14-Oct-2022
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
60294BR
Position Description
The Assistant Director of Finance is an integral part of the research enterprise and works in close partnership with faculty members on the financial management of their research portfolio. The Assistant Director of Finance will oversee the financial management and administration of sponsored and non-sponsored awards, with a focus on customer service. This role will also supervise a team of 3 direct reports that manage a diverse and challenging portfolio of federal and non-federal grants, subawards and contracts.
The Assistant Director of Finance’s duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Ensuring proper financial management and administration of a research portfolio in the range of $12M-15M annually, while directly managing a portfolio in the range of $1M-3M annually.
- Advising on best practices for research administration, as well as on research compliance, how to handle issues related to a highly-complex portfolio of grants, and allowability of costs
- Supervising a team of 3 grants managers, including time approvals, annual performance reviews, performance management; delegating tasks and monitoring team workflow
- Mentoring staff on sponsored pre- and post-award management and on substantial non-sponsored fund management
- Ensuring sponsored data integrity in Harvard’s GMAS database
- Developing and overseeing the grant proposal and submission process including: budgeting, collecting required documentation, and completing proposal forms through GMAS and/or other electronic systems
- Interpreting regulations and guidelines of program funding for standard grants; evaluating, implementing, and disseminating policies and procedures to others within the department; ensuring compliance
- Identifying and resolving any compliance or policy issues (for example, Provost review criteria, F&A recovery, cost sharing, etc.)
- Reviewing and approving expenditures across the team of sponsored and non-sponsored spending; approving salary allocation and effort distributions; approving accounts payable, invoices, reimbursements, and journal entries
- Coordinating with Associate Director of Finance in fiscal year closings
- Managing Departmental Reporting to various central offices, including Monthly Post Award Metrics Report, Quarterly Sub Recipient Monitoring Reports, Quarterly OSP Finance Reports; responding to central requests for data and reports
- Coordinates and acts as department contact of all audits under her team’s research portfolio.
- Coordinating and signatory for non-sponsored agreements and sponsored research service agreements on behalf of the department.
- Assisting the Associated Director of Finance with the Annual Budget Process; assists team members in managing complex projects, including substantial sponsored and non-sponsored activities
- Performs other related duties as required
PLEASE NOTE: This position is eligible for 100% remote work. All remote work must be performed in a state in which Harvard is registered to do business (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, California (exempt staff only), Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, and Washington).
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
- Minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience
- Advanced knowledge of sponsored research regulations
Additional Qualifications and Skills
The following job-specific skills and competencies are preferred:
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, advanced Excel skills
- Working knowledge of financial principles budgeting, financial analysis
- Supervisory experience
- Master’s Degree
- CRA certification
- Prior supervisory experience
- Advanced working knowledge of research compliance issues, key federal grant regulations, and other related compliance issues
- Extensive pre- and post-award management experience, as well as 3+ years of project management experience
- Experience managing progressively more complex sponsored research awards and working with a variety of sponsors
- Knowledge of human subject use, animal use and other research compliance areas
The following cultural competencies are also preferred:
- Awareness of and aptitude to appropriately and effectively understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based difference within group environments
- Knowledge of and commitment to concepts and issues tied to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Skills related to creating and supporting an environment that allows for inclusion, effective intercultural engagement, and personal humility and authenticity
- Experience fostering and reinforcing an environment that values unique experiences, cultures, backgrounds, and goals
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in an office setting
Additional Information
Harvard University offers an outstanding benefits package including:
- Time Off: 3-4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 12+ paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.
- Medical/Dental/Vision: Excellent and affordable medical, dental & vision plans, with coverage beginning as of an employee’s start date.
- Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
- Tuition Assistance & Reimbursement Programs: $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School, discounted options through participating Harvard graduate schools, and reimbursement options for accredited schools outside of Harvard.
- Transportation: 50% discount on MBTA passes, as well as additional options (rideshare, biking, etc.) to assist employees in their daily commute.
- Wellness & Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, hard & soft skills development, career planning, massages, nutrition, meditation, and complimentary health services. Additionally, access to Harvard athletic facilities, libraries, campus events — and many discounts for various cultural and leisure activities throughout metro Boston.
Join the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to support our mission of health research and education, and to be a part of the oldest institution of higher learning in the country!
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- The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health does not provide visa sponsorship, now or in the future, for staff positions.
- Harvard University requires pre-employment reference checks and background screenings.
- This position has a 90 day orientation and review period.
Location
USA – MA – Boston
Job Code
F1357M Research Admin Mgt III PrPs
Department
Sponsored Programs Administration – Global Health and Population
Union
00 – Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
Pre-Employment Screening
Education, Identity
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
At the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, we believe that diversity is integral to the Harvard experience and our mission of improving public health education, research and policy. Diversity of cultural backgrounds, identities, lived experiences, perspectives, and ways of understanding the world enriches our community and enables us to best meet the public health needs of the United States and the world. Ongoing learning and development related to diversity allows for both individual and institutional growth, and is necessary to foster and sustain a culture of inclusion. To achieve this, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to opportunities for learning, living, and working at the Harvard Chan School. We maintain an unwavering dedication to diversity, inclusion, and belonging as core to our institutional values and to actively counter, minimize, and address racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, gender bias, and all forms of discrimination.
Learn more about the School’s mission, objectives, and core values and our diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.