Research Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Office of Research Development (OoR) Project Manager provides scientific project coordination and independent pre- and post-award research coordination across the Office of Research Development portfolio. Working in partnership with investigators, sponsor agencies, and institutional operational teams, this role manages complex research funding portfolios including grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and associated subawards. Responsibilities include research development, pre-award proposal coordination, subcontract administration, post-award research accounting management, financial tracking, sponsor reporting coordination, and scientific project support for interdisciplinary research initiatives. This position serves as a key resource to investigators and OoR staff to advance high-impact scientific research programs while supporting institutional research and funding priorities.

Who We Are

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values all members of our scientific community. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces perspectives across discipline, professional acumen, and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Salk's vibrant community has many talented individuals from varied backgrounds, each playing a crucial role in driving our mission forward. From visionary leaders to dedicated administrators and brilliant faculty members, the Institute is united by a shared passion for scientific exploration and innovation. 

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Facilitate the coordination of scientific projects and research administration activities, including establishing timelines, tracking milestones, managing communications, and supporting interdisciplinary research initiatives.
• Serve as a key liaison between Principal Investigators, scientific teams, sponsor agencies, subcontract institutions, and institutional administrative departments.
• Independently coordinate pre-award grant management activities, including research development, proposal coordination, proposal writing, application assembly, sponsor guideline review, budget preparation support, timeline management, and submission coordination for grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other complex sponsored research mechanisms.
• Manage subcontract and subaward administration activities in coordination with institutional stakeholders and collaborating organizations, including tracking documentation, timelines, deliverables, invoicing, and communication workflows.
• Provide post-award research accounting and financial portfolio management support for complex awarded grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, including monitoring expenditures, reconciling accounts, tracking budgets, preparing financial projections, assembling financial reports, and assisting investigators with financial planning and resource allocation.
• Coordinate sponsor reporting activities, including progress reports, non-technical reports, financial tracking support, effort documentation coordination, and award-related deliverables.
• Track award lifecycle activities from proposal development through award closeout while maintaining accurate award management records, financial documentation, and sponsor correspondence.
• Identify operational risks and funding management issues, facilitate problem solving and contingency planning, and independently assess when escalation is required.
• Maintain project operations including project plans, meeting notes, financial tracking tools, follow-up actions, schedules, and sponsor documentation.
• Develop and manage internal and external communication for the OoR, such as event marketing, web presence, and communication campaigns.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

What we Require

• Bachelor's Degree in biological sciences, life sciences, health, or scientifically-relevant discipline from a four-year college or university.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in research development, scientific project management, grant administration, research accounting, or sponsored programs administration in an academic, nonprofit research, healthcare, or research industry environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing pre-award and/or post-award sponsored research activities.
• Experience supporting grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and subawards.
• Proven ability to manage complex scientific and financial project portfolios simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of sponsored research lifecycle management, including proposal development, award administration, budget monitoring, and financial reconciliation.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with scientists, administrative leaders, and external sponsors.
• Technical Skills:
  • Computer skills required: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, project management software, financial tracking systems, sponsored research administration systems, and general utilization of LLM and generative AI models.
  • Strong analytical and financial management skills, including budget tracking, reconciliation, forecasting, and expenditure monitoring.
  • Knowledge of sponsored research administration practices related to grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and subawards.
  • Ability to create feasible action plans, anticipate operational and financial risks, and proactively develop contingency plans in collaboration with research teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS, PhD) in biological science or scientifically-relevant discipline.
• Experience with NIH and federal sponsored research development and/or administration. Experience with DARPA, DoD, or ARPA-H is a plus.
• Experience with research accounting, financial reconciliation, and budget management for sponsored research projects and/or portfolios.
• Experience managing subawards and collaborative research agreements.
• Experience coordinating NIH grants or equivalent federal and foundation applications.
• Experience working in the fields of biological sciences, plant biology, neuroscience, and/or cancer research.
• PMP Certification. Six Sigma, or Research Administrator certification (CRA, CPRA, or equivalent) preferred.

What We Can Offer

The expected pay range for this position is $95,000 to $106,000 per annum. Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.