Research Administrator Jobs
Research administrator jobs are open across universities, hospitals, nonprofit institutes, and federal contractors, from entry-level coordinator to senior and director roles, with specializations in grants management, regulatory compliance, and sponsored programs. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Under the general direction of the Manager/Director, this individual contributor provides overall management of a Department/Division/Program/PI research portfolio in partnership with Principal Investigators to ensure compliance and successful completion of research activities. Independently performs complex pre-award and post-award functions for all federal and/or state grant funds, private foundation grants, subcontracts, discretionary and endowment funds, and/or any other sponsored funds. May participate in strategic planning for Department/Division/Program. Acts as a consultant to and advisor of Principal Investigators regarding proposal and budget preparation, interpretation of sponsor guidelines and regulations, and problem resolution. Manages and oversees the grant application process, ensuring overall compliance and timely submission. Establishes departmental policies, systems and procedures to monitor research purchases and day-to-day spending. Performs financial analysis on grants including but not limited to forecasting and communicating results to Principal Investigators. May oversee departmental administration of effort reporting and ensures timely submission of completed effort reports. Collaborates with Department Administrator and appropriate Boston Children’s central administrative offices to represent the needs of the Research Faculty. This position has signature authority on restricted funds. May involve training and/or mentoring less experienced Research Administrators.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinates and/or performs pre-award functions such as assisting Principal Investigators in completion of grant proposals including budget development, drafting administrative sections, collecting materials, and obtaining institutional review/approval.
- Oversees/performs post-award functions such as allocation of research labor costs across funding sources consistent with level of research effort.
- Coordinates departmental research effort reporting and ensures timely submission certified effort reports, and may approve purchase requisitions in compliance with sponsor and institutional guidelines.
- Use institutional resources to maintain department records of grant awards and agreements.
- May help research staff identify sources of funding by maintaining knowledge of agency programs and disseminating information to staff.
- Partners with appropriate institutional central offices to represent the needs of the research faculty and to resolve complex problems.
- Analyzes monthly expenses and overall status of each grant, processing necessary corrections through appropriate channels.
- Reviews departmental processes and procedures to ensure compliance. Works with the Department Administrators and Principal Investigators to develop annual budgets and forecasts. Reconciles monthly expense variances between hospital financial systems and budgets.
- Forecasts funds over/under expenditures and provide monthly status reports to the Principal Investigators.
- Performs other financial analysis as needed. Includes preparation and submission of annual progress reports. Ensures timely renewal of grant and subcontracts and/or orderly closeout of completed sponsored activities.
- Attends meetings, institutional and/or industry training/conferences to keep skills current and knowledge up-to-date on sponsor regulations, Hospital policies, and emerging technologies.
Education:
- A high school diploma or GED; a bachelor's degree is preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of research administrative experience required OR 6 years of research administrative experience.
Status
Full-Time
Regular, Temporary, Per Diem
Regular
Standard Hours per Week
40
Pay Range
$78540.80-$125652.80 Annual
Office/Site Location
Brookline
Job Posting Category
Research
Remote Eligibility
Part Remote/Hybrid
Sr Research Administrator | Boston Childrens Hospital
Under the general direction of the Manager/Director, this individual contributor provides overall management of a Department/Division/Program/PI research portfolio in partnership with Principal Investigators to ensure compliance and successful completion of research activities. Independently performs complex pre-award and post-award functions for all federal and/or state grant funds, private foundation grants, subcontracts, discretionary and endowment funds, and/or any other sponsored funds. May participate in strategic planning for Department/Division/Program. Acts as a consultant to and advisor of Principal Investigators regarding proposal and budget preparation, interpretation of sponsor guidelines and regulations, and problem resolution. Manages and oversees the grant application process, ensuring overall compliance and timely submission. Establishes departmental policies, systems and procedures to monitor research purchases and day-to-day spending. Performs financial analysis on grants including but not limited to forecasting and communicating results to Principal Investigators. May oversee departmental administration of effort reporting and ensures timely submission of completed effort reports. Collaborates with Department Administrator and appropriate Boston Children’s central administrative offices to represent the needs of the Research Faculty. This position has signature authority on restricted funds. May involve training and/or mentoring less experienced Research Administrators.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinates and/or performs pre-award functions such as assisting Principal Investigators in completion of grant proposals including budget development, drafting administrative sections, collecting materials, and obtaining institutional review/approval.
- Oversees/performs post-award functions such as allocation of research labor costs across funding sources consistent with level of research effort.
- Coordinates departmental research effort reporting and ensures timely submission certified effort reports, and may approve purchase requisitions in compliance with sponsor and institutional guidelines.
- Use institutional resources to maintain department records of grant awards and agreements.
