Researcher Affairs Specialist (2-year term)

Job Summary: The Researcher Affairs Specialist administers a portfolio of researcher appointments and serves as a primary resource for faculty, principal investigators, departments, research centers, and researchers throughout the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). The position is responsible for managing researcher appointments throughout the employee lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, appointment changes, visa coordination, payroll-related transactions, compliance monitoring, and issue resolution.  Working in partnership with University administrative offices, the Researcher Affairs Specialist ensures researcher personnel actions are processed accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with University policies, collective bargaining agreements, immigration regulations, and applicable federal and state employment laws. The position requires exceptional organizational skills, sound judgment, attention to detail, and a strong customer service orientation while supporting a diverse and complex research community.  Job-Specific Responsibilities: Researcher Appointment Administration   • Processes and manages all researcher appointment-related actions, including appointment, reappointments, salary changes, FTE changes, title changes, Reviews researcher appointments, reappointments, and promotions for compliance with FAS policies and appointment guidelines.    • Maintains researcher personnel records in accordance with FAS processes and policies.    • Tracks appointment end dates, reappointment dates, and review dates and communicates upcoming actions to departments.    Hiring and Onboarding   • Supports and coordinates researcher hiring processes, including appointment documentation and workflow processing.    • Coordinates visual compliance screening and visa initiation as appropriate.    • Initiates and monitors I-9 processing and employment eligibility requirements.    • Partners with multiple University offices to ensure timely onboarding and appointment completion.    Compliance and Visa Administration   • Initiate visa request with HIO and liaise with the Harvard International Office (HIO) regarding visa status, timelines, and researcher appointments.    • Monitors visa-related requirements and ensures compliance with University policies and applicable regulations in conjunction with HIO  • Ensures adherence to relevant union contracts and researcher appointment policies   Payroll and Transaction Processing  • Inputs and/or approves payroll and job data transactions for researchers.    • Coordinates with grant managers, payroll, and departmental administrators to ensure accurate and timely processing of complex transactions.    • Monitors appointment funding and payroll implications associated with researcher actions.    Consultation and Issue Resolution   • Serves as a primary point of contact for departments regarding researcher transactions and appointment questions.    • Advises faculty, principal investigators, and administrators on researcher appointment types, processes, and policy requirements.    • Triages researcher-related issues and directs stakeholders to appropriate resources (e.g., HR, HIO, OFA Professional Development, Leaves).    Stakeholder Support   • Responds to inquiries regarding researcher transactions, appointments, payroll, and policy interpretation. Builds effective working relationships with departments and University partners to facilitate efficient service delivery.  Decision Making  • Exercises independent judgment in administering researcher appointments, interpreting established policies and procedures, prioritizing workload, and resolving routine and moderately complex personnel issues. Identifies compliance concerns, recommends solutions, and escalates policy excep