Senior Manager of Finance and Operations – J-PAL Global

J-PAL is a global research center working to reduce poverty and fight climate change by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 500 top researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts innovative research and builds powerful partnerships to solve the world’s greatest challenges. J-PAL was launched at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2003 and its faculty directors are Nobel laureates and MIT professors Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, and Ben Olken. It has over 400 research, policy, training, and operations staff across Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. For more information visit povertyactionlab.org.

J-PAL values diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our work and the broader perspectives our staff bring. We encourage people of color, first generation college students/graduates, and other underrepresented groups to apply to this role. In your cover letter, please consider sharing how your racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic and/or other identity has influenced your drive and desire to work at J-PAL. (This is not required, but rather an opportunity for us to get to know you.) For more information on J-PAL Global’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion visit this webpage.

The Finance and Operations team at J-PAL supports J-PAL’s mission to efficiently translate research by J-PAL affiliates into actionable poverty alleviation policies around the world. We are looking to hire staff who combine a strong passion for working with organizations around the world to inform development policy with solid administrative abilities to further our mission.

Under the supervision of the Director of Finance and Operations, with a dotted line oversight from the Senior Manager of Global Initiatives, the Senior Finance and Operations Manager serves as financial and operational lead for a portfolio of up to four major initiatives at J-PAL and works with senior F&O staff to ensure efficient operational management at J-PAL. Tasks include a mix of financial operations, grants management, staff management, and leading organizational projects in the F&O area, all within a university environment.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Finance and Grants (75%): 

• GrantsAlong with other Finance senior staff, lead activities within J-PAL at MIT to respond to requests for proposals and other grant opportunities;
• Manage the submission of grant proposals into MIT’s internal systems, coordinating technical inputs, working with technical staff to prepare budgets and explanatory notes, and managing subordinate grant managers as appropriate;
• Participate in senior management strategic planning on funding priorities and annual plans for J-PAL;
• Participate in presentations of proposals to funders, focusing on budget administrative questions and their fit with project needs;
• Lead J-PAL’s input with donors and MIT on grant negotiations, facilitating finalization of successful grant awards among all parties;
• Supervise J-PAL staff work post-award to ensure efficient financial and grants management practices for J-PAL projects following award;
• ReportingSupervise donor reporting;
• With the Director of Finance and Operations and other senior staff, prepare annual financial reporting on
• Global and worldwide finances for J-PAL Faculty Directors.
• SubawardsWorking with MIT’s Subawards Office and J-PAL’s initiative management, establish subawards for recipients of research grants from J-PAL Initiatives and other funding;
• Supervise subaward management, including receipt of award deliverables, tracking of finances;
• Serve on task forces at J-PAL and in collaboration with MIT offices to improve subaward processing;
• Manage subaward closeout processes with MIT and award recipients.
• InitiativesServe as financial and operational lead for up to three major initiatives at J-PAL;
• Provide training for staff around the world on Initiative management.

Operations (25%)

• Office operationsWork with senior F&O staff to ensure efficient operational management at J-PAL;
• Assist senior F&O staff as needed to support an efficient, welcoming office environment for staff and visitors.
• Help lead bi-annual strategic goal setting for F&O team.

Qualifications

Education: A bachelor’s degree is required.

Experience: At least five years experience in finance, operations, and administrative management; experience in international development a strong plus.

Work style: Attention to detail, ability to work on projects independently and make decisions, along with a willingness to pitch in to get tasks done are all important.

Travel: Willingness and ability to travel internationally required. Position may require travel to J-PAL’s regional offices in France, Chile, India, Indonesia, Egypt and South Africa.

Time Management: Proven ability to handle several different projects/tasks at one time and meet deadlines. A willingness to work hard, be self-motivated and learn will be essential for doing well in this position. Punctuality and consistency in work hours is required.

Communication Skills: Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and confidently orally and in writing is required. Experience with presentations.

Compensation and Benefits

This full-time, exempt position is classified by MIT at salary level 9. Current MIT salary levels are publicly available at https://hr.mit.edu/managers/pay. This is a market-based salary range that MIT works to ensure stays equitable and competitive.

As a member of the MIT community, you benefit from more than just your salary. Total compensation packages are competitive for the non-profit international development field with excellent MIT benefits, including comprehensive health insurance, a 401(k) match and pension-based retirement plan, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, MIT community discounts, a generous vacation policy, and more.

Additionally, J-PAL has a very flexible work policy around the number of days staff have to come to the office every week (most staff come in 2-3 days a week, Monday-Wednesday), work hours, and for working for extended periods from out of town.

How to Apply
Ready to join a team of supportive, engaging, and fun colleagues? Apply now.

All candidates should apply through the MIT human resources system. Please note that because this position is not eligible for sponsorship, candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for at least 2 years from the date of application.

To apply, please submit a short application via MIT’s human resources system. Visit http://jobs.mit.edu/external, search for job ID 22566 and complete an application. Please include:

Cover letter (outlining why you are interested in J-PAL Global and why you are qualified for this role; please also share details that support your authorization to work)

• Resume/CV
• Transcripts (unofficial transcripts accepted)

Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered; please be sure to include all three components (cover letter, resume, transcripts).

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Top candidates will first be invited to phone screen and finalists will be called for an in-person interview. The recruitment process can last 2-3 months. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we will not be able to follow up individually with all applicants.

For more information about working at J-PAL, please visit this webpage.

MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.