Lead Research Administrator 4

at  UC San Diego

UC SAN DIEGO VALUES EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF OUR TEAM, POSSESS THE NEEDED LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS, AND FEEL THAT YOU HAVE MOST OF THE QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR TRANSFERABLE SKILLS FOR A JOB OPENING, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 7/16/24 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants: Apply by 7/26/24. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

• This position is open until filled. First Review Date: 7/26/24.

DESCRIPTION

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry strives to be a top-ranked and recognized leader in the chemical and biochemical sciences through transformative research and impactful educational programs. We are committed to excellence in teaching and mentoring excellence and supporting students and postdoctoral researchers in safe and inclusive environments as they prepare to become leaders in science and society. We value collegiality, equity and diversity with the Department, and promote a culture of collaboration and transparency.
We aim to enhance our impact in local and global communities through partnerships with other educators, industry, government and professional societies. Chemistry and Biochemistry is one of the largest and most complex departments on campus.
The department’s organization is divided among three major academic sections each with its own leadership representation under the Department Chair: Physical, Analytical & Environmental (PAE); Biochemistry & Biophysics (BB); and finally Synthesis, Materials and Chemical Biology (SMCB). The department is comprised of 75 ladder rank faculty, and additional 10 in various instructional titles and ~150 in academic research titles and postdoctoral scholars. The department is comprised of 100 career staff; ~60 temporary or student staff, and 480 Master’s and Ph.D. students. Undergraduate students majoring in chemistry number greater than 1,700, and total undergraduate and graduate annual course enrollments exceed 23,000.
The department manages three major NIH training grants, and one Department of Education training grant, which fund graduate and postdoctoral students across UCSD departments/disciplines as well as off campus research organizations. The department currently has more than 120 awards from federal, state and private sources for approximately $20 million per annum in extramural funding and $46 million in total annual expenditures.
Reporting to the Contracts & Grants Manager, the incumbent will serve as a Lead Research Administrator by providing training to department research administrators, independently managing a portfolio of various types (detailed below) of Federal, State and various non-federal or state sponsors (e.g. industry, private industry, donors, etc.) totaling ~$50M across all types of fund sources and agreements. This can range between 100-250 PPMs for between 50-100 proposals annually.
The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry has a diverse portfolio of sponsored projects focused on training, fellowships, and scholarship award types that range across federal agencies, state and local organizations, foundations, private philanthropic sponsors, with the full range of various types of agreements and contracts. The numerous and varied agencies include, but are not limited to: NIH, DOD, NSF, DOE, private foundations, state and county agencies, and private funding. This requires a breadth and depth of experience in sponsored project administration across the full lifecycle of award, as well as understanding of the unique requirements for training grants and fellowships. The Lead Research Administrator is required to be a subject matter expert in all areas of sponsored project administration and is responsible for the analysis of the pre-award proposal and management of the post-award administration for portfolios.
This position will work in partnership with the team to provide project and proposal management, financial analysis, budget preparation, cost estimates, interim financial report, and other financial related matters that are embedded within the pre and post-award processes. The incumbent will act as a key member of the proposal team to ensure resources and financial impact is understood for the most complex proposals within the department, such as training grants, large scale cooperative agreements, program project grants, and other complex and multifaceted proposals. This requires an intermediate knowledge of project management along with expert level of grant and research administration experience and financial management analysis.
This position is responsible for liaison with other teams that support trainees, scholars and fellows. This position will need to have a detailed expert level understanding of the graduate programs, stipend and fee schedules, and an ability to navigate complex funding issues related to graduate student researchers and will be responsible for developing cost projects for faculty with these populations. The position will lead the funding entry process for all student researchers, trainees, scholars and fellows.
In addition to the above duties, the Lead Research Administrator will provide expert fiscal management for a full range of sponsored projects, core, operating and other restricted funds including large, complex contracts, industry service agreements, grants, cooperatives agreements, business agreements, gift funds, proposals, training grants and educational programs. Incumbent is responsible for comprehensive training grant and fellowship pre-award analysis, support, and post-award administration. This position serves as liaison between between OCGA, SPF, General Accounting, AMAS and other central offices. May participate in organizational committees for research administration.
In coordination with the Contracts and Grants Manager, leads in the development, training and implementation of complex financial reporting and analysis of revenue and expenditures for training, fellowship and educational sponsored programs. Maintains internal controls and quality control for processes that allow for compliance and to meet regulatory requirements of UC, UCOP and the sponsors. Incumbent will need to understand and interpret large sets of data to provide guidance around business decisions for department and faculty. Perform other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: At least two days a week on-campus required. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Extensive experience successfully preparing large and complex research proposals.
• Experience and extensive knowledge of program administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment. Experience working in higher education with faculty and researchers, preferably in the preparation of proposals.
• Experience with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements. Knowledge of complex funding sources for various projects, including DOD, DOE, DHS, NSF, NIH, and NASA and other federal and state agencies, Foundation or gift funds, and state funds. Ability to analyze which differences and similarities are important.
• 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.
• Expert level experience with sponsored project (pre-and post-award) management for student populations and educational related award types.
• Demonstrated experience working with training grants, fellowships, education sponsored projects and scholarship programs.
• Advanced knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.
• Bachelor’s degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. Five (5) or more years of relevant experience, preferred.
• Ability to manage high volume and complex transactions. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with overlapping deadlines and short lead times and maintain a high level of attention to detail, and ability to work with a high degree of accuracy and follow through.
• 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. Skill in using computers to enter, manipulate, and especially retrieve, aggregate, and analyze data. Strong proficiency in utilizing a variety of reports and queries, and ability to effectively use pivot tables utilizing computer programs such as excel, google sheets, etc. Willingness and ability to update and increase computer skills and knowledge as needed.
• Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas. Strong verbal, written and electronic communication skills that facilitate professional and effective interaction with a diverse population. Ability to communicate effectively one-on-one or in group settings, taking into account differences in social, cultural, professional, and educational backgrounds.
• 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.
• Extensive knowledge of payroll and personnel regulations including impact of salary scales, merits, range adjustments. Knowledge of employee benefit regulations, leave accruals, summer salary policies, and a range of flexible salary options to meet appropriate fund source uses.
• Ability to interpret policy for others. Experience mentoring new researchers in sponsored project administration.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience in providing work direction and training to professional staff, fostering innovation, service and accountability, and to give clear instructions and guidelines. Ability to delegate and assign tasks and monitor production and quality of work. Ability to teach/train staff in all aspects of job duties/responsibilities.
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of ensuring an equitable, inclusive, and diverse working environment, with the ability to work as a part of a diverse and collaborative team. Demonstrated competency and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Willingness and demonstrated ability to embrace and consistently uphold the principles of community for a collaborative work environment.

IF EMPLOYED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH OUR POLICY ON VACCINATION PROGRAMS, WHICH MAY BE AMENDED OR REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME. FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTIVES MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

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UC San Diego is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.
For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20
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Please refer the Job description for details