Research Administrator Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
Research administrator visa sponsorship jobs in California are concentrated at major research universities and medical centers, including UC San Francisco, Stanford, UCLA, and UC San Diego. Beyond academia, biotech hubs in the Bay Area and San Diego employ research administrators to manage grants, compliance, and sponsored programs at scale.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Department of Medicine (DoM) is the largest department within the UCSD School of Medicine (SoM) and is responsible for fulfilling its teaching, research, and clinical missions. DoM employs approximately 500 salaried faculty, nearly 200 academic appointees, and more than 300 residents, fellows, and postdocs, supported by almost 1,000 staff members. The Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) functions within DoM Administration and interfaces with data and individuals throughout the department, SoM, campus, and Health System regarding financial and operational matters.
Incumbent serves as a technical specialist in a particular area overseeing a complex portfolio using demonstrated mastery of fund management principles and/or pre-award expertise across federal, state, industry, and institutional regulations. Incumbent is a key point of contact for unit and department and a subject matter expert (SME) in terms of both technical material but also the institutional knowledge of the assigned portfolio and the DoM. Incumbent will act independently and on behalf of the unit and department. Incumbent will cover open positions as needed.
Incumbent will oversee the post-award and/or pre-award activities and cleanup efforts for one or more complex, high volume portfolios within one of the largest research divisions. Mentoring new staff and participation in central committees will also be essential to the position to ensure that the mission of the department is accomplished.
Uses advanced contracts and grants concepts to manage high volume and high complexity transactions. May review and guide others in the review of financial and administrative management requirements of research contract and grant proposals, awards and/or transactions to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor policies. Works independently to assess complex grant, contract and subcontract transactions where analysis requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. May be eligible for delegated signature authority. May review and sign transactions for less experienced staff. May serve as a technical specialist in a particular area, such as federal contracts, state contracts, subcontracts or information systems. May mentor and help to train new fund managers with less experience.
If Post-Award specialist: Incumbent is responsible for broad oversight of research administration ideas and practices including post-award management practices and guiding this on the division or department level, notifying leadership of material audit issues that arise, and using deep knowledge of research administration practices to develop and implement tools and processes within DoM.
If Pre-Award specialist: Incumbent is responsible for broad oversight of research administration ideas and practices with specific expertise to support Principal Investigators in submitting any type and complexity of sponsored proposal, including a broad range of federal, state, for-profit and/or non-profit agencies, international sub awards, as well as extensive knowledge of UCSD internal processes, controls and systems.
Incumbent may be assigned special projects in support of the overall Sponsored Projects Office and/or Department missions.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Oversees post-award and/or pre-award activities and cleanup efforts for complex, high volume portfolios.
- Mentors new staff and participates in central committees.
- Manages high volume and high complexity transactions.
- Reviews and guides others in financial and administrative management requirements of research proposals and awards.
- Assesses complex grant, contract and subcontract transactions.
- Develops and implements tools and processes within DoM.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Nine years of related experience, education/training, OR a Bachelor’s degree in related area plus five years of related experience/training.
- Ability to perform highly complex financial analysis and customized reporting.
- Demonstrated advanced competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports.
- Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas.
- Extensive knowledge of program administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.
- Extensive knowledge of policies regarding allowable and unallowable expenses on federal awards, and ability to communicate this information effectively to staff and faculty.
- Advanced knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.
- Maintains knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply sponsor, institutional and departmental policies.
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal and reporting principles.
- Experience with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements.
- Full knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation, Code of Federal Regulations, sponsor-specific policies, intellectual property policy, conflict of interest requirements, publication rights, application of indirect cost rates and other complex concepts in research administration.
- Excellent communication and time management skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience mentoring other staff and more junior research administrators in all aspects of sponsored research administration.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
- Occasional alternate work hours required, in particular in meeting pre-award submission deadlines.
- Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
COMPENSATION
- Hiring Pay Scale: $92,400.00 - $169,680.00/Yr.
- Work Schedule: 8 hrs/day, Monday-Friday
LOCATION
- Remote
Filing Deadline: Tue 11/17/2026
If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.
The University of California 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, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.
UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.
a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
Job Details
Date Posted: 11/03/2026
INTRODUCTION
The Department of Medicine (DoM) is the largest department within the UCSD School of Medicine (SoM) and is responsible for fulfilling its teaching, research, and clinical missions. DoM employs approximately 500 salaried faculty, nearly 200 academic appointees, and more than 300 residents, fellows, and postdocs, supported by almost 1,000 staff members. The Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) functions within DoM Administration and interfaces with data and individuals throughout the department, SoM, campus, and Health System regarding financial and operational matters.
Incumbent serves as a technical specialist in a particular area overseeing a complex portfolio using demonstrated mastery of fund management principles and/or pre-award expertise across federal, state, industry, and institutional regulations. Incumbent is a key point of contact for unit and department and a subject matter expert (SME) in terms of both technical material but also the institutional knowledge of the assigned portfolio and the DoM. Incumbent will act independently and on behalf of the unit and department. Incumbent will cover open positions as needed.
