Finance and Operations Manager, AIM for Scale | Limited Term

University of Notre Dame • Notre Dame, IN

2d

About The Position

The Finance and Operations Manager (FOM) is a limited-term position ending in August 2029. The role provides leadership in the financial and administrative execution of the externally funded AIM for Scale portfolio, overseeing multiple concurrent, multi-country projects and subawards. Working independently and in close partnership with the Lead Principal Investigator, the FOM applies sound judgment and expertise in sponsored research administration, with familiarity with University, Keough School, and Pulte Institute practices. The position calls for skill in resolving complex operational challenges, developing proactive solutions, and managing relationships across global teams.

The primary supervisor is the AIM for Scale Senior Research Scientist. The key functional partner is the Pulte Institute Associate Director for Finance and Operations. Primary stakeholders include the Lead Principal Investigator, Notre Dame Research (NDR), Research and Sponsored Program Accounting (RSPA), and global project leads and subawardees. The position requires U.S. work authorization without visa sponsorship.

Requirements

• Three to four years of progressive experience in research administration, grant management, or financial operations.
• Comprehensive end-to-end knowledge of the sponsored project lifecycle, including budgeting, due diligence, agreement development, payment processing, financial reporting, compliance, and award closeout.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex subawards, subcontracts, grants, or multi-partner institutional agreements.
• Strong quantitative capabilities and advanced proficiency in budget modeling, financial analysis, spreadsheets, and specialized grant-management systems.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing deadlines, partner networks, and complex agreements simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex administrative, institutional, and compliance requirements to non-finance colleagues and external global partners.
• Sound professional judgment and creative problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex institutional processes.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, International Development, or a related field (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day financial operations for the multi-country AIM for Scale research portfolio, ensuring compliance with university guidelines, sponsor requirements, and federal regulations across projects and subawards.
• Contribute to operating plans, multi-million-dollar grant budgets, and resource-allocation decisions.
• Perform ongoing financial modeling and forecasting to support optimal fund utilization.
• Identify complex, ill-defined operational or administrative bottlenecks and develop and execute strategic solutions with minimal supervision.
• Serve as the primary administrative point of contact and build working relationships with internal partners, external subawardees, international partners, and funding agencies.
• Manage grant and subaward lifecycle activities, including budgeting, due diligence, agreement development, payment processing, financial reporting, compliance, and award closeout.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level