DESCRIPTION

Founded in 1965, the Department of Psychology at UCSD is one of the premier experimental psychology departments in the country. Currently there are 34 faculty, 25 researchers and postdocs, 30 staff members, 1500 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students. The department has over 37 active federal contracts/grants and annual expenditures total over $10 million across federal, state, and gift funds.

This is a professional position at the experienced level of the Research Administrator series. The incumbent will be an experienced professional who knows how to apply theory and put it into practice with an in-depth understanding of the professional field; independently performs the full range of responsibilities within the function; possesses broad job knowledge; analyzes problems and issues of diverse scope, and determines solutions.

Under general supervision, 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; maintain contract and grant records in compliance with institutional research sponsor policies; work on proposals and awards of diverse scope where analysis of data requires thorough understanding of complex regulations; complete and approve transactions; work on complex proposals and awards that may involve multiple investigators and/or multiple sub awards; provide work direction department RA2s; work on complex NIH/NSF/other agencies proposals such as grants/contracts which require task budgets, option years, multiple investigators and multiple sub awards; manage human subjects protocols and payments for PIs; build rapport with PIs and provide excellent customer service for department.

Additional complexity/workload responsibilities: UCPath funding entries and salary transfers; academic salary, including summer salary; General Campus Compensation Plan (GCCP); Faculty Salary Exchange Program (FSEP), buyouts, and sabbaticals; faculty startup, gifts, and faculty-generated accounts; faculty with joint appointments in Rady School of Management; graduate student appointments/GSRs, including summer GSRs.

• Overtime and weekends may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Thorough understanding of research administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment. Experienced with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Federal and non-federal agency requirements and regulations for sponsored research, from proposal preparation through close out, including but not limited to Cost Accounting Standards, OMBA 121, FDP policies, etc.

• Thorough knowledge of OMB circulars such as Uniform Guidance, A-21, A110 and principles of cost accounting standards, including allowability, allocability, and reasonableness, state, local, sponsor and institutional regulations, policies, and guidelines.

• Thorough knowledge of contractual document or proposal formats and requirements of federal, state, and private agencies.

• Demonstrated skill in collecting cost data for large proposals, including salary information, large equipment aquisition and sub-award data. Preparing multi -year proposals with these elements.

• Knowledge of budgeting, accounting principles and bookkeeping to maintain department financial records and produce reports and reconcile discrepancies.

• Ability to manage significant volume of 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.

• Ability to perform complex financial analysis and customized reporting. Experience using Oracle financial or other types of financial reporting applications.

• Demonstrated competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports. Ability to read and understand the UCSD general ledger produced by General Accounting to interpret into local reports, knowledge of University accounting and purchasing policies and procedures to support the Center’s financial structure; knowledge and skill in the use of Oracle financial systems for inquiry and data entry information on purchase orders, travel, and UCPATH on-line subsystems. Ability to train support staff on these systems..

• Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas. Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively and diplomatically at all organizational levels, both verbally and in writing. Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills to interact with diverse individuals and groups

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

• Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal and reporting principles. Demonstrated experience in principles and practices of fund accounting, cost analysis and audit procedures.

• Effective problem solving skills.. Ability to identify problems and recommend actions to present to central campus and senior management.

• Ability to review and analyze budgets for funds and appropriateness of expenses against agency regulations.

• Demonstrated experience to interpret and apply complex rules, regulations, and systems; and design/develop enhancements to such as needed.

• Experience working with computer and information management systems.

• Thorough knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

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