Incumbent will oversee the post-award and/or pre-award activities and cleanup efforts for one or more complex, high volume portfolios within one of the largest research divisions. Mentoring new staff and participation in central committees will also be essential to the position to ensure that the mission of the department is accomplished.
Uses advanced contracts and grants concepts to manage high volume and high complexity transactions. May review and guide others in the review of financial and administrative management requirements of research contract and grant proposals, awards and/or transactions to ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor policies. Works independently to assess complex grant, contract and subcontract transactions where analysis requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. May be eligible for delegated signature authority. May review and sign transactions for less experienced staff. May serve as a technical specialist in a particular area, such as federal contracts, state contracts, subcontracts or information systems. May mentor and help to train new fund managers with less experience.
If Post-Award specialist: Incumbent is responsible for broad oversight of research administration ideas and practices including post-award management practices and guiding this on the division or department level, notifying leadership of material audit issues that arise, and using deep knowledge of research administration practices to develop and implement tools and processes within DoM.
If Pre-Award specialist: Incumbent is responsible for broad oversight of research administration ideas and practices with specific expertise to support Principal Investigators in submitting any type and complexity of sponsored proposal, including a broad range of federal, state, for-profit and/or non-profit agencies, international sub awards, as well as extensive knowledge of UCSD internal processes, controls and systems.
Incumbent may be assigned special projects in support of the overall Sponsored Projects Office and/or Department missions.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Oversees post-award and/or pre-award activities and cleanup efforts for complex, high volume portfolios.
- Mentors new staff and participates in central committees.
- Manages high volume and high complexity transactions.
- Reviews and guides others in financial and administrative management requirements of research proposals and awards.
- Assesses complex grant, contract and subcontract transactions.
- Develops and implements tools and processes within DoM.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Nine years of related experience, education/training, OR a Bachelor’s degree in related area plus five years of related experience/training.
- Ability to perform highly complex financial analysis and customized reporting.
- Demonstrated advanced competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports.
- Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas.
- Extensive knowledge of program administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.
- Extensive knowledge of policies regarding allowable and unallowable expenses on federal awards, and ability to communicate this information effectively to staff and faculty.
- Advanced knowledge of applicable compliance requirements related to use of human or animal subjects in research, financial conflict of interest, biosafety, etc.
- Maintains knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply sponsor, institutional and departmental policies.
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal and reporting principles.
- Experience with all types of award mechanisms, including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements.
- Full knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation, Code of Federal Regulations, sponsor-specific policies, intellectual property policy, conflict of interest requirements, publication rights, application of indirect cost rates and other complex concepts in research administration.
- Excellent communication and time management skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience mentoring other staff and more junior research administrators in all aspects of sponsored research administration.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
- Occasional alternate work hours required, in particular in meeting pre-award submission deadlines.
- Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
COMPENSATION
- Hiring Pay Scale: $92,400.00 - $169,680.00/Yr.
- Work Schedule: 8 hrs/day, Monday-Friday
LOCATION
- Remote
Filing Deadline: Tue 11/17/2026
If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.
The University of California 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, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.
UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.
a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
Job Details
Date Posted: 11/03/2026
Research Administrator Job Roles in California
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Search Research Administrator Jobs in CaliforniaResearch Administrator Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which visa types realistically fit research administrator roles in California?
Research administrator positions typically require a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as business, public administration, or a research-related discipline, making them eligible for H-1B visa classification as a specialty occupation. F-1 students may use OPT or, if their degree is STEM-designated, the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Candidates from Australia may qualify for the E-3 visa, while those from Chile or Singapore may qualify for the H-1B1 visa. Employment-based green cards under EB-2 or EB-3 are also viable long-term pathways.
Which companies sponsor visas for research administrators in California?
California's largest research administrator sponsors are concentrated in higher education and healthcare. UC San Francisco, UCLA, UC San Diego, Stanford University, and the California Institute of Technology regularly file LCAs for research administration roles. On the industry side, large biotech and pharmaceutical employers in South San Francisco and San Diego, including companies like Genentech and Illumina, sponsor research administrators to manage sponsored research programs and regulatory compliance.
How to find research administrator visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate lists California employers with verified visa sponsorship history for research administrator roles, so you can focus on organizations that have already demonstrated willingness to sponsor. Filter by California to surface active openings at universities, medical centers, and biotech companies across the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego. This removes the guesswork of identifying which employers are open to international candidates.
Which cities in California have the most research administrator sponsorship jobs?
San Francisco and the broader Bay Area lead in research administrator sponsorship, anchored by UCSF, Stanford, and a dense concentration of biotech companies. Los Angeles follows closely, driven by UCLA, USC, and several major hospital systems. San Diego is a strong third, with UC San Diego, Scripps Research, and a growing life sciences corridor that consistently generates sponsored research administration demand.
Are there state-specific factors that affect research administrator sponsorship in California?
California's size and density of federally funded research institutions create more sponsorship opportunities than most states. The University of California system alone spans ten campuses and maintains dedicated sponsored programs offices that routinely hire international candidates. California's biotech and pharmaceutical sector also drives demand outside academia. Candidates should note that university positions often move on academic hiring cycles, with many searches concluding in spring for fall starts.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research administrator jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.