Assistant Director of Financial Operations

New Jersey's academic health center, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences ( RBHS) takes an integrated approach to educating students, providing clinical care, and conducting research, all with the goal of improving human health. Aligned with Rutgers University-New Brunswick and collaborating university wide, RBHS includes eight schools, a behavioral health network, and six centers and institutes that focus on cancer treatment and research, neuroscience, clinical and translational research, advanced biotechnology and medicine, environmental and occupational health, and health care policy and aging research.

Our faculty are teachers, clinicians, and scientists with unparalleled experience who advance medical innovation and provide patient care informed by the latest research findings. We offer an outstanding education in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, biomedical research, and the full spectrum of allied health careers.

Our clinical and academic facilities are located throughout the state including New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark, Scotch Plains, Somerset, Blackwood, and other locations. Clinical partners include Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, University Hospital in Newark, and other affiliates.

Through this community of healers, scientists, and scholars, Rutgers is equipped as never before to transform lives.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking an Assistant Director of Financial Operations for the Finance Office at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

The Assistant Director for Finance is a senior financial leader supporting the school's $600M budget. Reporting to the Director of Finance, this role oversees the full life cycle of sponsored research administration-including pre- and post-award, compliance, and reporting-for over 150 principal investigators managing $80M+ in grants. With direct oversight of a team of 10-15 staff, this role plays a vital part in advancing the school's goals by ensuring fiscal stewardship, operational excellence, and alignment with regulatory requirements.

This is a highly collaborative position that regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders, including:
* Central university research and finance offices
* Senior leadership within the school and across departments
* Campus-level administrative and compliance units
* External agencies including NIH officials and other federal sponsors

The Assistant Director serves as a subject matter expert on NIH and federal compliance and is responsible for interpreting and implementing complex sponsor guidelines. Errors in this role could lead to significant financial and reputational risks, including audit findings, loss of funding, and jeopardizing the institution's eligibility for future sponsored awards. As such, the position demands a high level of accuracy in budget development, financial reconciliation, and alignment with IRB and institutional policies.

The work directly impacts and integrates multiple units, such as departmental operations, research administration, HR (for effort reporting), legal (contracts), and academic affairs (faculty support and compliance). The Assistant Director fosters a culture of accountability and service, demonstrating the interconnected nature of sponsored programs to the broader institutional mission.

In addition to managing daily operations, this role is charged with driving process improvements, streamlining workflows, and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Through data-informed decision-making and a strong focus on operational efficiency, the Assistant Director plays a central role in strengthening research infrastructure, supporting faculty investigators, and sustaining the school's competitive edge in research funding.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university's broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, based on position, which includes:

For detailed information on benefits and eligibility, please visit: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.

This position requires a fully on-site work arrangement.