Sanford Burnham Prebys is much more than a research facility and hub for innovation; it’s a vibrant global community of talented scientists and researchers from over 30 countries. This worldwide representation enriches our perspectives and enhances our creative approach to solving complex scientific challenges.

We strive to be leaders not only in biomedical research but also in creating an environment where excellence thrives through collaboration across cultures and backgrounds. Our mission is to advance the biomedical sciences by cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders, providing meaningful opportunities for researchers of all backgrounds to learn, innovate, and make breakthrough discoveries that improve human health.

Together, we translate science into health.

The duties and responsibilities contained in the job description are intended to be examples of the accountabilities for which the person in the position will demonstrate competency through performance. The job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Duties and responsibilities are subject to change and other duties may be assigned as necessary.

The Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute’s drug discovery center, is seeking an administrative assistant to be a contributing member of our team. The ultimate mission of the team is to discover treatments for diseases, including active projects in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, drug addiction, and heart and kidney disease, among others. This position provides general administrative support for our scientists and our projects. The ideal candidate will be collaborative, exercise good judgement, have a strong attention to detail and be committed to enabling high quality science by managing administrative processes for our scientists. Duties include scheduling, coordination of travel and events, supporting pre- and post-award grant processes and working on special projects as necessary. The candidate will exercise discretion in working with confidential and sensitive information. He or she will also interact with a diverse group of high-profile external collaborators and internal colleagues at all levels of the institute, therefore strong communication skills and a focus on outcomes are essential. Training on federal grants submission and administration processes will be provided with the opportunity for advancement after the first year of employment.

• Schedules and organizes complex activities such as meetings, travel, conferences and department activities for all members of the department
• Drafts written responses or replies by phone or e-mail when necessary. Responds to routine and non-routine questions as requested
• Supports the submission of grant applications
• Supports maintenance of the department finances which include assisting with check requests, travel reimbursement requests or documenting purchasing credit card expenses and other related requests
• Sorts and distributes mail for the Center
• Supports creation, editing and development of documents as requested including drafting correspondence, charts, tables, proofreading copy for spelling, grammar and layout, and making appropriate changes
• May perform other administrative duties as assigned

• High School Diploma required. Associate degree, or equivalent education, training and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been attained is preferred.
• One year of administrative experience required
• Previous experience in proposal development a plus

• Possesses strong analytical, time management, organizational, communication (written and verbal), and interpersonal skills
• Able to exercise sound judgement
• Able to seamlessly switch from one task to another
• Able to prioritize workload
• Works independently as well as in a team environment
• Be responsible, organized, and a problem solver
• Possesses strong attention to detail
• Effectively interacts with individuals from various cultures and backgrounds
• Professional proficiency in Microsoft Office suite; Microsoft 2016 or Office 365 is preferred – skill in Outlook, Word, Excel and Power Point.
• Capacity to learn department-specific software tools as needed
• Embody the Institute’s core values of Commitment, Collaboration, Communication, Community and Compassion

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities

Work Location: This is an onsite position; candidates must be willing to work onsite in San Diego. Out-of-state applicants must disclose their willingness to relocate.

Compensation: The expected hiring range for this position is $45,279 - $60,000/annually commensurate with relevant experience.

We welcome talented individuals of all backgrounds regardless of gender, sex, religion, race, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, perceived disability, pregnancy, pregnancy-related condition, reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS, marital status, covered veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. We are proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer.

As part of this commitment, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our Benefits Team at (858) 646-3100 or via e-mail at benefits@sbpdiscovery.org