Associate Director of Research Administration and Finance

Harvard University • Boston, MA

2d • Remote

About The Position

The Department of Systems Biology (SysBio) is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and solutions-oriented finance leader to help advance the department's research mission while ensuring the highest standards of financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

• 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

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of research administrators and finance professionals while fostering a collaborative, innovative, and service-oriented culture. Responsibilities include hiring and onboarding, training and professional development, workload and performance management, project oversight, and creating an environment that supports continuous improvement, collaboration, and excellence in service.
• 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. Oversee critical post-award compliance activities including effort certification, subrecipient monitoring, foreign component reporting, prior approvals, award modifications, and closeout activities. Interpret evolving sponsor regulations and proactively communicate policy changes, emerging compliance risks, and recommended business practices to faculty and departmental staff.
• 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. Develop tools, guidance, and best practices that improve consistency, efficiency, transparency, and customer service across departmental finance and research administration operations.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with HMS administrative offices and external research partners to facilitate effective management of complex sponsored research programs. Partner closely with HMS's Office for Research Administration (ORA), Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), Research Finance and other central administrative offices to ensure timely resolution of compliance issues and successful completion of audits and sponsor reviews. Represent the department on HMS committees, working groups, and institutional initiatives related to research administration and sponsored 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree