Finance and Operations Manager

Position Overview

Blueprint Labs is hiring a Finance and Operations Manager based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. Blueprint Labs uses data, econometrics, and analytic tools to generate insights on the consequences of policy choices and improve society. Based in the Department of Economics at MIT, Blueprint Labs consists of academic faculty and affiliates who represent leading economic thinkers, full-time staff members, and graduate researchers. Blueprint Labs works closely with academic, government, and nonprofit institutions across the country to generate pioneering research that informs policy and practice in education, health care, and the workforce.

The Finance and Operations Manager supports the mission of Blueprint by combining a passion for evidenced-based policy making with solid administrative abilities. Under the supervision of the Senior Operations Manager, the Finance and Operations Manager serves as a financial and operational lead for a portfolio of work that also includes the Shaping the Future of Work Initiative and Policy Impacts, which are housed within Blueprint Labs. Tasks include a mix of financial operations, HR support, ensuring efficient operational processes, and leading organizational projects in the finance area.

The Finance and Operations Manager receives a full-time, one-year appointment that is renewable annually, contingent on funding, performance, and mutual agreement. This type of annual appointment structure is common in sponsored research environments. The estimated starting salary range for this role is $73,490 to $98,283 and is likely to fall in the bottom half of this range. The Finance and Operations Manager position includes standard MIT employee benefits. Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check. The position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Staff must work in the Cambridge, MA office at least 3 days per week.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Finance and Grant Management (70%)

• Maintain and streamline financial and grant management systems including budgeting, reporting, and compliance
• Coordinate grant and gift related financial activities; submit proposals to MIT and external systems; monitor proposal process and liaise with MIT grants administrators on negotiations and funding questions; manage grant reporting processes
• Manage invoicing, purchase orders, contract requests, and subawards; submit and approve reimbursements; effectively communicate with vendors and other stakeholders
• Set up new financial accounts and manage regular financial reporting and closeout; draft accurate financial projections
• Manage and track Blueprint Labs indirect expense underrecovery

Operations Management (30%)

• Streamline internal policies, assist with creation of new policies, and align policies across our Blueprint, Shaping Work, and Policy Impacts work streams
• Guide staff and faculty on MIT systems, processes, and policies to ensure compliance
• Assist with scheduling meetings and meeting logistics
• Manage office spaces; conduct supply orders
• Support transactional HR tasks such as maintaining budgets/salary distribution, approving timesheets, and assisting with quarterly salary review

Evening/night/weekend work may be required on occasion for specific purposes (i.e., grant application deadlines, events) and is rare.

Other duties as needed or required.

Supervision Received

The Finance and Operations Manager reports directly to the Senior Operations Manager, with some project assignments coming from the Executive Director and/or Director of Workforce. The Finance and Operations Manager takes ownership of tasks, exercises good judgment in knowing when to seek feedback, and shows initiative in contributing to processes. The Finance and Operations Manager is expected to see projects through from start to finish, communicating progress along the way, and will operate in an independent and autonomous research environment with weekly meetings with their manager.

Supervision Exercised

None

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years in a relevant field such as finance, HR, grant management, or academic administration required. 5 years of relevant experience preferred.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal skills; ability to build good relationships and work within a team; ability to communicate proactively and clearly with a broad range of stakeholders; is empowered to communicate compliance, legal, or financial concerns to teams or management.
• Time and Project Management: Proven ability to anticipate, plan, prioritize, and meet deadlines; demonstrated ability to efficiently organize and manage a variable volume of work. Implements strategies for managing multiple deadlines and communicates when this is not possible and/or seeks advice. Seeks to maximize efficiency through improved processes or tools.
• Attention to Detail: Strong ability to self-manage a time-sensitive workflow while maintaining high-quality output and accuracy with details; follows developed processes or established criteria to make decisions but has good judgment to make decisions when the situation is outside of already established processes. Is comfortable raising issues to management when the decision is not clear. Deals with confidential information and/or issues using discretion and judgment.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not possess every qualification and skill listed.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your application via MIT’s online job board. If this link does not work, visit https://jobs.mit.edu/external, search for job number 24606 and complete an application. Please include:

• Cover letter* (outline why you are interested in Blueprint Labs and why you are qualified for this role)
• Resume/CV

Incomplete applications will not be considered; please be sure to include both components (cover letter, resume). Please note that because this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship, candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for at least 2 years from the date of application.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Selected candidates can expect an initial Zoom video interview, a time-limited task to understand job specific skills, and a final interview with more members of the team. The recruitment process can last 2-3 months.

* Blueprint Labs values diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusivity in our work and the broader perspectives our staff bring. We encourage people of color, first generation college students/graduates, and other underrepresented groups to apply to this role. In your cover letter, please consider sharing how your racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic and/or other identity has influenced your desire to work at Blueprint. This is not required, but rather an opportunity for us to get to know you. For more information, read the MIT Economics Department’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.