Senior Grants and Contracts Manager

12-Feb-2024

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

64911BR

Job Summary

The mission of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is to advance the public’s health through learning, discovery and communication.  To pursue the mission, the school produces knowledge through research then translates this knowledge into evidence that can be communicated to the public, policymakers, and practitioners to advance the health of populations.

 The Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) supports the school’s mission by serving as a central resource for the research community through the provision of expertise and leadership in obtaining and managing research funds.  It acts as the institutional representative of the President and Fellows of Harvard College for the administration of sponsored projects for the school. SPA is comprised of research administrators that work in partnership with faculty to review and submit proposals for funding and to ensure that proposals and then awards conform and are managed according to sponsor guidelines and University policies. 

Position Description

The Senior Grants and Contracts Manager will support innovative research at the world’s leading public health research institution, primarily in the Department of Molecular Metabolism.  This department conducts pioneering research into the causes underlying complex human disorders such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Their studies aim to transform the understanding of wellness and disease and to help develop novel approaches to address the major challenges to global public health.

The Senior Grants and Contracts Manager is an integral part of the research enterprise and works in close partnership with faculty members. They are a primary resource for providing guidance and oversight on issues related to fiscal, administrative and regulatory management of a portfolio of grants, contracts and sponsored programs from award receipt through closeout. These grants are from a wide-range of sponsors including the federal government (e.g. NIH), foundations, industry, and international contracts from foreign entities. 

Post-award responsibilities include:

• Creates budget reconciliation and forecasting reports, and uses these reports to meet regularly with faculty to review their financial situations.
• Reviews and approves all expenditures
• Ensures compliance with requirements such as effort reporting
• Submits payroll changes for faculty and staff
• Completes timely journal entries as necessary, grant close-outs, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Pre-award responsibilities may include:

• Provides policy guidance and assistance with all aspects of proposal development, administrative forms, sponsor-required certifications and representations, and compliance requirements
• Develops appropriate budget
• Works directly with the Principal Investigators & collaborators, and will interface with central administrative offices to ensure that the applications meet all university, school and sponsor requirements
• Performs application submission, ensuring deadlines are met
• Responds to sponsor requests and questions
• Performs other duties as assigned

This is a postaward focused role but some pre-award responsibilities will be required.

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience, with 3+ years of those years in pre- and post-award management experience (both federal and non-federal), required; a combination of education and experience may be considered

Additional Qualifications and Skills

The following job-specific skills and competencies are preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree, and/or Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
• Experience working with investigators on the management of complex research awards and working with a variety of sponsors   
• Intermediate Excel skills
• Advanced working knowledge of research compliance issues & of key federal grant regulations
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Outstanding attention to detail
• Understanding of human subject use, animal use and other research compliance areas
• Problem solving skills and aptitude to be flexible

The following cultural competencies are also preferred:

• Awareness of and aptitude to appropriately and effectively understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based difference within group environments
• Knowledge of and commitment to concepts and issues tied to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Skills related to creating and supporting an environment that allows for inclusion, effective intercultural engagement, and personal humility and authenticity
• Experience fostering and reinforcing an environment that values unique experiences, cultures, backgrounds, and goals

Additional Information

Join the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to support our mission of health research and education, and to be a part of the oldest institution of higher learning in the country!

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• The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health does not provide visa sponsorship, now or in the future, for staff positions.
• Harvard University requires pre-employment reference checks and background screenings.
• This position has a 90 day orientation and review period. The O&R period will be waived for any internal Harvard employee transfers.

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The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up to date on CDC-recommended vaccines.

Work Format Details

This position is eligible for 100% remote work. Employees may work from any of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard’s Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Department Office Location

USA – MA – Boston

Job Code

405007 Financial Professional (N)

Department

Sponsored Programs Administration – Molecular Metabolism

Union

55 – Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Pre-Employment Screening

Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

At the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, we believe that diversity is integral to the Harvard experience and our mission of improving public health education, research and policy. Diversity of cultural backgrounds, identities, lived experiences, perspectives, and ways of understanding the world enriches our community and enables us to best meet the public health needs of the United States and the world. Ongoing learning and development related to diversity allows for both individual and institutional growth, and is necessary to foster and sustain a culture of inclusion. To achieve this, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to opportunities for learning, living, and working at the Harvard Chan School. We maintain an unwavering dedication to diversity, inclusion, and belonging as core to our institutional values and to actively counter, minimize, and address racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, gender bias, and all forms of discrimination.

Learn more about the School’s mission, objectives, and core values , our Principles of Citizenship , and our diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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