Assistant Director of Research Administration and Finance at Harvard University – Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University
Position Title: Assistant Director of Research Administration and Finance

Req ID: 68299BR

School or Unit: Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Description: Position Description

The Assistant Director for Research Administration and Finance (ADRAF) will be responsible for pre and post award grant management, financial management and modeling, and all financial compliance within Opportunity Insights (OI). The ADRAF will oversee and manage the Finance Associate. In addition to managing staff and processes, the ADRAF will have a small portfolio of PIs awards that are deemed complicated and complex. The ADRAF will report to the Executive Director and serve as a member of the senior management team.

The Center has a "full-cycle" grant management structure. In addition to pre and post award management of sponsored awards, the ADRAF will review and approve expenditures (HCOM, Corporate Card, PCard etc.). The ADRAF ensures compliance with internal Harvard polices, processes and deadlines. This includes working closely with OSP, RAS, OGC and Central finance departments. The ADRAF will assist in hiring and orientation, training and development, workflow and performance management, and the promotion of an inclusive and innovative work environment. The ADRAF will oversee the routing and signatory process. The ADRA will establish and monitor effective pre-and post-award processes and systems. Manage pre-award areas such as: proposal submission, award validation approval and set-up. Manage post-award areas such as: award approval and set-up, financial analysis, and reporting. The ADRAF will also work with OI leadership on financial projections and modeling to account for Center sustainability, growth, and diversified funding streams.

Provide problem resolution, guidance and or training for comprehensive sponsored and non-sponsored award management, compliance, systems, and reporting. Interpret regulations and guidelines of multiple program funding with complex and broad guidelines for spending. Lead the audit of individual sponsored accounts to ensure compliance with University and sponsored regulations. Ensure department's accurate and timely financial analysis and reporting. Supervises Finance Associate, including planning, assigning, scheduling, reviewing work, training, mentoring and performance management. Assesses and maintains portfolio distribution and workload; redistributes assignments as needed.

Serves as primary local contact for resolving issues related to review criteria such as PI eligibility, indirect cost policies, cost sharing, and identifying needed compliance approvals.

Advises faculty and staff on existing options/alternatives; recommends courses of action on research related fiscal matters.

Works with school-level offices on audits, tuition distribution, award and sub recipient monitoring, effort certifications, supplemental salary requests.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 7 years' relevant work experience
• Advanced knowledge of sponsored research regulations
• Supervisory experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• MBA or Masters degree in relevant field
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, advanced Excel skills
• Knowledge of advanced financial principles, budget management, financial analysis
• Experience with Harvard financial and grants administration systems and applications highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with sponsored research awards
• Change management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communications.
• Meet and plan deadline driven work timelines.
• Manage multiple priorities and interact with diverse constituencies.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Self-directed, possess a high degree of judgement, work independently with minimum supervision, and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Leader who is a team player with a strong service-oriented attitude.
• Desire and willingness to assume increasing and changing responsibilities.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office setting

Additional Information

Please include your most up to date resume and cover letter for full consideration.

Please Note: Harvard University will soon transition to a new, streamlined applicant system, Careers@Harvard. The posting will be removed on June 16th and reposted on June 30th to allow a seamless transition. If you apply for this position, you will be notified if any additional action is required to ensure your information is captured correctly in our new system.

This is a 12-month term position with strong possibility of renewal.

We regret that we will not be able to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

All formal written offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

About Us

Opportunity Insights (OI) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute focused on improving economic opportunity. Founded in 2018, OI has become a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the science of economic mobility and in the use of large administrative data to understand and address inequality. OI has published seminal work on national trends in upward mobility; racial disparities; the role of neighborhoods, social capital, and higher education in upward mobility; and the use of private-sector data to understand disparate impacts in the recent economic recession and recovery. Much of the team's ongoing research uses quasi-experimental methods to identify causal effects and test the predictions of economic and sociological models. Examples of current research projects include: long-term impacts of neighborhoods and place-based policies, the role of colleges in upward mobility, using big data to address health disparities, and measuring how social networks affect mobility. OI's work has shaped policy discussions at the national and local level, with nearly a dozen of its studies covered on the front pages of major media outlets, such as the New York Times, The Economist, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, and have been widely cited in policy discussions.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/benefits-wellbeing) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

LinkedIn Recruiter Tag (for internal use only)

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Department Office Location: USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code: F1358M Research Admin Mgt IV PrPs

Job Function: Finance

Work Format: Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Sub Unit: Social Sciences

Salary Grade: 058

Department: Opportunity Insights
Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Time Status: Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening: Credit, Criminal, Education, Identity
Commitment to Equity Diversity Inclusion and Belonging: Harvard University views equity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify this excellence while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EOE Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.