About Us:
The Wyss Institute’s mission is to transform healthcare and the environment by emulating the way nature builds. We harness the freedom of academia and the focus of industry in order to translate revolutionary technologies into commercial products and solutions. At the Wyss Institute, faculty from premier academic and clinical institutions, collaborate with staff scientists, postdocs, graduate students, industry experts, business development leaders, and entrepreneurs across disciplines to invent and de- risk new technologies that don’t just succeed at making it to the market – they disrupt it. We support research that universities, companies, and venture capital firms don’t fund because they view it as too risky. We prefer to use the word “challenging,” and we love challenges. For more information, visit: http://wyss.harvard.edu/

About You:
You are a collaborative, impact-focused problem solver with a strong attention to detail. You are an excellent communicator and are comfortable with exercising a high degree of judgment and problem- solving to your responsibilities. You want to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to providing grants expertise and support for a cutting-edge Research Institute. You are excited to contribute to the visionary work of creating novel approaches to global challenges in healthcare and sustainability. You adapt easily to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment and enjoy working with diverse groups of people across all levels of the organization.


About the Role:
We are looking for a talented individual to join our team as a Senior Sponsored Research Officer (SSRO). Reporting to the Associate Director of Sponsored Finance, you will independently administer pre– and post-award aspects of a complex portfolio for interdisciplinary faculty. Sponsors include: DARPA, IARPA, DOD, ARPA-E, DOE, NSF, NIH, Industry, DOT, FDA, private funders and others. You will provide an outstanding level of customer service to a broad customer base on a variety of sponsored and compliance issues.

What you'll do:
- Post Award Activities: You will authorize and approve expenditures, review monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports, forecast financial scenarios, and make/implement sound recommendations for spending plans.
You will also interpret and apply financial and compliance-related policies, maintain close subrecipient oversight, monitor special terms and conditions and provide financial updates to PIs, sponsors, management and Harvard Central Offices.
- Pre-award Activities: You will identify and disseminate funding opportunities, develop budgets, and submit application (in close conjunction with faculty and project leads), and liaise with the Office of Sponsored Programs as well as the Office of Technology Development on industry sponsored research agreements.
- General Activities: You will prepare Principal Investigator rights requests, consulting agreements, and draft other research related documents (billing agreements, etc.). You may also participate in sponsor kickoff meetings and take on special projects to support the Sponsored Team and Wyss community. You will demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
Minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience
Advanced knowledge of sponsored research regulations


Bachelor's Degree preferred.
Working knowledge of Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations, NIH policies and procedures; Department of Defense policies and procedures; and current issues in sponsored research administration.
Familiarity with federal and procurement-type contracts, various research agreements, Gantt charts and technical reporting is a plus.
The ideal candidate is self- directed, can prioritize duties and meet multiple deadlines.
Need to be able to use a high degree of judgment; and need to be able to make sound independent decisions.
Attention to detail and ability to multitask is required. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Need to be able to work independently with minimal supervision, and handle complex and confidential information with discretion.
Strong computer and/or analytical skills.
Desire and aptitude to learn complex data query tools required.
Customer service focus required.
Familiarity with Harvard's grants management systems and policies is desirable.
Desire and willingness to assume increasing responsibilities, help develop streamlined processes, build better business procedures.
Flexibility and a mindset of getting things done are very important.
Ability to function in an entrepreneurial setting is essential.