Contract Isotope Geochemistry Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Boulder, Colorado

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The University of Colorado at Boulder is ideally suited to the study of geological sciences. At the junction of the high plains and the Rocky Mountains, the Boulder area represents a natural outdoor laboratory where you can study geological features of all ages in diverse settings and observe Earth processes firsthand.

The department has research laboratories for studying rock and mineral deformation, soils, sedimentation, geo-microbial processes, petrology, isotope geochemistry, and mineralogy. Beyond the department, researchers also have access to a wide variety of shared analytical facilities across the CU Boulder campus. The department is affiliated with several research centers and institutes (INSTAAR, CSDMS, CIRES, LASP) and offers a diverse set of resources for teaching and research.

The Department of Geological Sciences recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in maintaining academic excellence and an intellectually and culturally enriching environment. We appreciate that diversity extends to different races and ethnicities, gender identities, nationalities, disabilities, and body types. As such, we expect all members of our Department to respect each other and to work to combat systemic racism and other biases. The Department is actively working on initiatives to further support a welcoming and inclusive climate and to increase the diversity of our students, faculty, and staff.

Grant, Contract, and Fund Account Management:

Financial Management

• Independently manage, analyze, and monitor a broad range of financial activities across research and lab funds.
• Evaluate complex funding scenarios to ensure compliance with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) principles, state fiscal rules, sponsor regulations, and University policies.

Policy Interpretation and Compliance Expert

• Apply advanced understanding of financial, regulatory, and sponsor requirements to ensure department-wide adherence to fiscal guidelines.
• Serve as a primary resource for interpreting policies and resolving compliance-related questions for faculty, staff, and administrators operating in research and lab spaces.

Process Development and Continuous Improvement

• Lead the development, refinement, and implementation of internal accounting processes, adapting departmental procedures to meet evolving program, sponsor, and institutional requirements.
• Proactively identify procedural gaps, recommend improvements, and guide adoption of new practices.

Post-Award Grant and Contract Administration

• Independently be responsible for post-award management of sponsored projects, including subcontracts, collaborating directly with the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG), the Campus Controller's Office, and external sponsors to resolve complex post-award issues and ensure successful award administration.
• Proposal and Pre-Award Support:
• Serve as a key advisor during proposal development and pre-award activities, providing guidance on budget preparation, proposal requirements, and regulatory considerations.
• Coordinate with campus offices to ensure submission of compliant proposals.

Advanced Financial Reporting and Strategic Analysis

• Prepare and present comprehensive financial reports for department leadership, faculty, and Principal Investigators.
• Analyze financial data to forecast trends, identify risks, and make recommendations to inform financial decision-making and resource planning.

Departmental Collaboration

• Serve as a key departmental liaison, regularly collaborating with university-wide offices such as OCG, Campus Controller's Office, Procurement Service Center, Human Resources, and Technology Transfer Office.
• Apply working knowledge of university-wide policies to support departmental needs.

Problem Solving and Independent Judgment

• Resolve complex and non-standard financial, contractual, and administrative challenges.
• Analyze unique financial scenarios, assess potential risks, and exercise independent judgment to develop solutions that balance compliance, operational needs, and funding requirements.

Resource Liaison and Advisor Role

• Act as a resource and advisor to faculty, administrators, and less experienced staff, providing guidance on financial processes, systems, and policy interpretation.
• Frequently consulted to resolve complex or sensitive financial and operational questions.

Communication of Complex Financial Concepts

• Routinely communicate complex financial, regulatory, and procedural information to a diverse audience, including department leadership, faculty, administrative staff, and external partners.
• Translate complex data into actionable insights to support informed decision-making.

Research Administration:

Hiring and Compliance Oversight

• Independently manage and be responsible for the hiring process for undergraduate and graduate research assistants, visiting scholars, and research faculty.
• Provide expert guidance on best practices and policy interpretation to ensure compliance with university, state, and federal regulations, serving as a key resource to department faculty and staff throughout the hiring process.

