Assistant Director, Proposal Development

About the role

The Office for Sponsored Programs is a department within Harvard University's Financial Administration (FAD) that is focused on providing high-quality administrative and financial assistance to faculty and other University affiliates performing sponsored research. OSP works with researchers and schools across Harvard to help obtain and negotiate awards from sponsoring agencies, assist with grant proposal preparation, ensure compliance with federal regulations and University policies, provide financial support including financial reporting and billing and collection services, assist with audits, and promote knowledge of sponsored research administration throughout the University research community through training and other educational programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and supervision for an OSP-based proposal development team embedded in FAS, including developing long-term strategy and business objectives, workload planning, assignment of complex proposals, performance management, and staff development to deliver consistent, high quality proposal development and pre-award support. Serve as a recognized subject matter expert and thought leader in research administration.
• Oversee the full pre award lifecycle for the team's portfolio, from concept development through final submission and sponsor-required pre-award actions including JIT, setting standards, timelines, and review processes that ensure compliance with sponsor, school, and University requirements.
• Serve as primary central office liaison to FAS research administration leadership and central partners (e.g., OSP, OVPR, OGC, OTD), resolving escalated policy and risk issues and aligning proposal and pre award strategies with institutional research priorities. Represent the school / department / university to senior FAS leadership and external groups and collaborate with management and university partners to develop initiatives and processes.
• Develop, implement, and refine proposal development policies, templates, tools, and metrics; analyze proposal volume, turnaround times, pre-award activity, and success rates to identify gaps and drive process improvements, training, and resource allocation decisions.
• Direct and coordinate the team's management of pre-award operations, actions and other time sensitive sponsor requests for complex or high risk proposals, ensuring consistent interpretation of requirements, rigorous quality control, and timely, accurate submissions across supported departments.
• Develop and steward partnerships among faculty, funding agencies, collaborating institutions, and FAS offices and represent OSP and FAS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 8 yearsâ relevant work experience
• Advanced knowledge of sponsored research regulations
• Supervisory experience

Skills

• Strong management skills, including staff and performance management
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including ability to build consensus
• Strong analytical skills and ability to resolve problems with diplomacy
• Experience with business systems and process design
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams at all levels

Pay

Salary Grade and Ranges: This position is salary grade level 059. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Schedule

Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
Primarily remote role with flexibility to work on-site and optional in-person meetings bi-monthly. On-site attendance expectations may evolve based on business needs.

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

Equal Opportunity

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement: Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

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