Research and Innovation Technical Program Assistant (Contingent II - Grant Funded)

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Job Description Summary

The Research and Innovation Technical Program Assistant serves as the Division of Research and Innovation's primary technical and business operations support professional, providing functional administration, technology support, business process improvement, data management, communications, and operational support for the University's research enterprise. This position supports research administration systems, electronic workflows, reporting, compliance, training, and strategic initiatives that advance Bowie State University's research mission and Carnegie R2 objectives.

Responsibilities

Research Systems Administration

• Serve as the functional administrator and technical support resource for Kuali Research, Workday, Microsoft 365 applications, SharePoint, Adobe, electronic research administration (eRA) platforms, and future research technologies.
• Provide day-to-day support for research administration systems.
• Configure and maintain user accounts, permissions, security roles, workflow routing, and system configurations.
• Coordinate system maintenance, upgrades, testing, implementation, and release management with Information Technology and software vendors.
• Troubleshoot system issues, resolve user problems, and coordinate vendor support.
• Ensure successful integration and accurate movement of data between research administration and enterprise systems.
• Maintain division technology assets, audio-visual equipment, software licenses, and assigned equipment.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, user manuals, knowledge base articles, and system procedures.

Business Process Improvement & Automation

• Analyze business operations and recommend technology-driven improvements that enhance operational efficiency and customer service.
• Design, document, and maintain business process maps, workflows, and standard operating procedures.
• Develop electronic workflows and automate manual business processes using Microsoft Power Automate, Microsoft Lists, SharePoint, Forms, Teams, and other approved technologies.
• Develop online portals, electronic forms, dashboards, and self-service solutions supporting research administration operations.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement through automation, workflow optimization, and technology enhancements.

Data Management & Reporting

• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, consistency, and security of research administration data.
• Develop and maintain data standards, documentation, and reporting procedures.
• Monitor research system data, identify discrepancies, perform reconciliations, and coordinate corrective actions.
• Conduct periodic data quality reviews and system audits.
• Develop and maintain dashboards, project trackers, grant lifecycle trackers, compliance trackers, workflow reports, executive dashboards, and performance metrics.
• Assist with institutional reporting, research analytics, data requests, and executive reports supporting strategic planning and Carnegie R2 initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Division's Data Analyst to develop research performance dashboards and institutional metrics.

Communications & Website Management

• Coordinate and maintain the Division of Research and Innovation website, ensuring content remains accurate, current, accessible, and aligned with University branding.
• Manage electronic distribution of newsletters, faculty announcements, marketing materials, presentations, executive reports, and digital communications.
• Maintain electronic document repositories and research administration records.
• Assist with preparation of presentations, executive briefings, reports, and strategic communications for Division leadership.

Training & Customer Support

• Provide technical support to faculty, staff, and research administrators using research administration systems.
• Develop and deliver training workshops, webinars, user guides, quick-reference materials, and instructional resources.
• Coordinate onboarding and ongoing system training for faculty and staff.
• Serve as liaison with software vendors, coordinating service requests, issue resolution, testing, and software enhancements.

Research Administration Support

• Support proposal development, award management, compliance, financial administration, reporting, and other research administration functions through effective use of technology.
• Maintain research administration records, agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), subrecipient documentation, and electronic files.
• Assist with tracking grant activities, reporting deadlines, project milestones, and operational initiatives.
• Collaborate with faculty, sponsors, campus departments, and external partners to improve research administration services.

Research Compliance, Security & Governance

• Support compliance-related research platforms in collaboration with the Research Compliance and Integrity Officer.
• Coordinate user access reviews and maintain appropriate security permissions.
• Ensure research administration systems comply with institutional cybersecurity standards and data governance requirements.
• Maintain documentation supporting audits, monitoring activities, and regulatory reviews.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, Research Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience supporting research administration systems, enterprise applications, business process improvement, technology operations, project coordination, or related technical support functions.
• Experience supporting enterprise applications such as Workday, Kuali Research, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Adobe, or comparable enterprise systems.
• Demonstrated experience developing workflows, dashboards, reports, and technical documentation.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and customer service skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Research Administration, or a related field.
• Professional certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, Google IT Support Professional, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Certified: Power Automate, or related certifications.
• Experience supporting sponsored programs administration in a college or university environment.
• Experience with electronic research administration (eRA) systems, Tableau, Microsoft Lists, Forms, Power Automate, Teams, and SharePoint administration.
• Knowledge of federal research administration regulations and sponsored programs operations.
• Experience developing websites, electronic forms, training materials, executive dashboards, and digital communications.

Conditions of Employment

• This is a nonexempt position subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Position may be contingent upon continued funding and institutional needs.
• Successful completion of a background investigation is required.
• Some evening or weekend work may be required to support system implementations, training, or research events.
• Must be able to work on-site and travel occasionally for professional development, training, or conferences.
• Must maintain confidentiality and comply with University policies, data governance standards, and information security requirements.

Additional Job Information:

Benefits include medical, dental, prescription, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance; paid time for paid sick leave and annual leave; 10 paid holidays per year, tuition remission and supplemental retirement.

Bowie State University shall not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or veteran status. All policies, programs, and activities of Bowie State University are and shall be in conformity with all pertinent Federal and state laws of nondiscrimination including, but not limited to: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination Act, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,  the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Federal Executive Order No. 11375, and Article 49B of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This commitment applies in all areas and embraces faculty, staff, and students.

Equal opportunity of access to academic and related programs shall be extended to all persons. Bowie State University shall have as its firm objective equal opportunity in recruitment and hiring, rate of pay, all other promotions, training, retention and dismissals, for all employees and applicants for employment. The University will stress equal access for employees and applicants for employment to all programs and services provided by the University both on and off campus. The University will also provide equal opportunity and an atmosphere of nondiscrimination with respect to women and members of minority groups in all its operations. In addition, the University shall promote equal opportunity and equal treatment through a positive and continuing Affirmative Action Program.

The University makes, and will continue to make, reasonable accommodations to promote the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the University's business.

 In addition, employees and applicants will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination because they have engaged in, or may have engaged in, activities such as filing a complaint, assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance review or hearing, or opposing any act or practice made unlawful, or exercising any other right protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended or the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended.