Senior Staff Specialist

8595BR

VP for Research

VP for Research

Job Summary

This position provides multi departmental administrative support to variety of Directors, functions, and service areas.  Position coordinates a varied student workforce create a mini shared service administrative model for the division.

Job Responsibilities

Purpose and Scope of the Job
The position assists the Division and the University by performing a variety of key roles including but not limited to: Liaison with RIT administration, faculty and staff; coordination of key committees, calendars and meetings for the Vice President and Directors within the Office; Outreach to community groups and other universities, all with the purpose of increasing RIT funding, visibility, and prestige. The Senior Staff Specialist facilitates the workflow of the department, which spans sponsored research, intellectual property matters, research compliance, research communication, as well as all phases of general office activity. The position interfaces with all of the colleges and administrative units of RIT and functions as a key representative of the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Major Responsibilities
The Senior Staff Specialist has many duties and assumes several different roles including but not limited to:

• Assist the Vice President for Research and other Director level professionals
• Represents the department’s mission and goals to internal and external audiences
• Provide leadership of and support for the administrative and managerial operations of the office
• Communicates with RIT audiences, including distributions of quarterly and annual reports to RIT faculty, Administration and the Board of Trustees as needed
• Coordinates scheduling and communication with key university groups affiliated with the office
• Coordinates scheduling and communication for selected office personnel
• Assists in other university research compliance efforts
• Assist with marketing RIT technologies. Maintain files of technology assessments; Monitor marketing and outreach
• Undertake and support administrative tasks and facilitate grants management for the Office as needed
• Assist the Office with financial reconciliations and transaction management including purchasing, Procurement card transactions, Accounts payable and Travel Expense Reports
• Serves as OVPR’s internal human resource assistant, monitoring vacation and sick time, entering payroll and generating reports from the Kronos timekeeping system, assisting with paperwork for new and terminated employees, scheduling interviews and completing associated paper work
• Schedules and coordinates OVPR meetings, seminars, receptions, boot camp, and other events
• Assist with coordinating student workers
• Perform other duties for the Vice President of Research and office as needed

Office

The Senior Staff Specialist is part of the fast-paced Office of the Vice President for Research. Candidate must be able to: handle multiple tasks and track their completion; possess the ability to work in ambiguous situations; have strong reasoning skills, possess an understanding of the nature of higher education and research administration; be able to articulate capabilities of RIT to external audiences; and possess initiative, foresight, diplomacy, and assertiveness. A working knowledge of the Microsoft suite is essential.

Required Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience
• Minimum of least five years’ administrative or office experience, preferably in an institution of higher education.  .

Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in managing work in a complex, fast-moving office environment
• Professional demeanor, excellent writing and presentation skills, and strong interpersonal communication skills
• Expertise in various software packages, including Microsoft Office Products (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft, Outlook, and comfort with Internet Research. 

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree
Experience with Oracle  

Required Minimum Education Level

Associates or Equivalent Experience

Work Location

Hybrid — Remote/On-campus

Employment Category

Fulltime

Required Application Documents

Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume

What do we believe at RIT?

Rochester Institute of Technology is a diverse and collaborative community of engaged, socially conscious, and intellectually curious minds. Through creativity and innovation, and an intentional blending of technology, the arts and design, we provide exceptional individuals with a wide range of academic opportunities, including a leading research program and an internationally recognized education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. We are dedicated to building a diverse community, one where employees feel a sense of belonging, and are valued for their contributions and the perspectives they bring.

As a member of the RIT community, you’ll receive a comprehensive employee benefits package that offers multiple options and access to additional employment advantages. You can tailor your benefit elections to meet your needs (affordable medical/dental/vision benefits; paid vacation/sick time/retirement saving plan with exceptional employer match; and tuition assistance for you and your family, to name a few).

Additional Details

The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources.

RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism and inclusion in the work place. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities.

RIT provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, veterans or wounded warriors where appropriate. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to [email protected] . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.