Research Administrator

Sponsored Research Administrator (Finance) Organizational Summary

Sponsored Research (DSR), a department within USF Research, is responsible for the USF Systemwide development and administration of sponsored research activities, with delegated authority by the USF System President to execute contracts on behalf of the university. DSR coordinates and manages external and internal contracts and grants, providing services to faculty researchers and unit research administrators in the colleges and departments related to funding searches, proposal developments, and grants management training.

Subunits include Proposal Development Services;
Proposals and Awards Services, including Subawards;
Electric Proposal Submission;
Export Control; and Complex Projects. DSR has approximately 35 employees at four locations (Tampa, USF St. Petersburg, USF Sarasota-Manatee, and USF College of Medicine), with an annual budget of $3 million. Nearly $400 million in grant and contract awards was processed in Sponsored Research last year.

This position in Sponsored Research, USF Research, is one of several key positions that provide administrative and technical assistance and support to faculty and staff in development of proposals and electronic proposals for outside funding for research and special sponsored institutional projects. The incumbent negotiates, administers, extends, terminates, and re‑negotiates grants, contracts and sub‑contracts for sponsored research projects. Independent judgment and discretion is used in monitoring and interpreting relevant regulations, guidelines, and standards for regulatory compliance and the fulfillment of contractual obligations for sponsor and university commitments.

This position requires a Bachelor's degree and 1 year of professional administrative experience; or a Master's degree. Progressively responsible related experience may substitute for the required education on a year for year basis.

This position requires a Level I background check.

The hiring salary range for this position is: $57,500 - $62,500

• Senate Bill 1310
  - The Florida Senate (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310:
  Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.
• Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No.

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About USF

The University of South Florida is a top‑ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is…