Senior Research Administrator, USC Viterbi School of Engineering

The USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science seeks to recruit a Senior Research Administrator to lead its research administration team. Computer Science faculty members generate wide-ranging and complex research programs, sponsored projects, grants and contracts. This is a new role at the Computer Science department: job duties may be shifted or modified as needed.

The ideal candidate for this position is an agile, conscientious leader that is dedicated to building a culture of service and support. The Senior Research Administrator manages a subordinate team of approximately six Associate Research Administrators to ensure consistent support quality and high productivity. Additional staff may be added, as needed, as CS’s research portfolio continues to scale.

With guidance, direction, and oversight from the Department Chair and the Senior Business Officer, and in partnership the Viterbi Office of Research and faculty members, this position directs day-to-day administrative activities and research program operations for the department. The Senior Research Administrator works in close collaboration with USC’s Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) and Sponsored Projects Agency (SPA), to ensure alignment with Viterbi and USC policies and procedures:

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Oversees the department’s large and multifaceted portfolio of external and internal research grants and contracts. Monitors proposal caseloads across the research administration staff and makes assignment recommendations accordingly. Assesses workflow and processes, making adjustments and improvements when necessary. 

• Hires, trains, supervises, develops, and evaluates staff to ensure high productivity and strategic and operational alignment. In collaboration with the Viterbi Office of Research, oversees onboarding and orientation of new research staff to ensure duties, responsibilities, work requirements and performance standards are clearly understood, including submitting proposals, managing accounts, monitoring payroll supported by sponsored funding, as well as reporting and close out. Evaluates performance and provides ongoing guidance and feedback. Continually monitors and recommends professional training and development opportunities.
• Schedules and prioritizes the workloads of the research administrative team. Assesses and defines priorities. Administers internal policies and procedures related to staff responsibilities regarding pre- and post- award research and compliance. Delegates tasks and projects, as necessary. Provides reports and updates to the department’s senior leadership and to the School’s Office of Research, as requested.

• Assists in the resolution of highly complex issues escalated from the research team, and determines if further review by senior management or key University constituencies is necessary. Serves as a Subject Matter Expert on complex University and government policies and assists the research team in interpreting complex policies. Oversees cross-campus research projects. 

• Oversees, and assists as needed, the development, organization, and submission of research proposals and budgets. Assesses the complexity of individual faculty portfolios. In consultation with principal investigators, assists with resource allocation decisions as needed. Reviews departmental ‘notification of awards’ and gathers needed department data. Prepares and/or directs the preparation of financial and status reports, as needed.

• Reviews the department’s Monthly Payroll Projection Report generated by the Viterbi Payroll Office. Provides research administrative staff with monthly payroll data projections for faculty, staff and students supported fully or partially on research funding to ensure monthly/bi-weekly payroll is set up accurately, charged to the appropriate account(s), and paid timely.

• Serves as primary liaison between principal investigators, the Department of Contract and Grants, Sponsored Projects Accounting, other research groups and senior management, as required.

Job duties may be added or modified as needed.

The Senior Research Administrator is expected to demonstrate impeccable ethics and collegiality, and to promote an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and upholds principles of the USC Code of Ethics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred Education – Master’s Degree.
• Preferred Experience – seven (7) years in field of expertise. Expert knowledge in field of sponsored research, research administration, and experience leading teams. Knowledge of USC systems and processes is prized.
• Collaborative team-player. Demonstrated people management and highly developed supervisory skills. Ability to motivate team members.
• Superb oral and written communication skills.
• Flexible, highly motivated self-starter who can proactively and strategically design and direct department operations.
• Demonstrated skills in critical analysis, problem solving, and business development.
• Demonstrated administrative and project management skills, particularly with cross functional teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, utilizing effective organizational skills to prioritize and manage deadlines for many simultaneous projects for multiple stakeholders.

Additional Information:

This is a hybrid position. The Senior Research Administrator will be expected to work onsite an average of 3 days per week on an as-needed basis. This position is not eligible for fully remote work.

The annual base salary range for this position is $ $109,165.32 -$132,247.02. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the mission of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Viterbi staff are expected to facilitate a culture of support and service, to model civility and respect across all facets of their work, and 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.

Required Applicant Documents:

A resume/CV and a cover letter are required. Please feel free to upload your application materials in a single document.

USC and the Viterbi School:

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

Founded in 1905, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is named for Andrew Viterbi who developed an algorithm to connect the world’s citizens. Similarly, the school, located in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international business in the heart of the Pacific Rim, is a hub for entrepreneurship that connects students from 64 countries.

USC Viterbi is a pioneer in restoring sight to the blind; restoring memory to sufferers of Alzheimer’s; and socially assistive robots to aid seniors with stroke or children with autism. It is the home of the first operational quantum computing center in academia. Our alumni include Neil Armstrong, first human on the moon; A.C. Mike Markkula, co-founder of Apple; and Wanda Austin, former CEO of the Aerospace Corporation.

The USC Viterbi School is consistently ranked among the top graduate programs (U.S. News and World Report). Under the leadership of Dean Yannis C. Yortsos, the school helped re-imagine the 21st century engineer, pioneering the Grand Challenge Scholars Program in schools across the globe. Our mission is to serve California, the nation and the world. At USC Viterbi, we call this the enabling power of Engineering .

Salary : $109,165 - $132,247