Senior Contract and Grant Officer - 138932

UC San Diego Health Sciences is a nationally recognized and forward-thinking academic enterprise dedicated to advancing biomedical discovery, improving health outcomes, and training the next generation of healthcare and scientific leaders. The Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences oversees three premier professional schools: the School of Medicine, the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. Together, these schools represent a $2 billion academic enterprise that advances the teaching, research, and clinical missions of the University of California, San Diego.

Across these schools are approximately 20 academic departments, more than 1,600 faculty members, 800 students, and over 1,000 residents and fellows. Health Sciences maintains a robust and rapidly growing research portfolio, with annual research awards exceeding $861 million.

The Health Sciences Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) Proposal Team plays a critical role in enabling this research enterprise by supporting faculty and departments in the development and submission of research proposals across a broad range of sponsors. The team reviews and submits approximately 3,800 proposals annually, including more than 2,150 proposals and progress reports to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Working in a high-volume, fast-paced, and highly collaborative environment, the team ensures compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements while providing strategic guidance that supports the success of UC San Diego investigators.

The Health Sciences Proposal Team is committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within research administration. We seek individuals who demonstrate integrity, intellectual curiosity, strategic thinking, and a commitment to service. Team members play an important role in supporting the success of UC San Diego's research community while contributing to the continued growth and excellence of the institution's research enterprise.

In alignment with UC San Diego's Principles of Community and the Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence, the department is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion and fostering a welcoming environment where all faculty, staff, and students are valued and supported.

Under the general supervision of the Health Sciences Proposal Team Director, the Senior Contract and Grant Officer performs advanced pre-award research administration and compliance review for complex Health Sciences research proposals and related post-submission actions (e.g., Just-in-Time requests, sponsor clarifications, and administrative updates). The incumbent independently reviews and analyzes proposals to ensure the appropriate commitment of University resources and compliance with University of California, UC San Diego Health Sciences, and sponsor policies and regulations.

The Senior Contract and Grant Officer serves as a subject matter expert and key resource for faculty and departmental staff regarding proposal preparation, compliance requirements, and submission procedures. The incumbent is responsible for managing the proposal review and submission process and ensuring timely and compliant submission of proposals to sponsoring agencies. The incumbent supports a high-volume research enterprise with complex submissions to federal, foundation, industry, and other sponsors.

The position incorporates a diverse scope of responsibilities where analysis of data requires a thorough understanding of complex sponsor regulations, institutional policies, and administrative requirements. The incumbent ensures the proper commitment of University resources, verifies adequate proposal pricing, coordinates compliance with special review requirements (including Human Subjects, Animal Subjects, Conflict of Interest, and related regulatory approvals), and confirms conformity with both University and sponsoring agency regulations.

Under the direction of the Proposal Team Director, the incumbent conducts detailed review, analysis, and institutional approval of Health Sciences proposals and provides recommendations on compliance, budgetary commitments, and institutional risk. At times, this work is performed in collaboration with the Sponsored Projects Office Campus Proposal Team and applicable Award Management team(s). The incumbent also provides full-scope pre-award fellowship proposal support across Health Sciences departments, assisting fellows, faculty, and staff with proposal development and submission to a wide range of sponsoring agencies.

Using research administration expertise, the incumbent independently develops, reviews, and oversees research proposals and related transactions within the contract and grant lifecycle, ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements. Responsibilities frequently involve complex submissions that may include multiple investigators, multiple departments, and/or multiple subawards. The incumbent provides guidance and expertise on complex proposals and serves as a resource to less experienced research administration staff.

The incumbent reviews pre-award documentation and sponsor terms and conditions of moderate complexity and risk to ensure acceptability and compliance with University policies. The position analyzes problems, formulates options, and coordinates resolution of proposal-related, compliance, and policy issues in collaboration with departments, central offices, and sponsoring agencies.

This position is required to hold delegated institutional authority to submit research proposals. The incumbent will be assigned the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) designation and is authorized to complete and approve proposal transactions within the scope of delegated signature authority for extramural sponsored research submissions. The incumbent serves as a liaison between the University and sponsoring agencies regarding proposal submission and related compliance matters. A high level of professional judgment, discretion, and confidentiality is required in handling sensitive institutional and sponsor information.

• Seven (7) years of related experience or a Bachelor's degree or higher with focus in fields such as life sciences, physical sciences, technology, engineering, contract law, intellectual property law, public administration, or political science and three (3) years related university experience or combined equivalent.

• Thorough understanding of research administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment. Demonstrated advanced knowledge of NIH proposal guidelines, submission requirements, and the NIH Grants Policy Statement, with the ability to interpret and apply complex sponsor regulations in a university research environment.

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

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

• Demonstrated advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, eRA Commons, Grants.gov, Jira, Kuali Research, ServiceNow, and OnBase.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

• Position may review or handle agreements subject to export-control restrictions; in compliance with Arms Export Control and Export Administration Act, may require U.S. person status if access to controlled technical information could occur.

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.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational - or "bench-to-bedside" - research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace