Amanda Balsamo Doherty
Charlottesville,VA
Summary
Strong leader and problem-solver dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. Uses independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact university and school success.
Overview
1
1
Certification
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Post Award Assistant Director of Research Admin
University of Virginia, School of Education
08.2022 - Current
- Oversee financial management and compliance for $58M to $63.5M in annual sponsored expenditures, supporting 100+ award actions per year.
- Led labor cost estimation and verified other-than-personnel expenses (OTPS) and F&A revenue for the annual school budget, where sponsored research is now about half of all revenue.
- Manage payroll costing for ~$27M in annual personnel charges (46% of expenditures), including initial costing schedules, periodic modifications, and forecasting for new hires and promotions.
- Maintain consistently high compliance rates in effort certification, payroll allocation confirmation (PAC), central budget updates, suspense clearing, and business process tracking.
- Oversee 2,000+ account certifications annually and served as the school’s primary PAC reporting coordinator.
- Contributed to the internal UVA/EHD audit and to the post-award component of the school’s Administrative Review.
- Added quality-control guardrails to monthly financial reporting to reduce errors.
- Served on the AI in research administration and RAD working groups, and trained research administrators outside the school.Expanded the monthly PI financial report from limited use to 90%+ school-wide completion, and presented it University-wide to research administrators.
- Migrated the school-wide chart of accounts from Smartsheet to Airtable, adding automation and improving data quality and adoption.
- Rebuilt a suite of custom financial reports after a system update, and collaborated with central finance to improve the timing of budget updates.
- Supported University-wide initiatives to revise research financial reporting.
- Provided key stakeholder feedback to OneUVA transition.
- Led a team of 4 direct and 2 indirect reports, with training, performance management, biweekly meetings, and clear delegation and oversight
- Redesigned workflows to add redundancy and remove a single point of failure.
- Raised school-wide satisfaction with financial and post-award services from ~3.3 to ~3.7 on a 5-point scale while spending grew ~50%.
- Retained the full team through 2025 federal funding disruptions and the government shutdown.
- Led contingency planning during 2025 federal grant terminations, helping faculty complete final reporting and calculating fiscal need for university contingency funding requests.
- Acted as the school’s liaison to central sponsored programs and finance on invoicing, procedures, and training.
Senior Grants and Contracts Administrator
University of Virginia
03.2016 - 08.2022
- Provided Post-Award support for 28 principal investigators across 73 grants totaling $78 million at FY22 close.
- Completed school-wide audit and remediation of labor distribution, reclaiming over $300,000 in non-sponsored funds through evaluation of sponsored funds budgets and personnel effort.
- Established a variety of skills across Research Administration and Finance including budgeting, projection, reporting, OSP integration, data tracking, and analysis.
- Cultivated customer service-focused approach with Principal Investigators, emphasizing prompt and tailored responses to enhance collaboration.
- Monitored grant timelines and provided interim progress reporting to Federal sponsors.
- Presented "what if" scenarios for grant budget assumptions and forecasting strategies through establishment of Excel reporting tools.
- Established variety of skills across Research Administration and Finance including budgeting, projection, reporting, OSP integration, data tracking, and analysis.
- Monitored grant timelines and provided interim progress reporting to Federal sponsors.
- Presented scenarios for grant budget assumptions and forecasting strategies by establishing Excel reporting tools to facilitate informed decision-making.
- Promoted to Senior 09/2020
Operations Coordinator
Catchall Business Solutions
05.2015 - 06.2016
- Established operational objectives, work plans, and support mechanisms to align with client expectations.
- Managed two business consulting projects per quarter for each client to ensure timely delivery and client satisfaction.
- Documented business processes and analyzed procedures to adapt to changing client needs.
- Conducted team and individual DiSC assessment analyses and synthesized findings for client reports.
Client Services Representative/Dispatcher
RMM Solutions
08.2014 - 03.2015
- Translated client needs to engineering team, delivering effective technology solutions for large clients including CESA 11.
- Resolved client issues in a clear, courteous, and straightforward manner to client satisfaction.
- Managed 50-100 calls daily, prioritizing technical support needs to enhance client satisfaction.
- Assessed and translated client needs to engineering team to provide effective and cost-conscious technology solutions to large clients such as CESA 11.
- Delivered foundational IT support to non-technical clients in various settings.
- Installed software, modified and repaired hardware and resolved technical issues.
Marketing Project Coordinator
Northern Illinois University
09.2013 - 07.2014
- Oversaw completion of 70 housing and dining projects with a team of six graphic designers, ensuring timely delivery and quality standards.
- Successfully oversaw completion of 70 Housing and Dining projects utilizing team of six graphic designers.
- Resolved challenges effectively while maintaining an organized and productive workspace to support project goals.
- Executed multiple tasks concurrently, adapting skills to meet diverse project requirements with limited resources.
Warehouse Worker
Target
09.2012 - 06.2013
- Cross-trained across multiple roles and departments to enhance team flexibility and productivity.
- Inspired inbound receiving team through positive demeanor and energetic interactions, driving 15% increase in productivity during holiday slow-down.
Research Assistant
Northern Illinois University
05.2011 - 05.2012
- Enhanced research design by identifying and resolving potential issues, ensuring robust methodology.
- Applied problem-solving and quick-thinking skills to uphold research integrity during critical phases.
- Coached five new students in research protocols, fostering their effective participation in projects.
Writer and Editor
NIU Experiential Learning Center
01.2009 - 12.2009
- Consulted as writer and editor for Dennis Barsema's Microfinance Simulation program, compiling comprehensive 145-page project proposal and design document to guide program development.
- Worked with students and faculty to build effective working relationships.
- Wrote clear experiential learning content for internships, service-learning, and career development resources.
- Edited student-facing materials for accuracy, consistency, and brand alignment.
- Developed web copy and promotional messaging for events, programs, and workshops.
Education
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois05-2014
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois05-2012
Skills
- Project management
- Financial forecasting
- Data analysis
- Strategic planning
- Resource allocation
- Logistics management
- Attention to detail
- Analytical reasoning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Staff management, training, and retention
- Self-directed work
- Process improvement
Certification
Certified Research Administrator - 06/2019
Certified Financial Research Administrator - Results pending 09/2026
Timeline
Post Award Assistant Director of Research Admin
University of Virginia, School of Education
08.2022 - Current
Senior Grants and Contracts Administrator
University of Virginia
03.2016 - 08.2022
Operations Coordinator
Catchall Business Solutions
05.2015 - 06.2016
Client Services Representative/Dispatcher
RMM Solutions
08.2014 - 03.2015
Marketing Project Coordinator
Northern Illinois University
09.2013 - 07.2014
Warehouse Worker
Target
09.2012 - 06.2013
Research Assistant
Northern Illinois University
05.2011 - 05.2012
Writer and Editor
NIU Experiential Learning Center
01.2009 - 12.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Northern Illinois University
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Northern Illinois University