Account Reconciliation and Financial Analysis

• Conduct comprehensive monthly reconciliations and financial reviews for assigned accounts.
• Exercise independent judgment to analyze discrepancies, recommend and process cost transfers, correct errors, and ensure expenditures align with sponsor, department, and university requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for resolving account-related inquiries and providing financial guidance to faculty and administrative staff.

Payroll Oversight and Process Leadership

• Independently manage and maintain payroll funding entries for research personnel, developing and implementing internal processes, due dates, and protocols to ensure accurate and timely payroll activity.
• Coordinate directly with faculty and PIs to secure necessary funding documentation, resolve discrepancies, and ensure compliance with departmental and university payroll standards.

International Research Personnel Coordination

• Partner with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to ensure international scholars are properly onboarded.
• Provide expert-level support in navigating visa requirements, immigration documentation, and compliance matters, proactively advising faculty and departmental leadership on evolving international employment regulations.

Proactive Fund Management and Strategic Resource Allocation

• Continuously monitor fund balances and proactively assess the need for adjustments to funding sources for research personnel.
• Independently evaluate funding availability, recommend funding reallocations, and ensure appropriate financial resources are secured prior to authorizing new research hires.
• Act as a resource to faculty and leadership in financial decision-making related to research funding.

Departmental Representation and Engagement

• Represent the department in campus-wide discussions related to research administration and research personnel, collaborating with campus partners to resolve complex administrative or compliance issues impacting research operations.

Complex Problem Solving and Risk Management

• Regularly analyze and resolve complex or non-standard personnel and financial situations, exercising independent judgment to balance department needs with compliance requirements and funding constraints.
• Anticipate potential risks and recommend process improvements to minimize compliance issues.

Communication of Complex Financial and Administrative Concepts

• Routinely translate complex financial, regulatory, and administrative information into clear guidance for faculty, staff, and other partners.
• Serve as a departmental resource for policy interpretation, system navigation, and procedural guidance across multiple administrative areas.

Resource Liaison and Advisor Role

• Serve as a resource and advisor to faculty, leadership, and less experienced administrative staff, providing guidance on complex research administration processes, financial compliance, and personnel management.

Research-Related Procurement Administration

• Procurement Oversight and Compliance Leadership: Serve as a resource to research and lab faculty, staff, and administrators on procurement policies, ensuring compliance while supporting departmental goals and research objectives.
• Budget Monitoring and Resource Management: Proactively oversee budget pools for procurement and travel expenditures, regularly evaluating funding availability, identifying potential shortfalls, and recommending adjustments to avoid over-expenditures and ensure optimal resource utilization
• Research-Related Travel and Expense Administration: Provide expert guidance to faculty, PIs, and staff, ensuring adherence to university-wide policies, federal guidelines, sponsor-specific rules, and department standards.
• Policy Interpretation and Collaboration: Serve as a key departmental representative in discussions with campus partners (Procurement Service Center, Controller's Office, Sponsored Projects, etc.), interpreting policies and resolving complex procurement and financial matters that impact sponsored research operations.

Administrative Support

• Internal Shared Document System: Support and collaborate in the enhancement of the department's shared internal documents, ensuring they remain up-to-date, user-friendly, and aligned with the latest standard processes.
• Communication and Partner Support: Communicate complex administrative processes, system requirements, and policy interpretations to faculty, staff, and students. Serve as an advisor to less experienced staff on administrative procedures, documentation standards, and university policies.

Other/Projects

• Other duties as assigned that support the department's finance and accounting operations.

• Hybrid Schedule: At least 3 days a week on campus per campus and college policies and guidelines.
• This can be subject to change based on the business needs of the department.
• Standard Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Monday - Friday
• Employees may be expected to be on campus Monday-Friday during onboarding, training, and/or professional development events/meetings.

The annual salary for this position is $67,600-$72,000. Onboarding assistance may be available.