Research Group Coordinator

Overview

Company Description Harvard University fosters a vibrant community that advances a world-changing mission, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. Harvard is dedicated to a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences? The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It houses Harvard's undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard's Ph.D. programs, the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Athletics, and the Division of Continuing Education. The FAS supports a community of ambitious scholarship across a broad range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines and aims to foster ambition, curiosity, and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description

Job Summary : The Research Group Coordinator provides specialized, high-level administrative support to faculty and research teams within Human Evolutionary Biology. The role manages financial transactions, operational coordination, and compliance tasks to support complex global research activities. Serving as the primary administrative liaison, the coordinator reduces the administrative burden on faculty, enabling a stronger focus on teaching and research. The coordinator operates independently, handling responsibilities including financial processing, vendor management, and international field research logistics.

Responsibilities

• Serves as principal administrative contact for faculty, researchers, and students in the lab on daily administrative activities including business operations, purchasing / procurement, shipping, compliance, and electronic document organizing.
• Provides information on applicable University policies and procedures (e.g., reimbursement deadlines, travel policy) to ensure compliance.
• Provides general administrative assistance to lab members (travel, conference registration, reimbursements, etc.).
• Assists with planning events such as lab retreats, seminars, and conferences; coordinates hosting of visitors / guests.
• May negotiate with vendors as needed.
• Uses Harvard financial systems to process transactions (purchasing supplies / equipment, travel reimbursements, invoice payments, corporate card, purchasing card).
• Manages transactional activities for internal and external vendors (including vendor setup).
• Supports lab-related functions, including material transfers, equipment inventory, asset tagging, and lab safety concerns.
• Coordinates scheduling and logistics for meetings (including catering when appropriate), visitors, tours, appointments, and travel.
• Participates in team meetings and trainings; provides back-up to other labs as needed.
• Accomplishes related duties and takes on new responsibilities in response to changing office needs; other duties as assigned.
• Reviews PI Dashboard, maintains financial documentation, provides information, research, statistics, and analysis. Makes decisions on expenditures and monitors toward a defined budget.
• Prepares appointments for incoming lab members (including paperwork for visa information data sheets) and may assist with onboarding and orienting new lab members (including liaising with IT for access, filesharing, and lab safety).

Working Conditions

Physical Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications :

Additional Qualifications and Skills

The ideal candidate embodies a growth mindset and is energized by collaborating across the department to support the academic and scientific research mission. They should be committed to being an engaged community member within HEB, contributing to a dynamic and supportive environment that fosters personal and collective growth.

Preferred Qualifications :

Other Information

Work Format Details

This position is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options. Further details will be discussed during the interview process. Remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location; work location sponsorship requirements apply.

Salary and Benefits

This position is salary grade level 054. For the salary range and related information, please see Harvard's Salary Ranges.

EEO / Non-Discrimination Commitment

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes. Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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