Research Portfolio Manager

Job Summary:

The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) Office for Research Administration (HGSE ORA) provides comprehensive, faculty-centered research administration support across the full lifecycle of sponsored and research-related activity at HGSE.

Reporting to the Director of Research Management, the Research Portfolio Manager manages a portfolio of assigned HGSE Principal Investigators (PIs) and areas, departments, and centers. The Research Portfolio Manager provides comprehensive support across the full lifecycle of sponsored awards and other research funding — including contracts, consulting and related services agreements, gifts, internal awards, and other non-grant research support — from proposal development and submission through post-award management and closeout, helping to ensure compliance with sponsor, donor, and Harvard policies while supporting HGSE's research mission.

This is a one-year term position with the possibility of extension, contingent upon funding, program needs, and satisfactory performance.

Position Description

The Research Portfolio Manager operates under the HGSE ORA lifecycle model, serving as the primary point of contact for an assigned portfolio of HGSE PIs across all stages of the sponsored research process. This role requires strong knowledge of pre- and post-award administration, sponsor and donor regulations, and Harvard financial systems, as well as the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines in a high-volume environment.

The Research Portfolio Manager works closely with other HGSE ORA team members, the Director of Research Portfolio Management, the Compliance Officer, HGSE Finance, and Harvard's central Office for Sponsored Programs (Central OSP) to ensure seamless, compliant, and faculty-centered lifecycle support for all assigned PIs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide PIs with timely information and advice in proposal development, proposal submission, and post-award management for both sponsored awards and non-grant research funding — including consulting and related services agreements, gifts, and internal awards — including interpretation of Harvard policies and sponsor and donor guidelines related to necessary approvals, allowable costs, and budget.

• Work in partnership with PIs and others to ensure proposals and other funding requests — for grants, contracts, consulting and related services agreements, gifts, and internal research awards — conform to university and school policy and funder requirements.

• Review final proposals and related submissions, including prepared budget, format, and adherence to sponsor, donor, and university guidelines.

• Identify and resolve discrepancies in internal and external requirements and expectations in all facets of proposal submission and award terms and conditions, including consulting and related services agreements and other non-grant research funding arrangements.

• Review federal and non-federal award documents and agreements, and other research-related agreements — such as consulting and related services agreements, gift agreements, and internal award terms — for compliance with university policy and procedures.

• Serve as a source of information on fiscal policies and procedures, including federal funding regulations, and advise PIs and project staff on existing options or alternatives across sponsored and non-sponsored research funding, effectively recommending courses of action on budgetary matters.

• Monitor grants and contracts and other research funding — including consulting and related services agreements, gifts, and internal awards — for assigned PIs to ensure expenses are paid according to the agreement and government regulations within budget limits and timelines.

• Review awards for compliance and audit issues; review Harvard University Office for Sponsored Programs (Central OSP) actions for accuracy and compliance with HGSE procedures.

• Ensure appropriate engagement with the School's Compliance Officer and other relevant compliance resources, and coordinate or support compliance reviews, audits, and monitoring activities as needed across sponsored and non-sponsored research funding and consulting and related services agreements.

• Manage document control and workflow for the assigned portfolio among HGSE ORA, Central OSP, and the HGSE Finance Office.

• Work collaboratively with other members of HGSE ORA, and as needed with the CRAO and Director of Research Management, on special projects — such as process improvement, policy implementation, compliance initiatives, or problem resolution — across both sponsored and non-sponsored research funding mechanisms, including consulting and related services agreements.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions: 

This position is based in Cambridge, MA and is currently eligible for a hybrid work schedule, with an expectation of at least three workdays per week on campus. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States. Work location and eligibility for remote work are subject to change.