelines and restrictions for budgeted funds and any consortium sub-contracts.

• Analyze, monitor and report financial data, information and reports. 

• Keep grants submitted and received.

• Assist/participate in the annual budget process in coordination with the Director and Associate Director for Administration.

• Monitor and advise on equipment procurements relative to existing equipment, and funding authorization.

• Meet monthly with PIs, project and core leaders to review research projects for updates and to ensure scope of work and financial issues are addressed.

Seed Grant Program Administration

• Oversee HCCC Seed Grant Programs supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI) Cancer Center Grant, ACS Institutional Grant and other programs as developed by the HCCC, including support, program announcements, evaluation and awards.  Secures periodic updates and year-end reporting for each seed grant.

• Facilitates the HCCC Research Review Committee.

Strategic Planning and Development

Develop and implement strategic planning to meet grants-related goals of the unit or department. Provide necessary training and support based on new and/or changing guidelines. Assemble, edit and distribute program-related educational and promotional materials.

• Participate in the coordination of site visits and HCCC retreats, including developing agendas and presentation of documentation relating to administrative structure and fiscal dimensions of programs.

• Oversee all aspects of grant related newsletters.  Provide direction on collection of information, interact with HCCC Communication Specialist on layout and printing and rollout distribution with administrative staff.

• Participate as an ad-hoc member of the HCCC Research Executive Committee.

• Assist the Director and Associate Director in the preparation of strategic planning documents related to finances, personnel and space allocation.

Compliance

Assure compliance with contract/grant terms in accordance with University policies and state and federal regulations.

• Prepare reports to University Institutional Review Board (IRB-01) and for Animal Care and Use (ACURF). Collaborate with staff to accrue data for these studies, review and summarize information for investigators and IRB-01 to initiate and compose correspondence and related materials to investigators outlining review of the protocol studies, and maintain documentation of protocols and relevant data, follow-up correspondence, summaries,  and prepare modifications and annual certification.

Communications and Reporting Functions

• Review and submit Federal Grant Agency Personnel Effort Reports for HCCC staff, quarterly and annually as requested.

• Direct non-competing report preparation and specialized reports requested by funding agencies or PIs for HCCC administered grants and contracts.

• Conduct special studies and prepare specialized reports for the HCCC.

• Prepare materials for presentations, distribution or publication.  Prepare correspondence and other presentations for the Director and Associate Director of the HCCC.

• Work with the Division of Sponsored Programs to design and implement reports.  Recent examples include:  1) Cancer Center members submitted proposals (not yet funded) 2) Members funded proposals (congratulatory letter sent by HCCC Director) 3) Non-member cancer-related proposals (used for identifying new potential cancer center members).

• Serve as liaison for both internal and external agencies including; National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI), Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, American Cancer Society, other collaborating institutions (such as the Mayo Clinic), University of Iowa Grant Accounting, the Division of Sponsored Programs, faculty, staff, clinicians and researchers for the negotiation and management of ongoing research contracts and grants as well as maintain mutually beneficial relationships.

Supervision, Educational Training & Compliances

• Serve as the administrative supervisor for assigned staff; hire, onboard, develop, and manage the performance of assigned staff, including but not limited to ensuring staff are compliant with UI policies and procedures.

• Assists in orientation and education of new staff

• Develops training program to educate new and existing staff

• Assists in education of existing staff regarding new processes and expectations; monitors adherence to new procedures; captures feedback on new procedure implementation

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Administrative supervision is received from HCCC Director for Administration

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Administrative supervision may be exercised over Research Support Specialist

UI Health Care Core Values (WE CARE)

Welcoming

We are welcoming to the community, partners, staff, and patients utilizing the collective strength of our people. 

Excellence

We achieve and deliver our personal and collective best in the pursuit of quality and accessible health care, education, and research.

Collaboration    

We collaborate with health care systems, providers, and communities across Iowa and the region as well within our UI community. We believe teamwork- guided by compassion- is the best way to work.

Accountability  

We behave ethically, act openly and with integrity in all that we do, taking responsibility for our actions.

Respect             

We create an environment where every individual feels safe, valued, and respected, supporting the well-being and success of all members of our community.

Empowerment 

We commit to fair access to research, health care, and education for our community and opportunities for personal and professional growth for our staff and learners.

University of Iowa Health Care-recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States-is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is Iowa's only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. The NCI designation recognized our cancer center, and its research scientist, physicians, and other health care professionals, for their roles in advancing cancer research that impacts on our ability to prevent, detect and treat our patients with cancer. Not just a floor, or a building, or even confined to a single college. Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center coordinates all cancer-related research, education, and patient care by faculty from 41 departments and six colleges, as well as UI Health Care and UI Children's Hospital.

Percent of Time: 100%

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Hours generally worked between 8:00am-5pm

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement of both on-campus (UI Health Care) and remote work within the state of Iowa upon completion of a 6 month onsite training period, with the majority of work taking place on the U of I/UI Health Care campus.  Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location

Pay Grade: 5A

https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/guide-pay-plans

Benefits Highlights:

• Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, IA and Coralville, IA

• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans

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