Senior Research Administrator (Viterbi Office of Research)

The USC Viterbi School’s Office of Research seeks to recruit a Senior Research Administrator (internal title: Senior Contract and Grant Administrator) to support day-to-day operations in the Viterbi Office of Research. Reporting directly to the Director of Research Administration Operations, under the leadership of the Viterbi School’s Vice Dean for Research, the Senior Administrator will work to support, develop, and maintain innovative research administration processes and infrastructure across the Viterbi School. This position oversees two Contracts and Grants Administrators.

Responsibilities and accountabilities include:

• Manages and mentors team of subject matter experts in all aspects of proposal development for federal, state, industry, foundation and foreign sponsors, resulting in review/approval of over 650 proposals per year. Directly manages two Contracts and Grants Administrators.
• Coordinates with post-award staff in Viterbi Departments to ensure appropriate award set up and address questions and resolve issues related to pre- and post-award funding including tuition and indirect costs.
• Coordinates large-scale and multiple Principal Investigator proposals across Viterbi and collaborating institutions; identifies proposal requirements and answers faculty and administrative staff questions regarding submission, and provides technical assistance throughout the process.
• Provides training and guidance for research administrators across Viterbi.
• Provides guidance on program-specific requirements and exceptional approvals related to fringe, tuition, indirect costs, and other grant proposal elements.
• In consultation with the Director, contributes to the implementation of new policies and interoffice procedures to help ensure that the office is operating at its highest capacity.
• Works closely with the Director to evaluate standard operating procedures with a goal towards constant improvement.
• Executes other duties as assigned.

The Viterbi School team prizes colleagues that work efficiently and harmoniously with a wide range of stakeholders. We seek a candidate that demonstrates excellent interpersonal communication, a passion for process, a knack for numbers, an innate attention to detail, strong organizational and writing skills, and an ability to thrive in a high-volume, multi-task-oriented environment. This is a hybrid position with an anticipated 1-day in person schedule (4 days remote).

The Senior Administrator, Office of Research is expected to maintain the highest ethical standards and to maintain strict confidentiality across all facets of their work. We seek a candidate that will promote an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and creates unbiased opportunities for contributions through ideas, words, and actions that uphold principles of the USC Code of Ethics.

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