"Assistant Director, Research Administration"

Posting Description

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory (PILM), oversees all financial and sponsored research for a large, complex neuroscience research portfolio; serves as a senior leader within the Finance team, ensuring strong financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence in support of PILM’s scientific mission; manages the full lifecycle of sponsored research administration, including pre-award proposal development, post-award financial management, forecasting, and closeout; leads operating and program budget planning; prepares financial analyses and multiyear projections; provides faculty and Institute leadership with clear financial insights, expenditure tracking, and funding strategy guidance supervises and mentors a team of research administration and financial staff, fostering consistent service standards, cross-coverage, and professional development including staff coaching, performance management, and delivering financial training to administrative and lab personnel; and drives compliance, process improvement, and audit readiness, developing standard operating procedures and responding to audit inquiries.

The full job description is available here.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven years of experience in a research administration position and minimum of two years of supervisory experience; knowledge of budget preparation and administration and financial recordkeeping and reporting; proven experience with NIH award management; strong computer skills including proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel) and enterprise accounting and database tools; strong financial management/forecasting, organizational, analytical, problem solving, customer service, and oral and written communication skills; ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced and challenging environment; and experience successfully supervising and building administrative teams. PREFERRED: Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related discipline; expert proficiency in Excel; and experience with MIT systems.

Interested candidates should submit an application with a resume and cover letter.