University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
Job Description
The Research Administrator 3 RP position involves providing analytical, financial and training activities in support of contract and grant proposal development, funding, administration, and budget development. Activities include pre-award proposal initiatives, management of funds post-award, and closeout activities for federal, state, local and private sponsors. Involves activities associated with analyzing research funding trends and sources, forecasting, planning, and managing of research portfolios by performing some or all of the following: coordinating and identifying and developing and / or presenting proposals, contracts and other agreements; reviewing proposals to ensure institutional compliance and program success; negotiating, administering and monitoring contract and grant awards, including compliance with regulations, terms and conditions; financial management and reporting; and sub award administration.
ANR Statewide Programs and Research and Extension Center Operations (SWPR) manages the budget, financial, personnel, programmatic and administrative operations for the program side of ANR. Units served include: ANR Senior Leadership, ANR 15 Statewide Programs and Institutes, ANR 9 Research and Extension Centers, ANR systemwide CE Specialists. Other services are Workgroups, Academic Assembly Council, Endowed Chairs, Program Support Unit, Strategic Communications, Government and Community Relations. All ANR Senior Leadership funding flows thorough this group (Vice President, Associate Vice Presidents, and Vice Provosts).
This position is a career appointment that is 100% fixed.
The home department is the ANR Statewide Programs and Research and Extension Center Operations (SWPR). While this position normally is based in Davis, CA, this position is eligible for hybrid flexible work arrangements for applicants living in the State of California at this time. Please note that hybrid flexible work arrangements are subject to change by the University.
Pay Scale: $68,500.00/year to $95,200.00/year
Job Posting Close Date: This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 6/4/2026.
Key Responsibilities:
40%
- Organizes, plans, establishes and monitors fiscal budget control of contracts and grants administration, gifts, endowments, and privately funded projects for faculty research programs or ANR Statewide programs and Institutes.
- Applies professional knowledge / experience to prepare, review, and / or approve financial transactions.
- Provides post-award financial administration and management for research funds in accordance with organization policy and agency requirements.
20%
- Coordinates proposal submissions including preparing proposal budgets.
20%
- Coordinates and implements budget allocations, conceives of and maintains chart of accounts or other data management tools and related business processes. Prepares journal entries and cost transfers, maintains and reconciles ledger accounts.
- Participates in gathering data from the general ledger for the collection of information, preparing summary schedules, and either answering questions from departments or coordinating getting answers.
20%
- Independently gathers information as needed to perform financial analysis.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
- Thorough understanding of research administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.
- Ability to manage significant volume of transactions.
- Ability to perform complex financial analysis and customized reporting.
- Demonstrated competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports.
- Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas.
- Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal and reporting principles.
- Strong writing skills in a variety of styles to draft persuasive text for a variety of audiences while ensuring adherence to funding sponsor's guidelines.
Preferred Skills:
- Thorough knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.
- Maintains current knowledge of compliance regulations in all areas of research administration.
Special Conditions of Employment:
- Must possess valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University vehicle. Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability damage insurance on vehicle used is required. Reimbursement of job-related travel will be reimbursed according to University policies.
- The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check. This is a designated position requiring a background check and may require fingerprinting due to the nature of the job responsibilities. UC ANR does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities.
- As of January 1, 2014, ANR is a smoke- and tobacco-free environment in which smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes), is strictly prohibited.
- As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
- Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.
- "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
To apply, please visit: https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucanr/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&JobOpeningId=86377&PostingSeq=1&SiteId=17&languageCd=ENG&FOCUS=Applicant
