Job Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description

Job Summary:

Oversee pre post-award activities for a portfolio of sponsored research projects.

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.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in an office setting

Qualifications

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.

 

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Credit, Criminal, Education, Identity
• Other Information: 
  • Please include your most up to date resume and cover letter for full consideration.
  • This is a 12-month term position with strong possibility of renewal.
  • All formal written offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

 

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.

Work Format Details

This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment. 

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit   Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page . 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination . We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes. 

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy . Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination. 

Job Tags

Full time, Work experience placement, Work at office, Local area, Remote work,

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