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General information

Location
Cambridge, MA
Ref #
41554
Job Family
Finance
Workplace
Hybrid
Date published
19-Dec-2024
Time Type
Full time

Description & Requirements

  • About The Broad
  • Our research teams are working on redefining the boundaries of science and medicine with an interdisciplinary model designed to meet today’s most critical biomedical challenges. You will find a supportive and collaborative intellectual environment and a firm commitment to continuously invest in cutting-edge technology. At the Broad, we are developing new tools that enable scientists to unlock the mysteries of genomics.
  • Position Overview
  • This position provides floating research compliance and financial management support, including all aspects of pre and post-award administration. This position reports directly to the Manager of Research Administration Support Services in the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) and has a dotted-line reporting relationship to the assigned Color Team Manager(s). The dotted-line reporting reflects collaborative oversight, where the Color Team Manager(s) provide day-to-day guidance, ensure alignment with team priorities, and offer feedback specific to the assigned research portfolios. The ideal candidate has excellent organizational, problem solving and interpersonal skills as demonstrated by working closely with faculty in an academic research environment.
  • About the Team
  • OSR’s Research Administration Support Services (RASS) team provides critical portfolio coverage, filling gaps in research support positions to mitigate regulatory and budgetary risks, maintaining financial oversight, and supporting Principal Investigators (PIs) in applying for funding opportunities. The RASS team is also responsible for training and education initiatives within OSR, onboarding new staff in OSR, and education and outreach initiatives for program and platform staff that play supporting roles in research administration at the Broad.





Principal Duties and Responsibilities 
  • Manages all aspects of pre-and post-award activities during temporary assignments supporting Broad faculty investigators. This role involves close collaboration with the assigned Color Team Manager, faculty, lab members, program and platform administrators, sponsors, and relevant internal administrative contacts to ensure seamless research administration support. Types of sponsors may include federal, philanthropic, individual, and industry funders, and mechanisms may consist of awards, grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, gifts, and internal Broad funding awards or other sources. 
  • Pre-award responsibilities include understanding and interpreting sponsor requirements, monitoring sponsor deadlines, and proactively developing the administrative and financial aspects of the proposal from proposal checklist preparation through grant submission, including budget and budget justification development, preparation of administrative proposal documents, subrecipient coordination with external institutions, pre-award approval process management, developing a complete funding proposal record in our electronic system of record (Converge), and just-in-time submission(s).
  • Post-award responsibilities include award setup in coordination with the Award Setup Team, financial management, and forecasting; effort allocation management and reporting; monthly financial reconciliation, review, reporting to Principal Investigators and documentation thereof, subaward initiation and monitoring, cost transfers/journals, SSF quote approval, procurement transactions including approval of travel reports and equipment purchases, financial reporting and invoicing in coordination with grant billing team, and account closeout in coordination with Research Finance Group.  
  • Liaises with appropriate groups, internal and external, on all compliance-related issues involving sponsored agreements, including facilitating incoming agreement review with the OSR Agreements Team.
  • Initiates external agreements with Broad-affiliated institutions and collaborators on sponsored activities, as needed, including billing agreements and outgoing subawards. Collaborates with respective internal teams to develop and execute. Performs post-award monitoring responsibilities for these types of agreements and coordinates with OSR’s Research Finance Group on reporting and billing.   
  • Administers and oversees salary allocations for lab personnel in adherence to sponsor guidance and institute policy. Ensures effort allocations are accurate and compliant in preparation for the bi-annual effort certification process in cooperation with PIs and Research Finance Group. 
  • Drafts and maintains PI Other Support documentation in accordance with federal guidance and partner institutions, as applicable.
  • Coordinates process with faculty for annual institution-wide budget projections in conjunction with the office of FSP&A (Financial Strategy, Planning, and Analysis) 
  • Collaborate with other groups in administration (e.g. HR, Office of Academic Affairs, OSR leadership, and institute leadership) to ensure consistent sponsored research support of faculty and lab staff that is in line with our policies, procedures and available resources. This includes onboarding and off-boarding tasks related to new faculty/staff and communicating with leadership about funding cliffs.
  • At the direction of the Manager, may be involved in ad hoc training and education initiatives, supporting knowledge sharing and skill development within the team, as well as other duties as assigned.


 
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree and/or significant related (1 to 3 years) experience supporting faculty in the areas of federal and non-federal grant administration at a non-profit organization.
  • Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, data and financial analysis skills, attention to detail, organization skills, and an aptitude for project management.
  • Ability to adapt plans, prioritize shifting goals, and meet deadlines. Ability to organize and prepare for regular financial check in meetings with Principal Investigators. 
  • Proficiency in oral and written communication, demonstrated through the ability to compose clear, concise, and grammatically correct written materials such as reports, emails, agendas and documentation, with a track record of producing high-quality written content that effectively conveys complex concepts to diverse stakeholders.
  • Capable of tailoring communication to suit different audiences and purposes, ensuring clarity, comprehension and a high degree of responsiveness.
  • Ability to safeguard privileged information using sound judgment.
  • Ability to cultivate relationships and communicate effectively with research administration officials at collaborating institutions, particularly MIT, Harvard University and the Harvard-affiliated hospitals.
  • Ability to learn and apply federal sponsored research guidance, familiarity with federal and/or nonfederal grantmaking agencies (NIH, NSF, DARPA, IARPA, etc.)
  • Familiarity with institute financial systems, effort management software, grants management applications, and System-to-System S2S application process.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. 
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Excel.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Knowledge of federal and nonfederal web-based grants management systems (e.g. Assist, Grants.gov, Proposal Central).
  • Familiarity with G-suite applications. 

Working Conditions: 

This position operates in a hybrid work environment, combining in-office and remote work. Work is performed primarily in an office setting and requires operating standard office equipment, including computers and keyboards. The role involves sedentary work with repetitive motions, including substantial use of the wrists, hands, and fingers. Close visual acuity is essential for preparing and analyzing data, viewing a computer terminal, and extensive reading. The typical workday follows standard office hours (e.g., 9 AM – 5 PM), and collaboration will occur in shared and virtual office spaces. Occasional lifting of light objects, such as office supplies or files (up to 20 lbs), may be required. Regular communication will occur via email, phone, video conferencing, and in-person meetings. The office environment generally has moderate noise levels and common workplace interruptions.

The Broad will not offer sponsorship for this opportunity.