University of California San Diego

Assistant Director: Sponsored Projects Office - 140791

Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 9 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's Degree in nursing or related field plus 5 years of experience.
  • In-depth knowledge of contracts and grants transactions and financial systems.
  • Proficient in common desktop and web applications.
  • Ability to interpret sponsor and institutional policies and compliance regulations.
  • Skilled in managing high volume and complex transactions.
  • Capable of performing complicated financial analyses and customized reporting.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with a service orientation.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise a team of Research Administrators and Fund Managers in grant administration.
  • Ensure compliance with University and sponsor policies for assigned research programs.
  • Analyze workflow, monitor team performance, and establish priorities for project assignments.
  • Provide training, coaching, and mentorship to improve staff skills and adherence to best practices.
  • Collaborate with investigators and department leadership to resolve complex grant management issues.
  • Identify operational risks and recommend corrective actions as needed.
  • Propose changes to operational policies to enhance service delivery and compliance.

Benefits

  • Career-path development with opportunities for cross-training and professional growth.
  • Engagement with a top-ranking cancer research center with a social impact mission.
  • Team-oriented environment with a progressive philosophy on employee responsibility.
  • Access to training and support to ensure adherence to departmental standards.
Full Job Description
Payroll Title:
CONTRACTS AND GRANTS SUPV 2 Department:
CANCER CENTER Hiring Pay Scale
$100,100.00 - $143,800.00 / Year Worksite:
La Jolla Appointment Type:
Career Appointment Percent:
100% Union:
Uncovered Total Openings:
3 Work Schedule:
Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday

#140791 Assistant Director: Sponsored Projects Office
Filing Deadline: Thu 8/13/2026
Apply Now

DESCRIPTION

The Moores Cancer Center (MCC) is one of just 58 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States and the only one in San Diego County. As a consortium cancer center, it is a collaborative partnership between the UCSD: encompassing 28 departments, 6 schools (School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Public Health, Jacobs School of Engineering, School of Biological Sciences & the School of Physical Sciences), UCSD Health oncology hospitals and clinics; the basic and public health research and outreach of San Diego State University (SDSU), and the basic and translational research of the La Jolla Institute of Immunology (LJI). These various programs and units are all dedicated to fulfilling the Moores Cancer Center's mission of reducing cancer's burden. As such, it ranks among the top centers in the nation conducting the continuum of cancer research, providing advanced patient care, and serving the community through outreach and education programs. As a top-ranking, future-oriented organization, we offer challenging career opportunities in a fast-paced and innovative environment. Moores Cancer Center follows a progressive philosophy of career-path development for its employees including opportunities for cross-training, professional development, and progressive responsibility.

MCC's mission is to transform cancer care in our catchment area and beyond by driving exceptional scientific discoveries and innovations in prevention, detection, care, and training. MCC will make a global impact on improving health by reducing cancer burden through accelerated discovery and translation, compassionate and interdisciplinary care, education and community engagement, with the foundation of our core values - Excellence, Innovation and Risk-Taking, Collaboration, Diversity and Service.

Under the general supervision of the Associate Director for Administration, the Assistant Director: Sponsored Projects Office supervises a team of Research Administrators and Fund Managers responsible for pre-award and post-award administration for assigned Moores Cancer Center (MCC) research programs. The incumbent oversees the day-to-day operations of the team, ensuring that sponsored projects activities are administered in accordance with University, departmental, and sponsor policies and procedures. The position provides guidance, direction, and support to staff managing complex grant portfolios funded by a variety of sponsors, including the NIH, DOD, NSF, and other federal, state, industry, and private funding agencies.

Responsible for assigning work, establishing priorities, analyzing workflow, monitoring performance, and ensuring the timely and accurate completion of research administration activities. Using sound judgment within established policies and procedures, identify operational risks and compliance concerns, recommend appropriate corrective actions, and escalates material issues to leadership as needed. Serve as a resource to staff on complex grants administration matters and recommends process improvements, tools, and practices that enhance departmental effectiveness and compliance.

Provide direct supervision and mentorship to staff, including training, coaching, work review, and guidance on research administration policies and procedures. Support professional development, ensure adherence to departmental standards and protocols, and promotes consistent application of best practices across the team. In partnership with departmental leadership, may recommend changes to operational procedures and policies to improve service delivery, efficiency, and compliance.

Collaborate with investigators, departmental leadership, and central administrative offices to address complex grants management issues, facilitate successful administration of sponsored programs, and ensure the effective stewardship of research funds.

Supervises a small staff of Research Administrators working on grants or contracts according to established policies and management guidance. Recommends changes to department policies and practices. Receives assignments in the form of objectives with goals and the process by which to meet goals. Exercises judgment within defined procedures and policies to determine appropriate action. Identifies risks and responds accordingly. Provides priority setting and workflow analysis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • Nine (9) years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's Degree in nursing, healthcare, or related field plus five (5) years of experience.
  • Working knowledge of contracts and grants transactions and applicable financial systems, as well as related policy, accounting and regulatory compliance requirements.
  • Proficiency in use of common desktop / web applications.
  • Thorough knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply sponsor, institutional and departmental policies. Knowledge of current compliance regulations in all areas of research administration.
  • Ability to manage high volume and complex transactions.
  • Ability to perform highly complex financial analysis and customized reporting.
  • Thorough knowledge of policy and its interpretations.
  • Demonstrated advanced knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal and reporting principles.
  • Demonstrated advanced competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, service orientation, ability to multi-task effectively in a varied, high volume environment, judgment and decision-making, reasoning, ability to develop original ideas to solve problems, and effective verbal and written communication skills.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
  • Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
  • Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $100,100 - $187,500 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $47.94 - $89.80

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

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About University of California San Diego

The University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) is a public research university in San Diego, California. Established in 1960 near the pre-existing Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego is the seventh-oldest of the 10 University of California campuses and offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, enrolling approximately 38,325 students. UC San Diego is organized into six undergraduate residential colleges (Revelle, John Muir, Thurgood Marshall, Earl Warren, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Sixth College) and five academic divisions (Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Jacobs School of Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences). The university operates 19 organized research units (ORUs), including the Center for Energy Research, Qualcomm Institute (a branch of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology), and the San Diego Supercomputer Center.
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