Assistant Director of Research Administration
About The Position
The Assistant Director of Research Administration in Chemical Engineering leads and oversees complex pre- and post-award financial operations and manages a team of 8–10 staff responsible for the department’s full research administration portfolio at MIT. Reporting to the Director of Administration and Finance, the Assistant Director provides essential support to faculty and plays a key role in ensuring efficient and compliant research administration. This role involves leading talent management and succession planning efforts, overseeing all sponsored research-related administration functions, and developing and implementing financial models and strategies to enhance operational efficiency. The Assistant Director serves as a trusted advisor to faculty and departmental leadership on financial and administrative aspects of sponsored research, creates and delivers effective trainings, supervises and mentors research administration staff, and performs high-level financial work including budget oversight, planning, and management. This position also acts as the primary liaison to MIT’s central finance offices on research administration matters.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- A minimum of seven years of experience in financial management including experience at a decision-making level
- Demonstrated management capabilities and ability to promote team-building
- Ability to communicate effectively with faculty and staff
- Strong customer service orientation
- Knowledge of federal web-based grants management systems, enterprise financial systems, and query or grants management tools
- Effective written, oral and presentation skills
- Knowledge of standard federal regulations such as OMB Circulars, FAR requirements and major agency guidelines
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Interest in working in a fast-paced and challenging environment with faculty and staff at all levels
- Advanced computer skills with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SAP or similar accounting package
- Relational database skills
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree
- MIT experience
- Experience with COEUS, Cognos, and Grants.gov
Responsibilities
- Leads and oversees complex pre- and post-award financial operations.
- Manages a team of 8–10 staff responsible for the department’s full research administration portfolio.
- Provides essential support to faculty and plays a key role in ensuring efficient and compliant research administration.
- Leads talent management and succession planning efforts.
- Oversees all sponsored research-related research administration functions.
- Develops and implements financial models and strategies to enhance the efficiency of research and financial operations.
- Serves as a trusted advisor to faculty and departmental leadership on financial and administrative aspects of sponsored research.
- Creates and delivers clear, effective trainings and presentations.
- Supervises and mentors research administration staff.
- Performs high-level financial work, including budget oversight, planning, and management.
- Acts as the primary liaison to MIT’s central finance offices on research administration matters.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
