Award Specialist

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard's Financial Administration Department (FAD) is responsible for the stewardship of the University’s finances, including related business processes and technology in support of the teaching and research mission of the University. The Office for Sponsored Programs (OSP) is a department within FAD that manages a diverse portfolio of federal, foundation, international, and industry sponsors; we provide lifecycle sponsored programs support and partner with schools, departments, and centers across the University to facilitate proposal submission, award acceptance and administration, and all sponsored financial reporting and invoicing throughout the life of the award. 

More about FAD:  
Within and across the University, we aim to be exemplary colleagues, trusted partners, valued advisors, and agents of positive change.  
 
Within our own community, we aspire to:  

• Engage with respect, honesty, and integrity   
• Cultivate equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging   
• Welcome innovation, collaboration, and flexibility   
• Enjoy our work, grow professionally, and aim for the extraordinary 

Learn more about Financial Administration (harvard.edu) and our eight reporting units. (https://finance.harvard.edu/) 

Job Description

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Manager of Award Operations, the Award Specialist independently serves as a subject matter expert and institutional resource for complex sponsored award management. This role exercises independent judgment in the interpretation of sponsor terms and conditions, determination of appropriate award structures, and resolution of non-routine and high-impact issues. The Award Specialist plays a key role in ensuring institutional compliance, mitigating risk, and advancing strategic improvements to the award management processes and systems across the university. 

• Lead the institutional review, interpretation, and acceptance of complex sponsored award notices, including resolving ambiguous or conflicting sponsor terms and determining appropriate award setup structures in alignment with university policy and risk considerations. Act as a primary point of contact and problem solver for a broad range of GMAS issues across the award lifecycle, providing guidance and decision-making support across OSP and the university more broadly.   

• Exercise independent judgment in evaluating non-standard or high-risk award scenarios, advising stakeholders on operational, compliance, and system implications, and determining appropriate courses of action.