Finance and Operations Manager, AIM for Scale | Limited Term

The University of Notre Dame is more than a workplace! We are a vibrant, mission-driven community where every employee is valued and supported. Rooted in a tradition of excellence and inspired by our Catholic character, Notre Dame is committed to fostering an environment of care that nurtures the whole person-mind, body, and spirit. Here, you will find a deep sense of belonging, a culture that prioritizes well-being, and the opportunity to grow your career while being a force for good in the world. Whether contributing to world-class research, shaping the student experience, or supporting the University's mission in other ways, you will be part of a dedicated team working to make a meaningful impact on campus and beyond. At Notre Dame, your work matters, and so do you!

The Finance and Operations Manager (FOM) is a Limited Term (Ending August 2029) that plays a vital leadership role in managing the financial and administrative execution of the AIM for Scale externally funded portfolio. Working independently and in close partnership with the Lead Principal Investigator, the FOM oversees multiple concurrent, multi-country projects and subawards.

This position requires a high degree of independent judgment, deep expertise in sponsored research administration, and strong familiarity with University, Keough School, and Pulte Institute practices. The ideal candidate excels at navigating complex, ambiguous operational challenges, implementing proactive solutions, and managing key stakeholder relationships across global teams.

Reporting & Governance

• Primary Supervisor: AIM for Scale Senior Research Scientist
• Key Functional Partner: Pulte Institute Associate Director for Finance and Operations
• Primary Stakeholders: Lead Principal Investigator, Notre Dame Research (NDR), Research and Sponsored Program Accounting (RSPA), and global project leads/subawardees.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial & Grant Management: Oversee the day-to-day financial operations of the multi-country AIM for Scale research portfolio, ensuring compliance with university guidelines, sponsor requirements, and federal regulations across all projects and subawards.
• Strategic Planning & Resource Allocation: Contribute to operating plans, multi-million dollar grant budgeting, and resource-allocation decisions; perform ongoing financial modeling and forecasting to ensure optimal fund utilization.
• Problem Solving & Operational Execution: Identify complex, ill-defined operational or administrative bottlenecks, developing and executing strategic solutions with minimal supervision.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the primary administrative point of contact, building strong working relationships with internal partners (NDR, RSPA, Pulte Institute) and external subawardees, international partners, and funding agencies.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, International Development, or a related field preferred.

Experience: 3 to 4 years of progressive experience in research administration, grant management, or financial operations.

Key Competencies & Technical Skills:

• Grant & Subaward Lifecycle Management: Comprehensive, end-to-end knowledge of the sponsored project lifecycle, including budgeting, due diligence, agreement development, payment processing, financial reporting, compliance, and award closeout.
• Partner Agreement Oversight: Demonstrated track record of managing complex subawards, subcontracts, grants, or multi-partner institutional agreements.
• Financial & Quantitative Acumen: Strong quantitative capabilities with advanced proficiency in budget modeling, financial analysis, spreadsheets, and specialized grant-management systems.
• Organizational Leadership & Multitasking: Exceptional organizational skills and detail orientation, with a proven ability to manage multiple competing deadlines, partner networks, and complex agreements simultaneously.
• Communication & Advisory Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex administrative, institutional, and compliance requirements for non-finance colleagues and external global partners.
• Problem Solving & Institutional Navigation: Sound professional judgment and creative problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex institutional processes and keep high-stakes projects moving forward.
• Work Authorization: Must be authorized in the United States.

Compensation: Up to $80,000, commensurate with experience

This position will be accepting applications until November 20, 2026.

This position requires work authorization in the United States without Visa Sponsorship.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.