Clinical Research Admin Lead — Grants, Budgets & Trials

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine invites a Research Administrator to support a dynamic research portfolio within Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences. The role partners with SPA and Contracts and Grants to manage budgets, approvals, and timelines for complex grants and clinical trials.

You will develop proposals, monitor financials, and ensure compliance with NIH and sponsor regulations while guiding research staff and coordinating with investigators across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in pre- and post-award management for federal and non-federal grants/contracts in an academic setting.
• 2+ years of experience in financial management of clinical trials.
• Strong knowledge of NIH and other sponsored award regulations.
• Proficiency in financial forecasting, accounting, and data management systems.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pre- and post-award processes for research projects, including contracts, grants, clinical trials, and philanthropic funding.
• Manage financial aspects of clinical trials, including budget tracking, investigator payments, invoices, and financial reporting for sponsors.
• Assist principal investigators in preparing administrative components of grant proposals within sponsored and non-sponsored research guidelines.
• Develop, prepare, and monitor project budgets, ensuring compliance with financial and institutional policies.
• Collaborate with the Sponsored Project Accounting office to ensure proper award setup and compliance with cost-sharing requirements.
• Prepare grant award reports, projections, and monthly/quarterly research productivity and financial reports.
• Lead initiatives to improve efficiency in research administration, reporting, and award management.
• Assist in managing other departmental research administrators and support hiring and onboarding of research staff.
• Partner closely with USC SPA, Contracts and Grants, KSOM Office of Research Administration, PIs, research groups, and sponsors to ensure compliant operations.

Skills

Financial management

Pre- and post-award management

Regulatory compliance

NIH regulations

Analytical skills

Communication

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday

Cayuse

Kuali

Job description

University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine invites a Research Administrator to support a dynamic research portfolio within Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences. The role partners with SPA and Contracts and Grants to manage budgets, approvals, and timelines for complex grants and clinical trials.

You will develop proposals, monitor financials, and ensure compliance with NIH and sponsor regulations while guiding research staff and coordinating with investigators across