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.