Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Executive Director, PILM

Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, or equivalent research experience
  • Minimum seven years in higher education administration or related fields
  • Experience in managing federally sponsored biomedical research programs
  • Familiarity with advanced research methods and regulatory frameworks
  • Proficiency in university financial planning and compliance
  • Strong organizational and communication skills
  • Ability to handle confidential information sensitively

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the chief administrative officer of the Institute
  • Partner closely with the Institute's Director and faculty
  • Ensure administrative strategies support scientific excellence
  • Integrate executive leadership in various administrative domains
  • Oversee planning for events and operational functions
  • Guide compliance with regulatory standards
  • Manage multiple complex projects independently

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work in a prestigious research institute
  • Engagement with cutting-edge research and scientific initiatives
  • Collaborative environment with leading experts
  • Support for professional development and networking
  • Potential for additional work flexibility and travel opportunities
Full Job Description
Posting Description
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory (PILM) , to serve as the Institute's chief administrative officer and strategic partner to the Director, partnering closely with the Director and faculty to ensure that administrative strategy enables scientific excellence and integrating executive leadership in research administration, facilities, events planning, operational planning, finance, and regulatory compliance.

The full job description is available, here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:06c1476e-985f-473d-84fe-53f72bd2eb9d

Job Requirements
REQUIRED : Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, or related scientific discipline, or equivalent experience conducting or directing federally sponsored biomedical or scientific research programs; a minimum of seven years of experience in higher education administration, finance, research, or regulatory administration; experience working within research programs involving advanced methods (e.g. animal models, viral vectors, genome editing, human subjects research) and associated federal regulatory frameworks; experience in a research-intensive university or laboratory environment; demonstrated expertise in federal (NIH) sponsored research and administration, including proposal budgets, cost principles, and compliance; experience with university financial planning, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting; strong organizational and communication skills; demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects independently; proficiency with Microsoft Office software; ability and willingness to travel occasionally, and work evening/weekend hours as needed (much less than 10%); and ability to handle confidential information with discretion. PREFERRED : Ph.D. in related field; familiarity with MIT systems such as SAP, CAC Connect, and Kuali Coeus; demonstrated ability to integrate federal sponsor requirements with university budgeting and planning processes; experience in balancing institutional financial planning with externally sponsored research administration; and a minimum of ten years of supervisory experience and proven track record of successfully managing complex, interdisciplinary teams.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit CV and a cover letter in their application materials. To ensure full consideration, applications should be submitted within four weeks of the posting date. All applications will be reviewed following the close of the application period.

9/18/2026

About Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". The university is known for its strong emphasis on scientific and technological research and its engineering programs. MIT was founded in 1861 and has a long history of innovation and entrepreneurship. The university has produced numerous Nobel laureates, Rhodes Scholars, and MacArthur Fellows.
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