Director, SOM RMS Community (School of Medicine, Central Finance)

Overview

The organization is seeking a Director, SOM RMS Community to support the School of Medicine’s Research Finance function and to lead the third RMS Community. Reporting to the Executive Director of Research Finance, this role partners with operational stakeholders, senior leadership, and departmental administrators/directors to oversee centralized planning, administration, and implementation of sponsored research management practices for both administrative and financial aspects of sponsored and non-sponsored research accounts within Research Management Services (RMS) partnerships.

This position requires strong leadership in finance and research administration, with a comprehensive understanding of progressive academic finance practices and firsthand knowledge of the tripartite integrated mission within the School of Medicine.

Responsibilities

Centralized research finance operations

• Ensure optimal operations for all pre-award and post-award activities for designated departments and operational areas within the School of Medicine, as detailed in the JD addendum.
• Serve as a primary resource for strategic financial and operational planning in the research space in close collaboration with departmental leadership partners.

Financial operations and compliance

• Oversee day-to-day functions of complex award management activities within the RMS Community, including:
  • Monitoring and managing research accounts (sponsored and non-sponsored)
  • Reporting
  • Sponsored accounting pre-award and post-award budgeting, submissions, and effort reporting
  • Payroll and FSR preparation and closeouts
• Target, attain, and maintain Dashboard compliance criteria and measures in the “excellent range,” including:
  • Timely submission of FSRs
  • Minimizing the number of transactions over 90+ days for payroll and non-payroll cost transfers
  • Timely certification of effort forms
  • Minimizing deficit balances, unbilled revenue, and open receivables
• Proactively identify funding gaps and/or budget variances and develop corrective action plans to minimize cost overruns and small balance transfers.
• Identify opportunities and champion major initiatives for continuous improvement supporting internal controls and financial reporting processes.
• Develop, in collaboration with partner departments, the annual fiscal year sponsored budget; oversee sponsored budget planning and preparation for department stakeholders.
• Implement and manage internal audits in the sponsor space based on random samplings; identify areas of risk/non-compliance and recommend internal process adjustments.
• Act as a point of contact with departmental faculty, departmental leadership, and/or grants/financial staff regarding planning, management, and execution to optimize sponsored funding.
• Ensure compliance across grant and contract management, including sponsor organization guidelines, internal protocols, accurate protocol information within grant documents, conflicts of interest, etc.
• Provide relevant updates and routine reporting to departmental and School of Medicine leadership as required.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of post-award responsibilities, including:
  • Budget distribution, account reconciliation, payroll allocation, and effort reporting
  • Cost transfers and preparation/paying of invoices
  • Correct SAP set-ups, including sponsor, start/end dates, and F&A rates
• Ensure high- and low-risk sub-awards are administered timely and compliantly; perform routine audit of high-risk sub-award documentation requirements as required.
• Provide ongoing guidance, facilitation, and expertise to faculty, clinical and basic science departmental staff, and RMS staff related to sponsored and non-sponsored research funding.
• Lead recommendations and actions on sponsored budget adjustments or cost improvement measures in partner departments; identify risk to the research mission.

Faculty lifecycle support and partnership operations

• Assist new faculty with onboarding/start-up, including movement from former institution, orientation to RMS and ORA policies, procedures, and requirements.
• Assist departing faculty with off-boarding, including movement to their new institution, equipment transfer, relinquishment, and closeout of projects.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to develop, update, and operationalize Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with department operational stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Office of Research Administration (ORA) to ensure timely processing of agreements through the central approval process.
• Collaborate with Sponsored Projects Shared Services (SPSS) to ensure timely processing of account set-ups, modifications, and closeouts.
• Collaborate with the Office of Internal Audits (OIA) to resolve outstanding audit action items and implement internal controls to prevent future findings.
• Maintain a strong focus on customer service, timely and appropriate communication, and meeting deadlines.

Administrative operations and people leadership

• Direct/indirectly manage a large team of grants and contracts professionals (between 40–65 positions).
• Manage staff by overseeing recruiting practices, onboarding/orientation, training, professional development, workflow, performance management, and maintaining an inclusive, innovative, and diverse work environment.
• Oversee staff training by developing procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness and implement best practices; ensure skills and competencies address changing technology and changing needs.
• Oversee staffing and personnel management plans in a multi-departmental matrix environment, including employment and compensation issues, performance management, disciplinary actions, and salary planning.

Lean operations

• Implement LEAN techniques through continuous refinements to improve efficiencies and productivity within RMS to ensure value-add services.
• Support initial onboarding and ongoing training of the RMS team.
• Manage current rate agreements and seek revisions and/or updates.
• Manage onboarding and scaling of resources, including implementation plans with new departments (customers) for centrally managed sponsored research.

Additional expectations

• Deliver strong written and verbal communication and excellent presentation skills.
• Complete special assignments, reports, and projects with high accuracy and on-time delivery.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive department and School information appropriately.
• Communicate tactfully and diplomatically with staff, students, faculty, and external partners.
• Apply strong critical thinking and methodical decision-making based on industry experience in research administration.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business or a related field is required.
• Eight years of progressively responsible finance or relevant experience.
• Proven record of effective leadership and ability to navigate complex issues and drive strong performance results.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree, preferably in Business or a directly relevant field.
• Five or more years of related experience in a medical school or academic medical center.
• Demonstrated knowledge of All Funds and sponsored funding impacts.
• John Hopkins University SAP accounting and financial systems preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

• Starting Salary Range: $114,595 - $200,795 Annually ($190,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
• FLSA Status: Exempt

Location

• Remote

Schedule

• Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5.00pm

Classification

• Classified Title: Director, SOM RMS Community
• Role/Level/Range: L/04/LG
• Employee group: Full Time
• Department name: SOM Admin Finance Research Operations
• Personnel area: School of Medicine