- May help research staff identify sources of funding by maintaining knowledge of agency programs and disseminating information to staff.
- Partners with appropriate institutional central offices to represent the needs of the research faculty and to resolve complex problems.
- Analyzes monthly expenses and overall status of each grant, processing necessary corrections through appropriate channels.
- Reviews departmental processes and procedures to ensure compliance. Works with the Department Administrators and Principal Investigators to develop annual budgets and forecasts. Reconciles monthly expense variances between hospital financial systems and budgets.
- Forecasts funds over/under expenditures and provide monthly status reports to the Principal Investigators.
- Performs other financial analysis as needed. Includes preparation and submission of annual progress reports. Ensures timely renewal of grant and subcontracts and/or orderly closeout of completed sponsored activities.
- Attends meetings, institutional and/or industry training/conferences to keep skills current and knowledge up-to-date on sponsor regulations, Hospital policies, and emerging technologies.
Education:
- A high school diploma or GED; a bachelor's degree is preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of research administrative experience required OR 6 years of research administrative experience.
Status
Full-Time
Regular, Temporary, Per Diem
Regular
Standard Hours per Week
40
Pay Range
$78540.80-$125652.80 Annual
Office/Site Location
Brookline
Job Posting Category
Research
Remote Eligibility
Part Remote/Hybrid
Sr Research Administrator | Boston Childrens Hospital
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Find Research Administrator JobsResearch Administrator Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research administrator jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in a related field such as business, public administration, or science
- Experience managing federal grants including NIH, NSF, or DOD-funded awards
- Proficiency with grants management systems such as Cayuse, Coeus, or Research Suite
- Knowledge of federal regulations including Uniform Guidance and sponsor-specific requirements
- Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential from the Research Administrators Certification Council
- Strong written communication skills for preparing budgets, reports, and sponsor correspondence
Tips for Your Research Administrator Job Search
Tailor your resume to funding cycles
Highlight your experience with specific funding agencies like NIH, NSF, or DOD grants. Research administrator postings often screen for familiarity with particular sponsors, so naming the agencies whose awards you have managed signals immediate competency to hiring committees.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists research administrator openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Distinguish pre-award from post-award experience
Many job descriptions separate pre-award and post-award functions. If you have experience in both, call each out explicitly in your resume rather than grouping them under a single bullet, because hiring managers often need depth in one area over the other.
Target postings by institution type
Research administration roles at R1 universities, community colleges, teaching hospitals, and private research institutes have meaningfully different scope and compliance demands. Filtering your search by institution type helps you apply to environments that match your background and career goals.
Prepare a compliance scenario for interviews
Interviewers frequently ask how you handled a regulatory or audit situation, such as a subrecipient monitoring issue or a cost-transfer dispute. Prepare a specific example that walks through the problem, the federal requirement involved, and the resolution you reached.
Negotiate using total compensation, not just base pay
Research administrator roles at universities often include tuition benefits, defined-contribution retirement plans, and generous leave accrual. When evaluating an offer, ask for the full benefits summary before responding so you can weigh the complete package accurately.
Research Administrator Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most research administrators?
UCLA Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Keck Medicine of USC are hiring the most research administrators right now, with openings concentrated in California, Massachusetts, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to track closely with active federal funding portfolios and new research center launches at large institutions.
How many research administrator jobs are remote?
About 83% of research administrator openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote arrangements most common in post-award roles focused on financial reporting, compliance monitoring, and subrecipient management. Pre-award positions tied to faculty relations or proposal development are more likely to require on-site presence.
How do you become a research administrator?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in business, public administration, life sciences, or a related field, then pursue an entry-level position in a sponsored programs or grants office. Build familiarity with federal regulations like Uniform Guidance and practice using grants management platforms. Earning the Certified Research Administrator credential through the Research Administrators Certification Council strengthens your candidacy for mid-level and senior roles.
Can you get hired as a research administrator without experience?
Yes, many institutions hire research administrator coordinators or assistants specifically for candidates without direct grants experience. Relevant background in accounting, project coordination, regulatory compliance, or scientific research can substitute for grants-specific experience. Applying to positions at smaller colleges or nonprofits with straightforward federal portfolios is a practical way to build foundational skills before moving to larger, more complex institutions.
What does the research administrator interview process look like?
Most processes begin with a phone screen conducted by human resources, followed by a panel interview with the sponsored programs director, a faculty member, and a finance staff member. Candidates are typically asked behavioral questions about compliance scenarios, budget management, and sponsor communication. Some institutions add a written exercise, such as reviewing a sample budget or drafting a response to a sponsor inquiry, before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to research administrator jobs?
You can find and apply to research administrator jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that fit your experience level, institution type, and specialization, then apply directly to each listing that matches what you are looking for.
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Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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