Senior Research Administrator

Position Overview

SENIOR RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR, to perform comprehensive financial management for the MIT Generative Artificial Intelligence Impact Consortium (MGAIC). The MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium is working with leading corporations to develop innovative applications that have the power to significantly improve how humans live and work. Reporting to the Senior Program Manager, and a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Director of Admiration and Finance at Office of Innovation and Strategy (OIS), the Senior Research Administrator (SRA) will manage a complex consortia structure, including coordinating financial flows, membership contributions, and reporting requirements. Perform high level financial management and oversee all financial operations, including developing and implementing financial models and strategies for both the sponsored research structure and consortium structure. Responsible for financial planning, budget analysis, and reporting to financial counterparts in the Office of Innovation and Strategy (OIS). The SRA will coordinate with DLCI financial staff to establish, monitor, and maintain project accounts, ensuring appropriate access and alignment with award terms.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions**)

Operations:

• Oversee the financial operations of consortium memberships in coordination with central offices; monitor spending and billing process, reconcile accounts, and ensure accurate financial documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and implement financial strategies, models, and tools to support multi-year planning, membership forecasting, and sustainability of the consortium.
• Serve as primary financial liaison to RAS, OSATT, VPF, the Office of Innovation and Strategy (OIS), DLCI Finance Officers, and other central units to ensure alignment across all financial processes.
• Lead special financial or operational projects as assigned by management, producing high-quality analyses, recommendations, and execution plans.
• Counsel principal investigators, project leaders, and other staff on all aspects of consortium administration; analyze monthly projection reports for consortium accounts, reconcile salary and other expenses.
• Serve as a primary financial resource for proposal submissions and award administration; coordinate the preparation, review, and submission of complex financial reports for senior leadership; and manage sophisticated proposal, financial and operational issues related to MGAIC.
• Analyze and strategically plan for consortium funding projections and trends, personnel allocations, and other resource management issues. Develop complex financial reports and forecasts that enable MGAIC leadership to effectively manage expenditures and revenues.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, including budget to actual analyses, variance explanations, and scenario modeling.
• Oversee year-end closing processes, ensuring accurate financial records, reconciliations, and compliance with audit requirements.
• Develop and maintain Excel based financial tools and models to support operational decision-making and financial transparency.
• Evaluate financial processes and systems; recommend improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls.
• Implement best practices in financial management, documentation, reporting, and communication.
• Create reproducible workflows for budgeting, reporting, membership tracking, and award management.
• Serve as the primary financial contact for faculty, industry members, central finance, contracts and research administration offices, and program leadership.
• Provide guidance and training to staff, faculty, and partners on financial policies, reporting requirements, and operational procedures.
• Work collaboratively with communications, operations, and program staff to ensure consistent financial messaging and transparency across the consortium.

Other Duties:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received

Supervision is provided by the Senior Program Manager. Receives limited supervision. Employee sets own goals and determines how to accomplish results with few or no guidelines to follow; position requires ability to perform with minimal supervision.

Supervision Exercised

Indirect supervision of support staff.

Qualifications and Skills

Education:      
Bachelor’s degree in a finance, business administration, accounting, management or related field required.

Experience:    
Minimum of 4 years’ experience in accounting or finance required.

Skills:              
Knowledge of budget preparation and administration, financial recordkeeping, and reporting. Strong computer skills required, including proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel) and enterprise accounting and data base tools required. Experience with SAP, BrioQuery, Kuali Coeus, and Cognos highly desirable. Strong financial management/forecasting, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including follow-through skills in order to see projects and issues through to completion. Strong customer service orientation; excellent organizational and oral and written communication skills; ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously to meet deadlines; attention to detail; receptivity to learning new business methods and computational skills; and ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced and challenging environment. Experience financial administration experience in an academic research environment preferred. MIT experience highly desirable.

** To comply with regulations by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the principal duties in job descriptions must be essential to the job. To identify essential functions, focus on the purpose and the result of the duties rather than the manner in which they are performed. The following definition applies: a job function is essential if removal of that function would fundamentally change the job.