Project Administrator

About the Role

USC’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry is seeking a Project Administrator to join the Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. The division is seeking a collaborative, adaptable, and service-oriented individual with strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills who will thrive in a dynamic, mission-driven academic environment. The individual will collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, university partners, and external stakeholders.

JOB SUMMARY:

Ausderau Lab: The Ausderau Lab focuses on improving health, participation, and well-being outcomes for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their care partner communities. The lab has a particular emphasis on community-engaged research, health equity, implementation science, and developing approaches that meaningfully include people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the research process.

The position will play a central role in the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)-funded Health Engagement & Access through Learning, Training, and Health-coaching for Me (HEALTH 4 ME) comparative effectiveness research study. HEALTH 4 ME is a multi-state, community-based cluster-randomized trial conducted in partnership with Special Olympics programs to improve healthcare access, health self-advocacy, and health outcomes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Project Administrator will be responsible for the day-to-day administration, organization, and coordination of the HEALTH 4 ME project across participating states and partner organizations. Responsibilities will include managing project timelines, work plans, deliverables, team coordination, recruitment operations, data collection and data management processes, regulatory and study documentation, PCORI reporting requirements, meetings, budgets and project resources, and coordination with participating institutions and community partners. The Project Administrator will also provide operational guidance to project personnel and support the Principal Investigator in ensuring that project activities are completed according to study protocols, sponsor requirements, and established timelines. Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent activities and deadlines are essential.

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

Essential Responsibilities:

• Administers and coordinates day-to-day operations of the multi-state HEALTH 4 ME project, including project timelines, work plans, meetings, cross-site communication, milestones, deliverables, and coordination with partner organizations.
• Develops, implements, and maintains project procedures, tracking systems, documentation processes, and organizational systems to support consistent study operations across participating sites.
• Coordinates recruitment, participant tracking, data collection, and data management activities and monitors completeness, quality, and timely completion of study activities.
• Coordinates PCORI-required reporting and sponsor communications, including tracking milestones, recruitment, deliverables, project activities, and information required for progress reports.
• Supports administration and monitoring of project budgets, subcontracts, purchasing, expenditures, and other project resources in collaboration with the Principal Investigator and administrative staff.
• Provides operational guidance to research staff and project personnel, coordinates training and communication of project procedures, and monitors completion of assigned activities.
• Supports preparation of study reports, presentations, dissemination materials, and other project-related documentation.
  

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience consistent with USC requirements for the Project Administrator classification.
• Minimum of three years of directly related research or project administration experience.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating complex projects involving multiple activities, timelines, personnel, and deliverables.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain project management systems, prioritize competing responsibilities, meet deadlines, maintain accurate documentation, and independently follow activities through completion.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with investigators, research staff, community partners, and external organizations.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in occupational therapy, public health, psychology, social work, education, rehabilitation, health sciences, research administration, or a related field.
• Experience administering large externally funded, multi-site, or community-based research projects; managing sponsor reporting requirements; coordinating budgets or subcontracts; supervising or providing guidance to project staff; managing research data systems; and working with community partners.
• Experience with PCORI-funded research, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or community-engaged research is particularly desirable.

The Trojan Family Rewards:

We pride ourselves in creating the BEST USC EXPERIENCE, and that begins with our employees! We offer a wide variety of benefits and programs that support our staff and their families. For more information, please visit http://benefits.usc.edu

This support advocates work-life balance and employee well-being. As members of the Trojan family, employees are connected by the traditions and history that make us proud to be Trojans!

As an equal opportunity employer, USC values and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The work culture thrives on mutual respect, trust, and constructive collaboration amongst all its members.

USC has great minds that transform the world with their talents and research. Will you be one? Join us!

FIGHT ON!

The annual rate range for this position is $80,000-86,381.13/year. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and 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 will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

Minimum Education: Master's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 3 years, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience
Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related education and project administration experience in specialized field represented by project.

USC is an equal opportunity 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 observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to theBackground Screening Policy Appendix Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

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 [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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