Northwestern University · 2 days ago
Administrative Director
Evanston, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$85K/yr - $100K/yr
5+ years expNorthwestern University is home to the Global Poverty Research Lab (GPRL), a research center dedicated to addressing global poverty through field-based research. The Administrative Director will manage and coordinate GPRL’s financial, operational, and administrative functions, ensuring the efficient execution of research projects and collaboration across university units.
EdTechEducationTrainingUniversities
Responsibilities
Manages and implements strategic operation plans
Develop and implement operational systems, policies, and procedures to strengthen GPRL’s administrative infrastructure
Identify and implement process improvements that enhance operational efficiency and compliance
Reviews plans, meets with leadership & key faculty & staff, & recommends changes & improvements to administrative operations to better meet organizational needs & objectives
Coordinate cross-functional planning processes to support the Lab’s research expansion, facilities planning, and resource allocation
Contribute to short- and long-term operational planning in collaboration with the Senior Director, PI Directors and the research management team
Serves a primary role in the development & implementation of annual budget including fiscal resource allocation of appropriated, discretionary, endowment & gift revenues
Leads the annual budget development process for both operational and research activities
Ensures adherence to university financial policies and sponsor regulations, maintaining strong internal controls
Typically involved in the budget management of numerous research grants
Monitors, reconciles, and projects expenses across multiple accounts, including sponsored research grants, gift accounts, and core GPRL funds
Responsible for payroll, purchasing, travel & entertainment (T&E) transactions & requesting new chartstrings using NU protocol
Oversees reconciliation and reporting using NU Financials and Cognos, ensuring timely and accurate processing
Oversees payroll for research appointments
Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary & appropriate
Prepares budget analyses and reports to inform strategic decision-making
Negotiates with vendors for purchases and leases
Manages vendor relationships, purchasing, and contract payments; reviews and approves financial transactions
Oversees &/or completes pre- & post-award research administration
Supports pre-award and post-award administration for complex, multi-partner research grants (federal, foundation, and international sponsor portfolios)
Coordinates with the Office for Sponsored Research to ensure timely submission of proposals and reports
Supports the development of new funding proposals by assisting with budgeting and documentation
Utilizes established systems (effort reporting, direct cost charging/SDA, & financial reporting) to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations
Maintains records of active and pending awards and track deliverables and compliance obligations
Interacts with Principal Investigators (PIs) to build relationships, transfer knowledge & advise on research policies & procedures
Liaises with Principal Investigators and Research Managers to ensure expenditures align with project budgets and funder requirements
Provides appropriate training for staff & PIs
Monitors area facilities conditions & directs requests to Facilities Management using FAMIS
Oversees day-to-day administrative and operational needs of the lab, including facilities coordination, space planning, and equipment management
Works with management to assign staff &/or faculty space including appropriate FM refresh/renovation & furniture purchase
Maintains accurate records of office and research space usage, ensuring efficient allocation and use of resources
Supports development and communication of department safety plans and ensures compliance with university safety standards
Acts as a liaison to IT to ensure technology systems are properly installed & maintained & meet the informational, analytical & computing needs of users
Serves as the primary liaison to Northwestern IT to ensure that GPRL’s technology systems, databases, and platforms are properly maintained and meet the research and administrative needs of the lab
Ensures necessary hardware, software & network infrastructure services are appropriated from central or internal IT
Ensures that technology infrastructure and platforms support the lab’s research, data management, and administrative needs in a secure, compliant, and efficient manner
Oversees hardware, software, and licensing needs, ensuring compliance with university and sponsor data security requirements
Manages requests for system updates, troubleshooting, and user access in coordination with central IT and data security offices
Supports the integration of technology tools that enhance operational efficiency, such as project tracking, data collection, and collaboration systems
Manages implementation of all safety, security & compliance programs & ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, local & NU laws, regulations, policies & procedures
Ensures compliance with university and sponsor policies on procurement, data management, and travel
Maintains awareness of university risk management standards and ensures lab operations meet safety and security requirements
Develops innovative methods to assist faculty & staff with adherence to grantor compliance programs
Collaborates with central compliance offices to uphold research integrity and adherence to grantor regulations
Maintains documentation of compliance processes and participates in internal or sponsor audits as required
Supervises 2 or more staff &/or provide work direction to others
Provides direction to or coordinate administrative effort of staff within or outside of immediate dept or division
Performs other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as business, accounting or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience
5 years' administrative experience including budgets, finance, grants, facilities, &/or human resources; or other relevant experience
Proficiency in financial systems and reporting; ability to build collaborative relationships; commitment to diversity and inclusion; adaptability and resourcefulness
Demonstrated ability to manage complex budgets and multi-faceted projects
Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills
Proven ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment
Preferred
Experience in research administration or university operations
Familiarity with Northwestern University's financial and administrative systems
Experience working with international teams or projects
Benefits
Meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans
Retirement benefits
Tuition discounts
Comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities
Flexible work arrangements
Programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care
Employee career development
Company
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university that offers academic programs across various fields of study. It is a sub-organization of Northwestern Athletics.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Northwestern University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (325)
2024 (308)
2023 (280)
2022 (282)
2021 (184)
2020 (155)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$98.02MKey Investors
National Peanut BoardAdvanced Research Projects Agency for HealthGRAMMY Museum
2024-10-30Grant
2024-10-04Grant· $34M
2023-11-28Grant· $0.02M
Leadership Team
Diego Klabjan
Professor
Henry Bienen
Interim President
Recent News
2026-01-11
Digital Journal
2026-01-11
2026-01-09
Company data provided by crunchbase