Research Programs Officer, Cancer Center

Research Programs Officer, Cancer Center (Full-Time)

This position manages, plans and organizes research programs and grants for the director of the cancer center, including all aspects of the Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center (CSVCC) program. The CSVCC is funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) and is a convergent approach to cancer research that combines advances from diverse scientific disciplines to improve outcomes for patients. The program provides personalized mentorship, support, and funding to 15 early‑career scientists (Scholars) studying cancer.

The CSVCC Scholars are from diverse research and clinical backgrounds and institutions across the U.S. The CSVCC is co‑led by the University of Arizona Cancer Center and the University of Southern California (USC) Michelson Center Convergent Science Institute (CSI‑Cancer).

This position is responsible for managing the daily operations of the CSVCC program, including budget oversight, processing reimbursements, scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, and coordinating training sessions and workshops. The role supports program planning and evaluation by developing surveys, collecting feedback, monitoring Scholars' progress, maintaining training records, and compiling outcomes from CSVCC activities. It also involves tracking stakeholder interactions to facilitate effective communication.

The position works in close collaboration with CSVCC leadership and the USC Michelson Center CSI‑Cancer program manager to align, coordinate, and enhance CSVCC activities and events. This position will also support general grant proposals, coordination and routing with sponsored projects, regulatory reporting and the director's supporting documents and data agreements.

• Manages the full scope of the CSVCC program's operations, overseeing project activities from planning through completion, coordinating annual workshops and training initiatives, and ensuring clear, consistent communication across all key stakeholders to maintain alignment and achieve program objectives.
• Assesses communication and training needs and works with cross‑functional teams across multiple departments to develop communication and training materials.
• Determines and organizes resources to meet program objectives.
• Interfaces with internal and external key stakeholders to provide guidance, resolve issues, and implement processes and solutions.
• Maintains the list of available training opportunities in communication and project management platforms, as well as prepares an annual schedule of training activities and events.
• Works collaboratively with input from the Special Advisor on Military Health, the Career Guide from the Scholar's employing institution, and the Scholar to provide leadership, onboarding and/or mentorship to each Scholar, beginning with the completion of the intake with each Scholar and the development of the initial Scholar Adaptive Catalysis of Conv Ergent Research Training (ACERT) Impact Map (AIM).
• Provides support to the CSVCC leaders in preparing the initial Scholars' AIMs and their annual refinement, coordinates annual evaluation of Scholars' progress and review of the AIMs, maintains Scholars' training and evaluation records, compiles list of outcomes and products that result from the Scholars' participation in CSVCC activities such as joint publications, grant proposals, funding received, collaborations, patents, commercialization, honors and awards, promotions or leadership appointments, and other relevant data.
• Monitors and tracks the interactions between Scholars and other participants of the CSVCC, as well as facilitates communication within the CSVCC.
• Manages the Director's Award Pilot for Expanded Research (DAPER) program, processing all subaward documentation, overseeing all program activities, managing invoices and payouts to ensure accurate and timely financial administration and preparing progress reports.
• Maintains data system integrity and ensures quality assurance measures are followed based on departmental standard operating procedures. Provides adhoc reporting to support recommendations…