Job Description

This position is budgeted for $$6,250.00 - $7,654.33 per month depending on qualifications and is non-negotiable.

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values:

Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

At San Diego State University's (SDSU’s) HealthLINK Center for Transdisciplinary Health Research (SDSU HealthLINK Center), our vision is to inspire transformational and collaborative research that promotes health and well-being for all people and communities. Our collective efforts are driven by a team that includes wide-ranging expertise at all levels of our organization. We are based a short 1.2 miles from the SDSU campus. We offer comprehensive benefits that support the overall well-being and quality of life of our employees.

Funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) through a U54 Cooperative Agreement, the SDSU HealthLINK Center offers a wide range of research services, including expertise in multiple research methods, supporting varied research needs, and data analytics applications across the university to enhance health research. The SDSU HealthLINK Center supports research projects led by SDSU, SDSU Imperial Valley (SDSU IV), and SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) investigators, affiliated partner organizations, and industry partners, including those funded as Center Research Projects, as Pilot Projects, or who access our services through a cost recovery system.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Center Administrative Manager is a highly visible executive position that supports the Center’s Co-Directors in carrying out the Center’s mission to foster meaningful, high-quality, transdisciplinary research. The Center Administrative Manager will report to the Co-Directors but work autonomously. The Center Administrative Manager will oversee the Center’s administrative and programmatic functions, specifically managing the Administrative Core to ensure the successful completion of the Center’s objectives. Regular communication with Co-Directors, members of the management team, and Core and Project Co-Leaders is essential to ensure activities are on target and deadlines are met. The Center Administrative Manager will ensure that the Center’s research and programmatic work are compliant with institutional and federal guidelines. They will represent the Center in various forums, enhancing its visibility and expanding its network. This includes fostering strong relationships with administrative leadership across SDSU, SDSU IV, and SDSURF (e.g., Division of Research and Innovation, Grants and Contracts, Research Compliance, Deans’ offices, Provost), other centers in the Research Center for Minority Institutions (RCMI) Network, and NIMHD.

The Center Administrative Manager will bring significant research administration experience to support the vision, mission, and values of the Center. The ideal candidate will have a master’s or doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent), demonstrate strategic thinking, and have senior-level research experience.

Responsibilities

SPECIFIC DUTIES

The Center Administrative Manager is responsible for (but not limited to):

Administrative Leadership 40%

• Under the immediate direction of the AC Leader and with consultation from the Center Co-Directors, manage the Center’s Administrative Core, including leading the Center’s systems of administration, compliance, information technology, finance, communication, evaluation, human resources, and facilities.
• Lead the orchestration of and feedback from the Center’s twice-annual National Advisory Committee meetings, including serving as the primary liaison with NAC members, preparing materials, and reviewing Research Project and Core presentations.
• Lead the submission of the annual NIH progress report (RPPR), ensuring compliance with RPPR procedures, including drafting of the Administrative Core and OVERALL sections, and reviewing and providing feedback on the Research Projects’ sections.
• Lead Center efforts to ensure compliance with SDSU, SDSU IV, SDSURF, and federal guidelines, including those related to risk management, conflicts of interest, and human subjects regulations.
• Lead the submission of extramural funding applications, including drafting, reviewing, and editing components of the U54 cooperative agreement.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Center and various entities supporting the Center, including the Grants Management Specialist at NIMHD and the RCMI Coordinating Center (i.e., representing the Center for Project Director and Administrator meetings).

Center Coordination 55%

• Coordinate activities of the Center through managing various meetings and their follow-up, including the Center’s Executive team, the Cross-Core meetings, and other Project and Core Leaders’ meetings to ensure that Center activities are on target and within established deadlines.
• Prepare meeting materials for other special meetings (e.g., between Co-Directors and NIMHD Program Official; Co-Directors and university leaders)
• Coordinate with the Center’s Research, Finance, and Operations Managers to support Center Research Project Leaders in implementing their project plans and ensuring compliance with funding agency requirements.
• Collaborate with the CEC Coordinator and Finance Manager on scope, budget, and issue resolution for subcontracts and MOUs with community partners. Provide final approval of subcontracts and MOUs to ensure alignment with Center goals and compliance with institutional and federal regulations
• Coordinate communications with Research Project and Administrative Supplement Leaders to support training and the advancement of their research.
• Perform supervisory duties for the Finance Manager, Operations Manager, Evaluation Lead, and Computer System Administrator. This includes ensuring compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity policies, time and attendance, and training; evaluating performance and managing performance issues as needed; approving timesheets and managing schedules; participating in recruitment activities for new personnel; and supporting a positive, collaborative, and inclusive organizational culture.
• Represent the Center and Co-Directors in relevant forums, with stakeholders, community partner organizations, and Center members to enhance visibility and expand the network.
• Collaborate with Center team members to ensure implementation and adherence with Center-wide dissemination efforts, including the Center’s dissemination plans and publication compliance.
• Prepare dissemination (e.g., posters, manuscripts, reports) and marketing materials, including drafting materials as requested by the RCMI Coordinating Center, NIMHD, and institutional leaders.
• When complex issues arise, support the Center Co-Directors for resolution.

Other Center Duties as Assigned 5%

Qualifications

Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, with the ability to lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities, with a strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including administrators, researchers, community partners, industry partners, policymakers, and funding agencies.
• Knowledge of research methodologies, ethical considerations, and regulatory requirements.
• Familiarity with grant and funding processes, including proposal development, for the National Institutes of Health.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify opportunities, overcome challenges, and drive innovation.
• Understanding of compliance requirements in research settings to support various types of research, from biomedical to intervention research projects.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations in grant development and management.
• Strong commitment to quality, integrity, and responsible research practices.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of program planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of computer programs such as Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and EndNote.
• Ability to independently develop and/or interpret a wide variety of complex policies and procedures integral to the program/project to which the position is assigned.
• Ability to document and communicate operational processes, procedures, and outcomes effectively.
• Ability to cultivate working relationships with varied individuals within an academic organization, including with faculty and staff.
• Well organized, able to meet deadlines, detail-oriented, possess good judgment, and common sense.
• Skilled in record keeping and quality control.
• Ability to write well, including clear and concise reports and correspondence.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends.
• Demonstrate a high level of cross-cultural sensitivity.

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training and relevant work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.
• 8 years of progressively responsible experience in an office or administrative environment

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• Master’s Degree or higher.
• Fluently bilingual in both English/Spanish-language reading, writing, and speaking.
• Experience working in an academic environment, including experience working with faculty.
• Experience managing and/or working under National Institute of Health funding.
• Experience with human subjects research.
• Knowledge of CSU and/or SDSURF policy and procedures, and their affiliated software systems.

Additional Applicant Information

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.