Principal Contract and Grant Officer - 135934

The Principal Contract and Grant Officer, operating under a formal delegation of authority to execute extramurally funded grants and contracts, provides professional expertise for Principal Investigators and research teams from VC Research and Innovation, VC Academic Affairs, and Health Sciences. Responsibilities include managing, negotiating, and executing sponsored research agreements (US federal contracts and other transactions as well as agreements for research programs funded by other government sponsors) as well as general campus fee-for-service agreements and industry center membership agreements. The Officer oversees non-financial administrative management and problem resolution during the term of the agreement, and assists in award close-out.

In maintaining a portfolio of the highest profile and complex award actions, the Principal Contract and Grant Officer requires expert analytical skills, comprehensive knowledge of federal regulations, and familiarity with UC policy. Response time for transactions is often critical and requires expert negotiation and facilitation skills. The ability to be rapidly responsive to emerging issues and possessing skill in independently handling non-standard/novel issues are key to the success of the incumbent for this position. This portfolio involves interactions and negotiations at the most senior levels: internal and external legal counsel, government program officers and contracting officers, industry executives, etc.

Responsibilities at this level also include one-on-one high-level guidance to Principal Investigators and Department/Organized Research Unit business administrators, mentoring of OCGA Senior Analysts when non-standard issues arise, and collaborating with central office partners on matters pertaining to UC research policy in the areas relevant to the team's portfolio (eg, export control, information security, innovation and commercialization). This can include consultation to faculty, campus administrators, and government sponsor representatives in such areas as UC clinical research procedures, policies, and contract language; training and educating campus about government contracts, as well as policies, practices, and guidance related to such agreements; and participating with OCGA Leadership in strategy planning and implementation to increase, broaden, develop and maintain UC San Diego relations with sponsors.

• Extensive knowledge of program administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.

• Demonstrated experience and superior skill in analytical and legal/contractual writing. Demonstrated ability to diplomatically, clearly, and accurately express substance and nuance in both oral and written communication. Demonstrated familiarity with scientific fields and ability to understand and use legal, scientific, and medical terminology and concepts. Ability to analyze complex technical data.

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

• Maintains 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 maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and organizational levels, including those with difficult behaviors. Ability to exercise diplomacy and maintain confidentiality, honoring the UC San Diego Principles of Community at all times.

• Demonstrated extensive skills and ability to successfully represent the University's position and protect University's interests when negotiating and executing sponsored research and research-supporting agreements, especially in key high-risk research areas. Expert and proven ability to use in-depth knowledge of contract, federal IP, business, and tort law and legal principles to assess academic, legal, and financial risk and draft and negotiate contractual language for key research-related areas (IP, publication and data rights, risk and liability, confidentiality, research compliance).

• Experience with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements. Demonstrated in-depth familiarity and experience with various funding mechanisms for University research. Demonstrated skill and experience in independently identifying, and then developing and implementing appropriate solutions to, novel, highly complex, and sensitive problems. Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment in determining when issues require additional action and/or input. Demonstrated ability to maintain an awareness of relevant external regulations, laws, and sponsor policies. Demonstrated experience in a research environment, preferably a university, and general knowledge of university policies relating to research (academic personnel, use of University facilities, research regulatory compliance requirements, IP, publications rights).

• Full knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation, Code of Federal Regulations, sponsor-specific policies, intellectual property policy, conflict of interest requirements, publication rights, application of indirect cost rates and other complex concepts in research administration.

• Ability to interpret policy for others. Demonstrated skill in determining the impact of policy requirements on the administration and/or conduct of scientific research.

• Proficiency in the Microsoft suite of productivity applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Outlook, Access, Visio and others as required. Skill and practical experience utilizing enterprise systems such as research administration or financial systems; experience and skill using workload management, document management and workload tracking systems and dashboards to effectively manage a large volume of transactions at various stages and of various types.

• Strong conflict-resolution skills to disarm anger and constructively handle complaints. Ability to mediate differences among large numbers of organizational groups with differing, and often conflicting, goals and motives. Demonstrated ability to foster relationships with challenging customers to facilitate and promote the administration of University research while maintaining appropriate boundaries to enforce policy and procedure.

• Demonstrated willingness and ability to be resourceful in finding answers by soliciting and coordinating the assistance of appropriate sources and by conducting independent research to inform work. Demonstrated ability to successfully collaborate with varied stakeholders (academic researchers, students, business office staff, contracting counterparts, compliance partners) to support the negotiation, execution, and administration of sponsored research agreements.

• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on a background check.

• Job offer is contingent upon the capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.