Research Administrator

Department: Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Location: Health Sciences Campus (Hybrid)

About the role

The Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) of USC is seeking a Research Administrator to support our growing and dynamic research department. Reporting to the Senior Clinical Administrative Director II, and working closely with the KSOM Office of Research Administration, the Research Administrator will work closely with a team of highly motivated research investigators to manage financial and administrative research activities.

Responsibilities

• Pre- and Post-Award Management: Oversee pre- and post-award processes for research projects, including contracts, grants, clinical trials, and philanthropic funding.
• Clinical Trial Administration: Manage financial aspects of clinical trials, including budget tracking, investigator payments, invoices, and financial reporting for sponsors.
• Proposal Development: Assist principal investigators (PIs) in preparing administrative components of grant proposals within sponsored and non-sponsored research guidelines.
• Budget & Financial Oversight: Develop, prepare, and monitor project budgets, ensuring compliance with financial and institutional policies.
• Regulatory Compliance: Collaborate with the Sponsored Project Accounting office to ensure proper award setup and compliance with cost-sharing requirements.
• Financial Reporting: Prepare grant award reports, projections, and monthly/quarterly research productivity and financial reports, including maintaining a research dashboard.
• Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to improve efficiency in research administration, reporting, and award management.
• Team Leadership: Assist in managing other departmental research administrators and support hiring and onboarding of research staff.
• Collaboration & Liaison: Partner closely with the USC Sponsored Projects Accounting (SPA) office, Department of Contracts and Grants, KSOM Office of Research Administration, principal investigators, research groups, and external sponsors to facilitate smooth research operations and ensure compliance with institutional and funding agency policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of experience in pre- and post-award management for federal and non-federal grants/contracts in an academic setting
• 2+ years of experience in financial management of clinical trials
• Strong knowledge of NIH and other sponsored award regulations
• Proficiency in financial forecasting, accounting, and data management systems
• Excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills

Preferred Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of experience in contracts and grants coordination in a fast-paced academic environment
• 5+ years of experience in clinical trial financial management
• Experience with USC systems, including Workday, Cayuse, and Kuali
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) preferred

Skills

• Strong understanding of clinical trial methodologies and regulatory requirements
• Proficiency in Excel for post-award financial management
• Strong interpersonal skills with a customer service-oriented mindset
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team
• Excellent time management and ability to prioritize workload effectively
• Strong financial data analysis, reporting, and presentation skills

Pay

The annual base salary range for this position is $99,645.78 - $120,000.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and 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.