Manager, Research Administration

About the role

Responsible for all aspects of financial administration at Haystack Observatory, which has a diverse sponsor base and annual activities exceeding $20M. This is a 6-month term position with the possibility of extension.

Responsibilities

• Advise principal investigators (PIs) on complex pre- and post-award matters.
• Monitor the financial performance of grants/contracts, providing regular updates to PIs on the proper distribution of resources and use of funds.
• Provide financial analysis and oversight and prepare reports for PIs, senior administrators, and sponsors.
• Monitor sponsored research and discretionary accounts, ensuring compliance with MIT and sponsor policies through to close-out.
• Interact with PIs to develop a wide range of research proposal budgets and associated administrative content.
• Collaborate on solving complex financial and administrative issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• A minimum of four years of finance experience or equivalent.
• Experience with federal contracts and guidelines and financial administration in an academic research environment.
• Experience with MS Office, including high-level proficiency with Excel.
• Excellent customer service, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Willingness to learn new business methods and computational skills.
• Strong writing, supervisory, and interpersonal skills.
• Good judgment, tact, and discretion with sensitive and confidential matters.
• Ability to manage changing and conflicting priorities.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with research proposal processing and pre-award administration.
• Knowledge of enterprise financial systems, grants management tools, and multidimensional databases.
• MIT experience.

Benefits

This position is benefits eligible.

Pay

Pay range is $42,500 - $52,550, prorated for 50% effort.

Schedule

This is a 50% effort position.

Location: Haystack Observatory, Westford, MA.