Managing Director, Finance & Administration - Dept of Medicine

Job Summary:

This role will serve as the chief financial and strategic functional leader across a diverse and high-impact research enterprise, managing over $80M in annual funding from federal grants, industry partnerships, and clinical trials. As the financial lead for the Department of Medicine, the MD will guide strategic growth, ensure regulatory compliance, and enable innovation at every level.

Reporting to the Chair and Executive Vice Chair of the department, the MD will serve as the primary liaison between the department and UMass Chan's finance leadership and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). This leadership position oversees a comprehensive and complex funding portfolio and is responsible for financial reporting, analysis, and long-term planning to support the department's continued research excellence.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Leadership

Lead strategy across all mission areas for the Department of Medicine
• Manage a complex research portfolio exceeding $80M annually.
• Provide management, leadership and oversight of a team of grant and clinical trial financial professionals.
• Design and implement financial and operation policies that optimize research outcomes across all Departmental administrative modalities.
• Collaborate with department leadership to align financial planning with academic goals.
• Build forecasting models and strategic frameworks to support long-term growth.
• Serve as a link between UMass Chan Medical School and the VP/CAO of the Medical Group.

Research Portfolio Management

• Oversee financial administration of single PI, MPI and large-scale research programs and multi-site clinical trials.
• Implement systems for grant invoicing, grant tracking, effort reporting, and cost-sharing.
• Guide budget development for major funding proposals and investigator initiated clinical trials.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, sponsor, and institutional regulations.
• Inform Principal Investigators and Department administrators about research finances.

Fiscal Operations

• Manage the annual budget planning and financial reporting processes.
• Deliver advanced financial analysis and performance metrics.
• Manage financial risk and develop mitigation strategies.
• Support faculty recruitment and retention through financial planning.

Administrative Leadership

• Build, manage and mentor a high-performing finance and grants management team.
• Establish operational best practices and drive continuous improvement.
• Partner with OSP, Office of Clinical Research and Office of Management on research processes and systems to enhance efficiency and useability.
• Champion process enhancements to boost efficiency and transparency.
• Partner with Administration and Finance on institutional and departmental initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Master's degree in business administration, finance, or a related field or equivalent.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in grants accounting, research finance and administration.
• 5+ years in a leadership role within an academic medical center.
• Proven expertise in federal grants management and clinical trial finance.

Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of federal grant regulations and compliance.
• Advanced financial modeling and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in grants management and financial systems.
• Strong grasp of academic medical center operations.

Leadership & Professional Skills

• Strategic thinker with exceptional decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder, skilled with multiple communication platforms and modalities
• Skilled in managing complex projects and cross-functional teams.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and tech-savvy (especially in Excel,financial software, communications systems and effective use of collaborative IT tools).
• Comfortable working in a matrixed, collaborative environment.

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