Payroll & Grants Administrator

Berkman Klein Center at Harvard Law School
Published
April 5, 2018
Location
Cambridge, MA
Category
Job Type

Description

Duties & Responsibilities

The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University seeks an experienced and charismatic Payroll & Grants Administrator to support our dynamic, high-functioning research center.  They will work closely with our Financial Director and Manager of Community Programs on implementing efforts to ensure that the financial affairs of the Center are in order, and, as a member of the Center’s core team, will contribute to Center priorities and other duties as needed.  This key position supports a wide range of exciting public-interest focused activities, as well as community members at every level within the Berkman Center, including faculty, students, staff, fellows, and visitors and from all over the world.

The Payroll & Grants Administrator’s main responsibilities will include overseeing the Center’s weekly, bi-weekly and monthly payrolls, facilitating appointments for Fellows, interns, and other positions, and conducting budget analysis and other tasks related to grant management. These tasks will require detailed knowledge of Harvard University policy, broad knowledge of the Center’s projects and personnel, frequent and diplomatic interactions with numerous University and Law School offices.

Specific tasks will include:

  • Primary responsibility for Berkman payrolls which includes but isn’t limited to; reviewing and approving Berkman Klein Center weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly payrolls; acting as main payroll liaison between Center and Law School Human Resources Office;
  • Processing Harvard appointments for various employee and non-employee affiliate types through Human Resources and other administrative channels, including assisting with visa applications for international applicants;
  • Ensuring the proper allocation of salaries and stipends across a dynamic set of sponsored and core funds;
  • Assisting with outreach and selection activities of our annual calls for Fellows and summer interns;
  • Assisting in grant management duties, including reviewing and reconciling sponsored project spending, performing journal entries and other fund transfers as needed, preparing financial reports for funders and other stakeholders, and communicating with Office for Sponsored Programs and other University offices, project staff, and funders as needed;
  • Advising and training the Berkman community in financial policies and best practices, and assisting in documenting procedures.

Based on the fast-paced and changing needs of the Berkman Center, the Payroll & Grants Administrator may be called upon for other tasks at short notice.

The right candidate will have heart, verve, and vigor; a can-do attitude; a very good sense of humor; and a strong desire to effect change in workplace and in the world. They will thrive in a committed, collaborative, and tight-knit community that encourages creativity and serious fun, values novel approaches to solving problems, continually builds upon best-practices and lessons learned, and supports its community members' independent and collective goals.

As with all Berkman staff positions, this is a term position ending June 30, 2019; continuation is anticipated but contingent upon funding and institutional needs.

Basic Qualifications

5 years of experience in payroll, human resources, or financial administration is required, preferably in an academic or other non-profit setting. Post-secondary education may count toward years of experience.

Additional Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree preferred.  Proficiency with quantitative data, financial and HR software, and general office technologies.

The position also requires someone with strong and effective communication skills for phone, e-mail, and in-person interactions; the ability to tactfully and naturally engage a wide range of constituencies; and superb problem solving skills. They must be proactive and accountable. They must be able to prioritize across responsibilities, and manage varied commitments, competing deadlines, and shifting priorities. They must be able to gain an exceptional command of our office's culture and develop the ability to anticipate our needs and think around corners. Flexibility and adaptability are critical.

Must be comfortable working with a broadly diverse global community of scholars, researchers, teachers, and activists. Curiosity, sound judgment, exceptional ethical standards, and proven abilities in leadership, management, interpersonal communication, and team-building are essential. Experience working with Oracle and PeopleSoft applications and/or familiarity with Harvard financial systems is a plus.

Additional Information

About the Berkman Center for Internet & Society
The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University is a research program founded to explore cyberspace, share in its study, and help pioneer its development. Founded in 1997, through a generous gift from Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman, the Center is home to an ever-growing community of faculty, fellows, staff, and affiliates working on projects that span the broad range of intersections between cyberspace, technology, and society. More information can be found at http://cyber.law.harvard.edu.

Commitment to Diversity
The work and well-being of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University are strengthened profoundly by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and much more. We actively seek and welcome applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQIA community, and persons with disabilities, as well as applications from researchers and practitioners from across the spectrum of disciplines and methods

This is a term appointment currently expected to extend to 6/30/2019, subject to funding and departmental need.

All offers to be made by HLS Human Resources.

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