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 seeks an Executive Director to serve as the institute's chief administrative officer and strategic partner to the Director, guiding administration, facilities, events planning, and financial operations to advance scientific excellence.

This role requires a doctoral-level understanding or equivalent, seven+ years in research administration, and proven leadership across complex, interdisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, or related field.
• Minimum seven years in higher education administration, finance, research, or regulatory administration.
• Experience with federally sponsored biomedical research programs and NIH regulations.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; able to manage multiple complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief administrative officer and strategic partner to the Director.
• Lead in research administration, facilities, events planning, and finance.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and supporting research programs.
• Travel occasionally and handle confidential information with discretion.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Regulatory compliance

Budgeting & forecasting

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical sciences, bioengineering

PhD preferred

Tools

SAP

CAC Connect

Kuali Coeus

Microsoft Office

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

Posting Description

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.

9/18/2026