Associate Director of Research Administration and Finance

Associate Director of Research Administration and Finance Full-time Work Format: Fully Remote Harvard Job Function: Finance Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary Salary Grade: 058 Department: Systems Biology FLSA Status: Exempt Company Description By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive. Why join Harvard Medical School? Harvard Medical School's mission is to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership. You’ll be at the heart of biomedical discovery, education, and innovation, working alongside world-renowned faculty and a community dedicated to improving human health. This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to shape the future of medicine. About the Department of Systems Biology: The Department of Systems Biology (SysBio) is a nationally recognized leader in interdisciplinary biomedical research, supporting an expanding and increasingly complex portfolio of federal, foundation, industry, and philanthropic funding. Faculty maintain active research programs sponsored by organizations including the NIH, DARPA, ARPA-H and multiple non-federal sponsors. As the regulatory and compliance landscape surrounding sponsored research becomes increasingly challenging, 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. Research Administration: 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. Proposal development: 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. Post-award management: 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. Compliance, Risk Management, and Internal Controls: 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,