Senior Research Grants & Contracts Manager

University of California - San Diego Medical Centers; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California - San Diego Medical Centers seeks a senior research administrator to oversee post-award and pre-award activities for complex portfolios within the DoM. You will mentor staff, manage high-volume transactions, and ensure compliance with sponsor policies and regulations.

The role requires in-depth knowledge of federal and non-federal sponsors, budgeting, and internal UCSD processes. Occasional alternate hours and background checks apply.

Qualifications

• Nine years of related experience, education/training, OR a Bachelor's degree in related area plus five years of related experience/training.
• Ability to perform highly complex financial analysis and customized reporting.
• Demonstrated advanced 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.
• Extensive knowledge of program administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.
• Extensive 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.
• Advanced knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.
• Ability to manage high volume and complex transactions.
• Maintains knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply sponsor, institutional and departmental policies. Knowledge of current compliance regulations in all areas of research administration.
• Demonstrated advanced 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.
• Ability to interpret policy for others.
• Excellent communication and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the post-award and/or pre-award activities and cleanup efforts for one or more complex, high volume portfolios within one of the largest research divisions.
• Mentoring new staff and participation in central committees will also be essential to the position to ensure that the mission of the department is accomplished.
• Uses advanced contracts and grants concepts to manage high volume and high complexity transactions.
• May review and guide others in the review of financial and administrative management requirements of research contract and grant proposals, awards and / or transactions to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor policies.
• Works independently to assess complex grant, contract and subcontract transactions where analysis requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• May be eligible for delegated signature authority.
• May review and sign transactions for less experienced staff.
• May serve as a technical specialist in a particular area, such as federal contracts, state contracts, subcontracts or information systems.
• May mentor and help to train new fund managers with less experience.
• If Post-Award specialist: Incumbent is responsible for broad oversight of research administration ideas and practices including post-award management practices and guiding this on the division or department level, notifying leadership of material audit issues that arise, and using deep knowledge of research administration practices to develop and implement tools and processes within DoM.
• If Pre-Award specialist: Incumbent is responsible for broad oversight of research administration ideas and practices with specific expertise to support Principal Investigators in submitting any type and complexity of sponsored proposal, including a broad range of federal, state, for-profit and/or non-profit agencies, international sub awards, as well as extensive knowledge of UCSD internal processes, controls and systems.
• Incumbent may be assigned special projects in support of the overall Sponsored Projects Office and/or Department missions.

Skills

Financial analysis

Reporting

Spreadsheet

Communication

Program administration

Federal regulations

Staff mentoring

Time management

Policy interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in related area

Tools

Spreadsheet software

Database software

Job description

University of California - San Diego Medical Centers seeks a senior research administrator to oversee post-award and pre-award activities for complex portfolios within the DoM. You will mentor staff, manage high-volume transactions, and ensure compliance with sponsor policies and regulations.

The role requires in-depth knowledge of federal and non-federal sponsors, budgeting, and internal UCSD processes. Occasional alternate hours and background checks apply.