[Hiring] Associate Director of Research Administration and Finance @Harvard University

Role Description

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Administration, the Associate Director of Research Administration and Finance is a senior leader within the finance team. This role provides strategic oversight of research administration and financial operations, leads a team of grants managers, and partners closely with faculty, departmental leadership, and central offices to support the full life cycle of sponsored and non-sponsored funding. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor on sponsored research administration, financial management, internal controls, and sponsor compliance and is the primary backup for the Director of Finance and Administration, providing operational leadership and decision-making support during periods of absence or increased departmental demand.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience
• Advanced knowledge of sponsored research regulations
• Supervisory experience
• MBA or other relevant professional/master’s degree or certification is a plus
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite; advanced Excel skills
• Knowledge of human subjects and animal use along with other research compliance areas
• Experience with Harvard financial systems
• Excellent analytic, written and verbal communication skills

Requirements

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of research administrators and finance professionals while fostering a collaborative, innovative, and service-oriented culture.
• Oversee departmental pre-award operations, providing strategic review and guidance on proposal development, sponsor guidelines, institutional policies, budgeting, cost sharing, indirect cost recovery, and proposal compliance across a wide variety of sponsors.
• Oversee departmental post-award financial management activities including financial and technical reporting, cost transfers, journal entries, salary and effort allocations, travel and expense reimbursements, billing agreements, and financial reconciliations.
• Set Department standards for compliance with sponsor, institutional, and regulatory requirements throughout the award lifecycle.
• Establish and oversee departmental internal controls, business processes, and financial oversight practices to promote consistency, accountability, audit readiness, and responsible stewardship.
• Collaborate with the team to strengthen financial operations through process improvement initiatives, documentation of standard operating procedures, and implementation of scalable business practices that support continued portfolio growth.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with HMS administrative offices and external research partners to facilitate effective management of complex sponsored research programs.

Benefits

• 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