Assistant Manager, Grants

Assistant Manager

Department

Provost Office COE

Entity

Aga Khan University

Location

Karachi

Introduction

Aga Khan University, chartered in 1983 as Pakistan's first private international university, is committed to the provision of education, research and health care of international standard relevant to Pakistan and the region. The affiliated Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has well-equipped investigative services and provides state-of-the-art clinical facilities. AKUH is the first hospital in Pakistan to be awarded the prestigious Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) for practicing the highest internationally-recognized healthcare standards.

The Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health aims to support the introduction, piloting and scaling-up of high quality, high impact interventions to improve maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (MNCAH) in Pakistan by harnessing the potential of both the public and the private sector, coupled with the introduction of women and girls' empowerment interventions.
As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

This is a grant-funded contractual position.
 

Responsibilities

Your will be responsible for the overall leadership of sections related to fleet management; travel and accommodation; of research staff and faculty; and work with all the stakeholders to assure that the services are prepared for start-up.Specific responsibilities include:

• Negotiation with University's various departments for timely completion of grant checklist process;
• provides advice and guidance regarding sponsored projects administration to PI;
• acts as liaison between PI and Office of Research and Graduate Studies to resolve pressing concerns in time for meeting submission deadlines;
• conducting regular sessions for PI and senior research staff on dynamics and regular updates in due diligence process;
• reviewing the proposal in light of institutional as well as prospective granting agency's requirements;
• using advanced contracts and grants concepts to manage a high volume of proposals and subawards; many involving significant complexity; this involves liaising with legal department;
• keeping oneself abreast of frequent developments in research and grants Administration field (like CFR, AFR, etc);
• assisting in resolving modifications issues that may involve contacting funding agency;
• review specific terms and conditions to answer questions regarding allowability of expenses;
• audit of subcontracts for appropriate allocation of funding;
• ensuring that each project ends with a "closeout process" that is all work has been completed, required reports have been submitted, and any outstanding financial matters have been resolved;
• ensuring that all active projects have valid ERC this may involve sending regular progress report of the project;
• guiding faculty members on how to inform ERC regarding changes in proposals and also keeping ERC well informed;
• timely submission of any new applications/ exemptions for Departmental Research Committee and subsequently submitting it to ERC;
• coordinate between other departments to AKU to ensure our research grants are in accordance with regulatory requirements of granting agency.
   

Requirements

You should have:

• Bachelor/ Masters in relevant field;
• certification in research and grants administration will be an added advantage;
• at least three or four year experience in Finance, Research and Grants Administration;
• adept knowledge of research  administration,  US Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities preferably in a university environment (Institutes of Higher Education);
• sound knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Code of Federal Regulations (CFAR, USA), OMB Circulars (Office of Management and Budgeting, USA, circulars applicable to foreign universities, A-21, A-110, A-133), sponsor-specific policies, intellectual property policy, conflict of interest requirements, publication rights, contract negotiation, application of indirect cost rates and other necessary concepts and their applications in research administration field;
• knowledge and applicability of the new 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance), the consolidated guidelines to manage US Federally and non-federally funded research grants;
• knowledge and applicability of SAM (Systems of Award Management), eCommons, and similar other online grants submission and management ERPs of granting agencies;
• maintains knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply sponsor, institutional and departmental policies;
• independently negotiates and manages research grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts with international granting agencies in line with institutional legal and regulatory requirements;
• excellent working experience with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, cooperative agreements, sub-awards, and Purchase Orders;
• requires independent judgment and strong organization and communication skills with customer service focus;
• stays updated on compliance regulations in all areas of research administration;

• timely completion of University's due diligence process.

  Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.