EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PILM

The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory; Glendale (AZ); Hybrid; USD 147,000 - 201,000; Full time

Job summary

The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory is seeking an Executive Director to serve as the institute's chief administrative officer and strategic partner to the Director. You will integrate executive leadership in research administration, facilities, events planning, and regulatory compliance to enable scientific excellence.

The role requires a doctorate or equivalent experience, extensive federally sponsored research administration, and strong budgeting/forecasting skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, or related discipline; or equivalent experience.
• Minimum seven years of experience in higher education administration, finance, research, or regulatory administration.
• Experience with federally sponsored research and university budgeting and planning processes.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and handle confidential information with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Institute's chief administrative officer and strategic partner to the Director.
• Lead administrative strategy enabling scientific excellence and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee research administration, facilities, events planning, finance, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Project management

Discretion with confidential info

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in neuroscience/biology/biomedical sciences/bioengineering or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

SAP

CAC Connect

Kuali Coeus

Job description

Working at MIT offers opportunities that just aren’t found anywhere else, including generous and unique benefits that help to ensure that MIT employees are healthy, supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work/life balance. Discover more about what it's like to work at MIT.

We welcome people from all walks of life to bring their talent, ideas, and experience to our community. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds - like yours. If you want to be part of our exceptional, multicultural, collaborative, and inclusive community, then take a look at this opportunity.

MIT provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the Institute reasonably expects to pay for a full time position at the time of posting (if you are applying for a part time salaried job, you will need to prorate the posted pay range). The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements. This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation.

Executive Director, PILM

• Job Number: 26078
• Functional Area: Administration
• Department: Picower Institute for Learning & Memory
• School Area: Science
• Pay Range Minimum: $147,400
• Pay Range Maximum: $201,020
• Employment Type: Full-time (Hybrid)
• Employment Category: Exempt
• Visa Sponsorship Available: No
• Schedule:
• Pay Grade: 12

Executive Director, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory (PILM)

to serve as the Institute's chief administrative officer and strategic partner to the Director, partnering closely with the Director and faculty to ensure that administrative strategy enables scientific excellence and integrating executive leadership in research administration, facilities, events planning, operational planning, finance, and regulatory compliance.

The full job description is available, here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:ba070476-595f-4531-b860-3bb7ed637135

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, or related scientific discipline, or equivalent experience conducting or directing federally sponsored biomedical or scientific research programs; a minimum of seven years of experience in higher education administration, finance, research, or regulatory administration; experience working within research programs involving advanced methods (e.g. animal models, viral vectors, genome editing, human subjects research) and associated federal regulatory frameworks; experience in a research-intensive university or laboratory environment; demonstrated expertise in federal (NIH) sponsored research and administration, including proposal budgets, cost principles, and compliance; experience with university financial planning, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting; strong organizational and communication skills; demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects independently; proficiency with Microsoft Office software; ability and willingness to travel occasionally, and work evening/weekend hours as needed (much less than 10%); and ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

PREFERRED: Ph.D. in related field; familiarity with MIT systems such as SAP, CAC Connect, and Kuali Coeus; demonstrated ability to integrate federal sponsor requirements with university budgeting and planning processes; experience in balancing institutional financial planning with externally sponsored research administration; and a minimum of ten years of supervisory experience and proven track record of successfully managing complex, interdisciplinary teams.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit CV and a cover letter in their application materials. To ensure full consideration, applications should be submitted within four weeks of the posting date. All applications will be reviewed following the close of the application period.

9/18/2026