Job Abstract

The Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering seeks qualified candidates for an Assistant Research Administrator to support departmental research activity, contracts & grants, and other departmental financial needs. The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is committed to increasing the diversity of its staff and welcomes applications from women, underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.  

The core job duties are:

• Sponsored Research Proposals/Grant Solicitation: Works with assigned units to support local research teams with the submission of research proposals to sponsoring U.S. government agencies (e.g., the Department of Defense, the National Institute for Health) and other grant-makers (corporations, foundations). Prepares draft budgets and gathers data necessary to submit proposals in accordance with agency and university guidelines.
• Account Management: Works with assigned units to support budget management related to sponsored projects. Helps monitor and reconcile account activities for assigned projects. Supports expense management and procurements (i.e., materials purchasing) in assigned units. 
• Payroll: Supports grant-funded payroll operations in assigned units for research staff, faculty, research assistants, student workers, and visiting scholars in collaboration with the central Viterbi HR/Payroll team. 
• Compliance: Supports all elements of institutional compliance to ensure that all policies and procedures are followed across all areas of research administration.
• Continuous Improvement: Participates in and contributes to process improvements. Supports efforts to standardize and streamline operations. 

Job duties may be added or modified as needed.

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. The Assistant 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.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree; combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education. One year of relevant experience. Broad knowledge of relevant research computer software, e.g.: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint; and Outlook. Experience in creating and analyzing statistical reports. Must be able to utilize computer technology to access data, maintain records and generate reports. Proven oral and written communication skills to interact with other employees. 

Preferred Qualifications:

Two years of account or budget experience. Knowledge of government and fund accounting. University experience and knowledge of university financial systems. Ability to self-manage, and the ability and the willingness to work on changing programs and projects. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with diverse multi-cultural workforce.

Required Applicant Documents:

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

Additional Information:

This is a hybrid position. The Associate Research Administrator will be expected to work onsite for 3 days per week. This position is not eligible for fully remote work.

The hourly rate range for this position is $34.84 - $39.20. 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.

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+.

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu.  Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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