UC San Diego Health Sciences is a multibillion-dollar organization that comprises three professional schools, two hospitals, 20+ graduate degree programs, and 90+ core facilities and research units all working toward fulfilling its tripartite mission. Led by the Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences, it accounts for the majority of the University's research and philanthropic portfolios, in addition to an expanding clinical footprint that spans the San Diego region. With more than 1,700 faculty and 17,000 staff, the Health Sciences is home to nationally recognized academic and clinical programs, and has been identified as one of the premier biomedical research institutions in the world. As a top-ranking, future oriented organization, UC San Diego Health Sciences offers challenging career opportunities in a fast-paced and innovative environment.

The Vice Chancellor Health Sciences Research Service Core (RSC) is a shared business service center dedicated to fostering faculty and management confidence and compliance with sponsor requirements. RSC provides top-quality Pre and Post Award Research Administration services with excellent access and efficiency, supporting UC San Diego departments with standardized Fund Management. The unit develops systems, tools, and training courses to promote best practices in research administration, ensuring all departments have access to these processes and guidelines. Staffing is available on an opt-in basis for those interested in innovative program changes.

RSC collaborates across multiple functional areas, including human resources, finance, and sponsored projects central offices, playing a critical role in the success of the central shared service center model.

Under general supervision of the Contracts & Grants Supervisor, the Research Administrator will support Principal Investigators (PIs) and client departments within a shared services unit. The role may focus on either Pre-Award or Post-Award responsibilities, involving various funding mechanisms such as grants, contracts, clinical trials, fellowships, subawards, and service agreements. The position ensures compliance with sponsor and institutional policies and provides accurate fiscal analysis and management.

In Pre-Award, the administrator will interpret sponsor guidelines, prepare and organize budgets, and coordinate proposal submissions, ensuring compliance with institutional and external requirements. They will work closely with internal and external teams to ensure proposals are accurately prepared and routed for submission.

In Post-Award, the administrator will process and approve financial transactions, including requisitions, reimbursements, invoices, payroll, and cost transfers. They will monitor expenditures for compliance with funding restrictions, provide financial forecasting, and maintain award records in accordance with sponsor and institutional policies.

The Research Administrator will work collaboratively with PIs, staff, and departments to ensure the effective and compliant management of sponsored projects, supporting the overall research mission and advancing innovation.

Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced research administrator to independently develop and / or oversee research proposals, awards, and / or transactions related to contract and grant management and maintains contract and grant records in compliance with institutional research sponsor policies. Works on proposals and awards of diverse scope where analysis of data requires thorough understanding of complex regulations. Completes and approves transactions for signature by manager or other authorized institutional official. Works on complex proposals and awards that may involve multiple investigators and / or multiple sub awards. Guides less experienced staff. Central Role (CR): Is eligible for delegated signature authority (may vary by campus). Department Role (DR): Typically works on complex proposals such as grants / contracts which require task budgets, option years, multiple investigators and multiple sub awards.

• Seven years of related experience, education/training, OR a Bachelor's degree in related area plus three years of related experience/training.

• Thorough understanding of research administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.

• Thorough knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.

• Ability to manage significant volume of transactions.

• Ability to perform complex financial analysis and customized reporting.

• Demonstrated competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports.

• Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas.

• Maintains current knowledge of compliance regulations in all areas of research administration.

• Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal and reporting principles.

• Experience with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements.

• Full knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation, Code of Federal Regulations, sponsor-specific policies, intellectual property policy, conflict of interest requirements, publication rights, application of indirect cost rates and other complex concepts in research administration.

• Proven ability to analyze complex financial issues, recognize trends and potential impact, identify creative and alternative solutions; make and implement recommendations. Demonstrated problem-solving and negotiation skills with ability to exercise discretion.

• Demonstrated knowledge of policies regarding allowable and unallowable expenses on federal awards, and ability to communicate this information effectively to staff and faculty. Knowledge of federal regulations related to domestic and foreign travel paid on federal funding. Ability to independently interpret, analyze, and implement appropriate policies in a given situation.

• Demonstrated experience in developing complex budgets or reports for various funding agencies; projecting multi-year expenditures and outcomes as they relate to individual projects, and the department as a whole; experience applying programmatic knowledge to coordinate financial aspects of proposal development or award administration.

• Demonstrated experience with UCSD on-line and web based systems (Oracle, UCPath, Concur, Kuali, etc.).

• Knowledge of University policies and procedures regarding purchasing, returned goods, travel, disbursement, inventory, and ability to work collaboratively with contacts involved in these processes.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.