Senior Research Portfolio Administrator | Hybrid 2-Year Term

Harvard University; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Wellbeing resources

Family support

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University’s Department of Microbiology seeks a dynamic Senior Research Portfolio Administrator to manage pre- and post-award activities for a diversified portfolio of sponsored and non-sponsored research. This role supports the Finance team, providing strategic guidance, budgeting, and compliance across multiple funding sources.

The position emphasizes initiative, collaboration, and meticulous financial stewardship, with a 2-year term and standard 35-hour weeks.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in pre- and post-award management, including both federal and non-federal awards, or related experience required.
• Must be able to take initiative, possess strong communication and inter-personal skills, as well as the ability to multi-task and move easily among varied work projects.
• Must be highly organized and detail oriented.
• Must be able to work as part of a team, as well as to work independently, this role requires seeing tasks to completion in a timely manner and being highly responsive.
• Expertise with MS Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• The Senior Research Portfolio Administrator will independently manage all pre- and post-award activities for an assigned faculty portfolio supported by federal, industry, foundation, internal, and other funding sources.
• Responsibilities include proposal development and submission, budget preparation, award management, financial analysis, forecasting, reconciliations, effort management, reporting, and award closeout.
• The individual will partner closely with faculty to provide strategic financial guidance, monitor spending and compliance, identify potential risks, and recommend solutions to support effective stewardship of research funds.
• The Senior Research Portfolio Administrator will serve as a liaison with University offices, collaborating institutions, sponsors, and vendors; coordinate reporting requirements and deliverables; maintain accurate schedules of deadlines; and help ensure compliance with sponsor, federal, and University policies throughout the award lifecycle.
• In addition, this role will support accounts payable functions including invoice payments; purchasing and corporate card transactions; vendor set-ups and employee reimbursements.
• They will also review and resolve invoice holds, follow up with researchers and vendors regarding payment issues, and monitor committed funds reports.
• Other administrative duties include, but are not limited to, resolving financial and compliance issues, supporting annual budget development and financial audits, contributing to departmental initiatives and process improvements, providing training and mentorship to team members, and communicating policy and regulatory updates to faculty and staff.
• The successful candidate will be proactive and detail oriented, use sound judgment, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills to manage complex research portfolios and support the Department's research mission.
• As a trusted advisor to faculty and a key partner to the Associate Director of Finance, the Senior Research Portfolio Administrator will take initiative and provide comprehensive financial administration support across the full lifecycle of sponsored and non-sponsored research activities.

Skills

Pre- and post-award management

Strong communication

Interpersonal skills

Initiative

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Harvard University’s Department of Microbiology seeks a dynamic Senior Research Portfolio Administrator to manage pre- and post-award activities for a diversified portfolio of sponsored and non-sponsored research. This role supports the Finance team, providing strategic guidance, budgeting, and compliance across multiple funding sources.

The position emphasizes initiative, collaboration, and meticulous financial stewardship, with a 2-year term and standard 35-hour weeks.