Research Administrative Director, Wellman Center for Photomedicine

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

1d•$124,342 - $180,898•Hybrid

About The Position

The Research Administrative Director sets administrative direction and coordinates research operations for the Wellman Center for Photomedicine (WCP), working in concert with the Center Director, faculty, physicians, scientists, and leadership. The role requires initiative and independent judgment to assess and direct research-related financial, personnel, operational, regulatory, facilities, systems, programmatic development, and project development matters. The Director also manages the Center’s day-to-day operations and advances strategic initiatives that support its mission. The position oversees research administration, including grants, compliance, procurement, data transfer and storage, and contracts, ensuring alignment with the Center’s scientific objectives and applicable Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, and government requirements. It leads administrative staff and develops effective procedures, resources, and practices to support researchers and improve operations. The role monitors the Center’s funding portfolio, prepares fiscal projections, advises on funding strategies, reviews transactions, and supports the Center’s continued fiscal health. The Director evaluates staffing needs and leads personnel management, including recruitment, onboarding, training, workload allocation, performance reviews, staff development, and retention. The role also oversees ancillary research personnel, including contractors, affiliates, interns, and non-employees. The Wellman Center is an academic research facility focused on light and human biology and on developing light-mediated diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in management, finance, or a related discipline; experience cannot substitute for the degree.
Five to seven years of directly related management experience within research settings.
Extensive knowledge of research financial and operational management, business planning, project management, grant management, and sponsor and institutional requirements.
Knowledge of research administration, strategic development, budgeting and financial projections, and contracts and negotiation.
Experience developing and monitoring budgets and managing grants and contracts.
Exceptional organizational skills and ability to prioritize and manage competing deadlines.
Ability to handle sensitive matters professionally and confidentially while following institutional guidelines.
Ability to develop a shared vision, communicate effectively, build support for ideas, and take ownership of work.
Ability to ensure timely submission and review of budgets and performance evaluations.
Strong interpersonal skills when working with senior management and staff.
Excellent written, verbal, and listening skills, including the ability to communicate complex material.
Ability to recruit, train, supervise, mentor, and support staff, including middle managers.
Ability to identify complex issues, develop creative solutions, and implement them.
Integrity, a practical work ethic, and sensitivity to cultural differences and lived experiences.
Exceptional computer skills, including fund management systems such as Insight and Strata; databases such as REDCap; Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; MGB enterprise systems such as Insight and Workday; and other office management systems.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Research or technical experience in an academic environment.

Responsibilities

Help establish and operationalize strategic priorities for research, faculty recruitment and retention, education, and fundraising.
Supervise the budgetary process, review and approve funding requests, and serve as a liaison to the Development Office on fundraising strategy and activities.
Analyze funding and forecast anticipated deficits and surpluses; monitor the Center’s funding portfolio and prepare fiscal projection reports.
Oversee symposia and visits or lectures by outside researchers in areas relevant to stem cell research.
Develop and implement tools, systems, and resources to support proposal and award activities and improve coordination among principal investigators and Research Management.
Work with Research Management and principal investigators to maintain continuity of the overall research effort.
Manage research grant and contract administration, including personnel management and staff training and development.
Oversee and approve research financial transactions, including payroll, travel requests, employee changes, journal entries, and check requests.
Oversee research expense management at divisional and laboratory levels, conduct comparative analyses, and develop policies and strategies for cost containment.
Oversee research administration, including grant administration, research compliance, procurement, data transfer and storage, and contracting, in alignment with the Center’s scientific objectives.
Develop and implement program activities that further the Center’s research mission and operational efficiency.
Lead administrative staff supporting the Center, individual researchers, and research staff.
Create, improve, and sustain best practices and continuous improvement efforts.
Ensure compliance with applicable Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, and government policies and communicate policy changes to principal investigators, grant administrators, and staff.
Review transactions for compliance and approve as appropriate, including grant proposals, procurement transactions, fiscal support requests, space utilization reports, and asset records.
Evaluate staffing needs and ensure appropriate staffing levels for faculty, professional roles, and staff positions.
Lead staff onboarding, training, workload allocation, prioritization, performance reviews, and corrective action.
Maintain awareness of personnel-related matters and oversee Center policies that support compliance and staff wellbeing.
Identify staff development opportunities and implement retention strategies to support engagement and productivity.
Oversee ancillary research personnel, including non-employees, persons of interest, contractors, affiliates, and interns.
Develop strategy and teams to establish a common vision, build support among diverse stakeholders, and take responsibility for activities.
Manage competing tasks and deadlines, evaluate complex situations, make timely decisions, and seek input when appropriate.
Manage day-to-day operations and establish and maintain policies and procedures.