The Executive Director for Research Administration is a highly visible role providing advanced leadership and management skills to successfully operate in a complex environment to facilitate and support the research enterprise. The Executive Director (ED) shares responsibility for the development of strategies and programs for the support and expansion of Joslin’s comprehensive research agenda.
The Executive Director will oversee all administrative and operational activities. Specifically, this position will direct and manage the day-to-day responsibilities of the Office of Sponsored Research, including the pre- and post-award services, budget preparation, financial management, compliance with applicable Federal, State and Center rules and laws as well as research integrity, safety and export control, and the coordination of research related administrative needs across the organization. The Executive Director is responsible for policy and procedure development, review, analysis and implementation.
In addition, this position oversees technology transfer. The Executive Director oversees the shared service centers and animal care facility as well as environmental health and safety including their budget preparation. The Executive Director oversees strategic initiatives to enhance the research mission as well as data analytics and decision support services.
The Executive Director for Research Administration serves as an Institutional Official and maintains oversight of and administrative responsibility for the Institutional Review Board and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The Executive Director also serves as a member of Joslin’s Senior Leadership Team.

• Provides leadership and supervision to the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR). Develops and recommends short- and long-range goals for OSR administration activities; sets administrative guidelines that support the scientific objectives established by the Research Director and Investigators.
• Responsible for the overall recruitment, training and professional development of staff, which includes setting individual and collective goals and objectives, evaluating achievements, allocating annual merit increases and handling personnel issues as appropriate. Manages, evaluates and develops professional and administrative staff to support sponsored research activities.
• Provides business leadership for the sponsored research activities at Joslin Diabetes Center, identifying and utilizing external funding sources including the NIH, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, American Diabetes Association, pharmaceutical/biotech firms and others. Participates in long-range planning, and works directly with subordinate staff to facilitate the accomplishment of the goals and objectives of the Research Division. With Investigators, the Office of Sponsored Research and/or other administrative leadership, participates in the business aspects of both short and long-term strategy development related to research initiatives, including space and equipment allocation, financial requirements, and multiple-investigator funding.
• Develops contacts with researchers, funding sources, governmental, academic and other resources to attract and retain prestigious and innovative funding/research projects. Participates in the evaluation and negotiation of the business aspects of reciprocal sponsored research arrangements with companies and other agencies and institutions. Seeks out opportunities to provide supplementary funding for certain of the institutional endeavors including the animal facility, clinical research infrastructure, IRB and leads the application effort. Keeps current with new research developments, funding sources, budgetary, regulatory and personnel changes in the federal government, and other information to support the research program at Joslin. Identify and advise on policy and external agency and government issues such as pending regulations and funding agency stances and award conditions that may impact the ability of the researchers to compete for funding.
• Provides reports and makes presentations to executive leadership.
• Monitors and may assist in the logistics of large-scale proposals, including support in the final preparation, review and submission of proposals to meet sponsor deadlines. Represents Joslin to sponsors and to Harvard Medical School and other Harvard affiliates in the preparation, delivery and revision of proposals for funding contracts. Monitors the contracts and monetary return so generated.
• Ensures compliance with all federal and non-federal-related regulatory issues, interpreting regulations when needed to support OSR staff members. Maintains communication with Research Finance and other Joslin departments to stay abreast of current issues and requirements.
• Develops and manages the Research Division operating budgets including the OSR departmental budget, Section Administration budget, Technology Transfer budget and the Research Compliance budget maintaining required records, variance and other reports, statistics and databases for administrative and regulatory purposes. Lead the efforts in assisting the investigators to independently monitor their section/grant budgets.
• Oversees the budgeting and use of Research endowment funds and Chairs.
• Works with the Center’s financial systems (Fiscal Services, Payroll Services, and Purchasing) and Information Technology Services to ensure that the Center’s financial systems effectively handle award transactions. Ensure that financial reports, invoices, progress reports, and time-and-effort reports are completed and submitted in compliance with the requirements of awarding agencies.
• Collaborates with the Research Finance office to ensure proper monitoring of data and provide investigators with user-friendly, accurate, and timely information. Works with research leaders to set goals and strategize on the most cost-effective means of maximizing resources.
