Senior Manager, Research Funding

Senior Manager, Research Funding

The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.

The mission of the Administration team is to enable the people and science of the Allen Institute. We connect teams, steward resources, and build strong systems that give our accelerators the stability and flexibility to pursue ambitious questions, collaborate across disciplines, and share their work openly.

The Allen Institute is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Manager, Pre & Post Award Finance to oversee the Institute’s financial compliance and effective management of its externally funded portfolio of federal awards and private gifts. The role will drive alignment with the team, and across Principal Investigators (PIs) and Project Managers (PM’s) by building consistent processes, reducing manual and out of system reliance, and strengthening communication. Success in this role will require strong collaboration with the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR), Accounting, Accounts Payable, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Procurement and the ERP Systems team to develop efficient and scalable processes.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Finance, this role owns pre-award budgeting and post-award financial management for all externally funded projects. Responsibilities include sponsored research financial analysis, forecasting, effort tracking, cash drawdowns, and invoicing. The Senior Manager will also partner with Accounting to transition month-end close activities from Pre & Post Award Finance to Accounting. Across this work, the team provides PIs with financial insight and guidance to manage and forecast spend on externally funded projects.

The Senior Manager leads and supports a team of experienced financial analysts overseeing approximately $100M in external funding, primarily NIH grants and a growing portfolio of privately funded projects. The role requires strong people management and close coordination with OSR and Accounting.

We are looking for a proactive, solution-oriented leader who improves quality, compliance, and productivity to strengthen business results across the Allen Institute.

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone – and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.

We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Essential Functions

• Pre-Award Financial Strategy
  • Lead financial activities for externally funded research primarily supporting NIH grants and privately funded projects
  • Partner with PIs and PMs to develop forecasts, proposal budgets, justifications, and support submissions to funders
  • Strengthen integration with research teams so forecasting and budgeting reflect their project needs
• Post-Award Financial Management:
  • Oversee the financial management of awarded sponsored research projects, including grants and privately funding projects
  • Ensuring compliance and expenditure monitoring with respect to sponsor requirements and institute’s policies from setup through closeout
  • Lead disciplined financial reviews with PIs and PMs focused on project spend vs. budget, effort forecasting, risk mitigation, and discussing potential funding opportunities
  • Accountable for completion of monthly Payment Management System (PMS) cash drawdowns, subcontract invoicing, grant carryforward requests, Federal Financial Reports (FFR’s) and other required sponsor financial submissions
• Compliance and Risk Management:
  • Maintain strong financial controls and procedures consistent with sponsor requirements with a large focus on Uniform Guidance and curate training materials for employees working on sponsored projects
  • Monitor changes in NIH and Uniform Guidance regulations, translating these updates into actionable guidance for OSR, the broader finance team, and PIs/PMs
  • Support the annual financial and single audits, partnering with the Controller, Assistant Controller, and our audit firm
• Team Leadership:
  • Provide supportive leadership, management and mentorship to the Pre & Post Award Finance team, guiding and encouraging their professional development
  • Cultivate a collaborative and high-performance culture within the finance team, reflecting the values and objectives of our organization
  • Lead improvements to processes, tools, and the team’s scope of work, replacing manual tasks with automation so the team can focus on higher-value support for the business
  • Support large scale improvements within the ERP in the areas of award, contract, and project financial setup through closeout
  • Coordinate and prioritize work between the Pre & Post Award Finance team and OSR during periods of high submission volume to support successful submissions
  • Partner with FP&A to align the financial treatment of sponsored projects during the annual budget process and throughout the year
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Collaborate effectively with PMs, PIs, and external partners, offering strategic financial guidance and support, especially in the context of NIH and large privately funded projects
  • Cultivate partnerships with peer institutions to facilitate the exchange of best practices and establish a robust communication network
  • Build relationships with OSR and Sr. Management at the Allen Institute to strengthen the overall grant management process

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field
• 7+ years demonstrated experience managing federal grants/contracts with an emphasis on financial management, forecasting, and other analyses
• Strong understanding of uniform guidance and experience interpreting and providing guidance.
• Experience using grant financial system and/or grants management applications
• Prior experience supervising a team in the research administration or related field

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience with private foundation funding, requirements, and restrictions
• Familiarity with federal sponsor systems (Payment Management System (PMS), eRA Commons, and grants.gov,)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to prioritize, analyze and identify situations for a team of analysts
• Knowledge of principles and practices of nonprofit accounting
• Skilled in researching, analyzing, and evaluating complex financial data
• Ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner
• Detail-oriented with ability to analyze and communicate findings to stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to provide an elevated level of support when working with customers and peers
• Proficient in various computer applications including comprehensive databases and advanced spreadsheets
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and high ethical standards in all aspects of work
• Works well in a team environment with multiple deadlines

Physical Demands

• Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This role is currently able to work both remotely and onsite in a hybrid work environment. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for all Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.

Annualized Salary Range

• $159,200 - $218,900*
• * Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.

Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits.

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.?