DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Climate, Atmospheric Science, and Physical Oceanography (CASPO) department is part of SIO's Oceans and Atmosphere (O&A) Section and is the largest of SIO's research divisions.

CASPO is home to more than 50 Principal Investigators (PIs), their staff, numerous postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, visiting researchers and volunteers. CASPO scientists operate a number of high-profile research units, such as the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) and the Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment (CAICE), as well as engineering facilities that fabricate a variety of specialized ocean research instruments (the Instrument Development Group and the Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory). CASPO is also home to UCSD's NOAA funded Cooperative Institute for Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Systems (CIMEAS).

CASPO Business Office manages approximately $142M in sponsored research funding and $67 million in annual research expenditures, with most of the funding coming from federal and state agencies including CIMEAS funds.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Pre-Award Fund Manager is responsible for providing comprehensive financial analysis and pre-award grant support/submission to the CASPO Division at SIO. The Pre-Award funding manager will directly interface with faculty, post award fund managers, HR staff and C&G officers to ensure success with the research mission of the Section. Pre-award responsibilities include providing direction and policy interpretation to faculty and staff regarding proposal preparation and submission; preparing and submitting research proposals to various external funding agencies; analyzing options and resolving problems directly with internal and external contacts; working with SIO Contracts and Grants Department to process no-cost extensions, rebudgets, carry-forward requests and revised proposals as needed. In the absence of the Pre- Award Manager, serve as the department’s lead on issues relating to proposal submission and other pre-award matters. Typically works on complex proposals such as grants / contracts which require task budgets, option years, multiple investigators/institutions and multiple sub awards.

The Pre-Award Fund Manager will involve learning multiple UCSD systems and best practices, all while focusing on preparing and submitting research grant applications. Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced research administrator to independently develop and / or oversee research proposals, awards and / or transactions related to contract and grant management and maintains contract and grant records in compliance with institutional research sponsor policies. Works on proposals and awards of diverse scope where analysis of data requires thorough understanding of complex regulations. Works on complex proposals and awards that may involve multiple investigators and / or multiple institutions and sub awards.

Post-Award responsibilities include managing award funding through review and reconciliation of budgetary activities; preparing and analyzing financial statements and reports with budget projections to determine spending trends; reviewing appropriateness of expenditures, availability of funds, and applicability of funding restrictions (Uniform Guidance); meeting regularly with PIs to determine current and future spending needs; advising PIs on the most efficient and appropriate ways of using available funds; and preparing closeout reports for extramural contracts and grants. Central Role (CR): Is eligible for delegated signature authority (may vary by campus). Department Role (DR): Typically works on complex proposals such as grants / contracts which require task budgets, option years, multiple investigators and multiple sub-awards.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Thorough understanding of research administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment. Experience interpreting and applying complex rules, regulations, and systems, and design/develop enhancements to routine operations for pre and post- award administration. Examples (not inclusive): Federal Uniform Guidance; federal registers (FDP and Expanded Authority); Cost Accounting Standards; and federal and state agency guidelines (NSF, NOAA, DOE, NASA, DWR, CEC, etc.).

• Thorough knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc. Demonstrated skill in preparation and analysis of contractual proposal documents, including budget data, support details, and other data a required by the granting/contracting agencies, including but not limited to: NSF, ONR, DOE, NOAA, NASA. Knowledge of proposal formats and requirements of federal, state and private agencies including submission deadlines. Ability to interpret government regulations, specifically Federal Demonstration Projects, Expanded Authority, and federal flow-through.

• Ability to perform complex financial analysis and customized reporting. Excellent proofreading skills and ability to analyze content and implication to proposed budget. Demonstrated skill in collecting and analyzing cost data, equipment pricing, foreign and domestic travel pricing, and preparing detailed complex multi-year/multi-discipline/multi-institutional budgets. Ability to review accounts in relation to shifting income/expenditure, audit spending trends, analyze statements for balance of funds, provide projections, audit for appropriateness of expenses against agency regulations, and make sound recommendations for budget adjustments.

• Demonstrated competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports. Experience with advanced Excel spreadsheets and pivot tables. Demonstrated experience with on-line entry of financial journals, transfers of funds, invoices, purchase orders, payroll systems, etc.

• Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal and reporting principles.

• Ability to manage significant volume of transactions. Strong math skills including the ability to work with percentages; ability to analyze budgets in relation to shifting expenses for adjustments and ability to project costs.

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

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

• Ability to work independently, take ownership of work performance, follow through on assignments, identify problems and recommend course of action for resolution, and acknowledge those tasks/items/problems that need to be handled by self and those that need the supervisor's attention.

• Ability to interact constructively with faculty, staff, and students in person and over the phone, exercising tact and diplomacy with emphasis on flexibility and professionalism

• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding financial, payroll, and personnel information

• Experience with electronic filing systems. Ability to maintain and cross-reference complex filing systems for rapid/easy retrieval by self and others

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills for effective written and oral communication to correspond with all levels of administration using correct rules of grammar, punctuation, and proper formats, and demonstrating the ability to proofread own work.

• Ability to review accounts in relation to shifting income/expenditure, audit spending trends and historical expenditures, analyze statements for balance of funds, provide projections, audit for appropriateness of expenses against agency regulations, and make sound recommendations for budget adjustments

• Strong management, problem-solving, decision-making skills and organizational skills, with ability to prioritize job functions to meet multiple deadlines, ensure smooth work flow and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Ability to apply programmatic knowledge regarding research objectives of projects/programs in order to analyze data, evaluate next-step procedures, weigh consequences in financial modeling, and advise PIs of the best solutions to the problems or issues at hand.

• Ability to interpret government regulations and contractual arrangements, such as Expanded Authority, cooperative agreements, and flow-through subcontract and purchase orders. Ability to review, decipher, and examine governmental and contractual language in detail and assess carefully terms and conditions that govern the award.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

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