• Coordinates with Human Studies (CHS) and Animal Studies (IACUC) Committees to ensure adherence to all legal requirements for the use of human and animal subjects in protocols. In the role of the Institutional Official for both animal research (IACUC and OLAW) and human research (CHS) provides institutional oversight and management of administrative activities. Ensures that regulatory and center-specific changes directly related to clinical trials are implemented and communicated to staff and faculty.
• Develops strong relationships with administrative leaders, investigators, medical centers internally and externally, Harvard Medical School and other Harvard affiliates Acts as a liaison and resource to external agencies, state auditors, and Department of Health and Human Services representatives to represent the research community as necessary. Provide advocacy for Joslin with external contacts.
• Assures compliance with laws and regulations to protect the Center faculty, staff, fellows and students in research activities.
• Develops and refines research administration business processes, agreement templates, and develop both routine and special reports and analyses.
• Develops, modifies, and implements policies governing the conduct of both internally and externally funded activities to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements relating to sponsored programs.
• Authorized signatory official on proposals submitted to external agencies and post-award action actions (i.e. invention disclosure statements, expanded authority for no-cost extensions, re-budgeting, etc.).
• Forecasts future departmental and institutional requirements based on internal and external trends as related to program development, space needs, and fiscal realities.
• Participates in the Research Division and Joslin meetings including, but not limited to, Committee of Professors, Research Operations, as well as Senior Leadership Team, , and other necessary committees or task forces. Compare and integrate industry best practices in achieving departmental standards of excellence annually.
• Participates in the proposal development, negotiation and implementation of the Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rate agreement, recharge rates, and other rate settings. Work with appropriate Center personnel to cost the value of administrative services to set appropriate reimbursement rates for sponsored research and negotiate such rates as needed.
• Active participation in various Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) committees.
• Active participation in the Committee of Boston Teaching Hospitals (COBTH).

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred; Certified Research Administrator (CRA) strongly preferred.
• Requires detailed knowledge of grants management, grants management systems, budget preparation and financial planning and management principles, usually acquired with 10-15 years of progressive work experience, including management, development and coaching of staff.
• Requires significant professional and institutional leadership experience with research, research administration and development management in a scientific, academic, healthcare or for-profit environment.
• Working knowledge of administrative and accounting systems and analytical tools, with the ability to train and coach staff in the use of these tools.
• Work related experience in negotiating legal terms and conditions.
• Expert knowledge and experience in the practical application of Federal and State regulations such as 2 CRF 200, PHS Guidelines, Office of Research Integrity and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
• A high degree of flexibility and adaptability and experience in change management is necessary in order to manage and lead change for the research community in an environment with changing regulations and needs.
• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to create a vision and identity for the team, lead collaboration with other teams, and mobilize resources necessary to complete projects and achieve goals while implementing tools and resources to measure program effectiveness.
• Must possess excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to effectively present complex information and respond to questions from administrators, staff and faculty.
• A results orientation accompanied by the skill required to conceptualize, implement and operationalize a user-friendly research function.
• Skill in continually shifting between strategic activities and operational activities, with an emphasis on strong hands-on management of the Office of Sponsored Research
• Ability to develop professional relationships with investigators, technical staff, Research Administration, Division Administration, Human Resources, Philanthropy, Clinic Services, and Research Finance to provide seamless service to all customers.
• Ability to develop and deliver effective services, procedures and processes, with customer participation and end-user satisfaction integral to the final product.
• Ability to continually improve OSR work processes, utilizing Investigator and staff feedback and management of data.
• Knowledge of federal and non-federal agency regulations applicable to sponsored research organizations to ensure compliance.
• Engages with representatives of federal and state government agencies, non-profit organizations and business and industry partners
• Skill in setting priorities in order to complete work in a timely manner where there are competing requirements, pressures of deadlines and heavy workloads.
• Skill in quantitative, analytic and problem solving to identify relevant concerns or factors, formulate logical and objective conclusions, resolve problems and find creative solutions to ensure delivery of service to internal customers and make appropriate and timely decisions by working with researchers, staff and leadership.
• Must be a skilled communicator with the ability to communicate with diverse segments, including faculty, leaders of the institution to discuss job-related topics, investigate and resolve problems with diligence and professionalism, solicit input or provide information.
• Ability to work with numbers/high volume of data accurately.
• Skill in fostering a work environment that supports responsive communication with staff, faculty and other customers.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills with the demonstrated ability to drive multiple concurrent projects to completion.