Research Administrator (RSCH ADM 3 RP

Job Summary

Under general supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer, provide extramural planning and budgetary analysis; serve as one of the compliance officers for department contract and grant activity and act as a resource to the Principal Investigator’s (PIs), department manager, and chair. Independently gather and apply financial data and University financial management mechanisms to ensure comprehensive and accurate budget construction. Responsible for pre- and post-award processes, budget preparation, analysis, and forecasting, and for control of complex budgets.

Conduct financial analysis and effort reporting and participate in the financial planning for a wide variety of federal, state, and private grants. Work with Principal Investigators and engineers to understand new proposals, analyze programmatic needs, and make recommendations. Serve as a member of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) C&G analyst team, providing resource to CEE investigators and research personnel.

Applications will be screened after two weeks and then on a weekly basis. The position can be filled before the Apply By Date.

09/16/2026 by 11:59 pm

• Completed Research Administration Certificate (RAC) or ability to obtain within two years from date of appointment.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and /or equivalent experience / training
• Experience in financial analysis, forecasting and strategic planning to analyze quantitative aspects of fiscal and budgetary issues and with compiling financial data and reports.
• Experience in federal, state, and private grant budget preparation based on narrative methodological research plans and designs, analysis, and forecasting to control complex budgets as well as with financial reporting policies.
• Experience recognizing and responding to problems with cost recovery, invoices, accounts and payroll.
• Experience providing leadership and decision making to solve problems and to evaluate business needs and critical thinking and problem solving skills to analyze complex data and develop meaningful solutions to specific problems.
• Interpersonal and communication skills to effectively communicate and interact with Dean’s Offices, campus departments, Principal Investigators, CAO, staff, and students to ensure compliance with UCD policy and procedures.
• Organizational skills to work with changing priorities and demanding workload to independently manage and monitor multiple accounts simultaneously and to meet multiple and variable priorities and deadlines.

• Experience with UC Davis accounting, purchasing, entertainment, travel, and business management practices.
• Knowledge of UC Davis hiring/employment practices within an academic department. Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, cost allocation methods, and accounting policies and procedures in an academic environment.

• 60% - Extramural Planning, Budgetary Analysis, and Forecasting
• 30% - Organization, Account Management & Analysis
• 10% - Policy Compliance

The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering is a large, complex academic department in the College of Engineering and provides instruction and research in five specialty areas of engineering. The Department has 39 faculty, 2 adjunct professors, 5 professional research engineers, 10 Professional Scientists and 11 administrative and technical staff. The department has one of the largest undergraduate and graduate programs in the college with approximately 650 undergraduates and 180 graduate students enrolled.

The department is responsible for administering an annual budget (including contracts and grants, gifts and endowments, and research center activities) of $48M, with total operating expenses of ~$14M (instructional and research) with 450+ active accounts and an eclectic research enterprise externally funded by federal, state and private sponsors, and individual/corporate donors. The incumbent of this position works in an independent manner, providing advice and guidance to the Chair, CAO, and Principle Investigators (PI's), and works closely with the…