Operations Associate

Blueprint Labs is recruiting an Operations Associate based at MIT in Cambridge, MA. Blueprint Labs is a growing team of professionals devoted to using data and economics to generate insights to uncover the consequences of policy choices and improve society. Based in the Department of Economics at MIT, Blueprint Labs consists of over 18 academic affiliates who represent leading economic thinkers, ten full-time staff members, and six graduate researchers. Blueprint Labs works closely with leading academic, government, and nonprofit institutions across the country to generate pioneering research that informs policy and practice in education, health care, and the workforce.

We are seeking a motivated, independent, and organized Operations Associate to support operations work for the lab, working collaboratively with staff and faculty. The Operations Associate will receive a full-time, one-year appointment that is renewable annually (contingent on funding). The starting hourly pay range for this role $21.72-29.46, calculated based on experience.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions**):

Assistance to three Blueprint Faculty members (75% of time):

• Maintaining calendars and schedules
• Coordinating and organizing meetings and conference calls with both internal and external stakeholders, including scheduling, distributing agendas, note taking, maintaining confidential files
• Expense and procurement management, processing reimbursement requests
• Arranging travel
• Assisting with course, seminar, and event logistics
• Managing and supporting faculty committee assignments (e.g., advising, hiring, admissions)
• Preparing and maintaining confidential files and documents
• Creating and maintaining faculty websites
• Submitting letters of recommendation to graduate programs for students
• Anticipating and executing various support needs that may arise

General Support for Blueprint Labs (20% of time)

• Operations

• • Managing staff listservs and team calendar
  • Inventorying and ordering office supplies
  • Approving timecards for hourly employees
  • Processing of requisitions and invoices, establishment of service contracts and vendor relationships, and other financial transactions
  • Assisting with hiring and onboarding for students and staff, including student and temporary appointments
  • Collaborating with Operations Manager and Executive Director to strategically develop office solutions to make the office run smoothly and efficiently, including suggesting and submitting facilities requests

• Events and Communications

• • Coordinating complex events logistics following MIT event guidance including scheduling, updating event webpages, catering, arranging travel and accommodations for guests, and processing expenses
  • Updating event content on the Blueprint Labs website

• Research and Grants

• • Submitting proposals in accordance with MIT policies and systems (including KualiCoeus)
  • Coordinating IRB protocols and amendments for COUHES submission
  • Assisting with subaward set up and other pre/post award tasks

• Other general support tasks as assigned.

Assistance to one Blueprint Executive Director (5% of time):

• Maintaining calendars and schedules
• Expense and procurement management, processing reimbursement requests
• Anticipating and executing various support needs that may arise

Qualifications & Skills:

• Education: This position requires a high school diploma, with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience: 3 years’ experience of administrative, office, or related experience required.
• Work style: Attention to detail, ability to work on projects independently yet accept supervision, and total reliability is required.
• Enthusiasm for work, willingness to pitch in as needed, and a flexible approach to the working environment is essential.
• Time Management: Proven ability to handle several different projects/tasks at one time, successfully complete tasks assigned, and meet deadlines. Strong ability to anticipate, plan, prioritize and meet deadlines is essential.
• Software proficiency: Experience with computer applications and comfort learning new applications is required.

Supervision Received:

The Operations Associate reports to the Operations Manager, taking ownership of tasks and exercising good judgement in knowing when to ask for more direction from the supervisor, as well as showing initiative by actively seeking to improve process and taking on new projects.

Supervision Exercised:

None directly.

Applications should be submitted via the MIT hiring site. This is job #21368.

https://blueprintlabs.mit.edu/careers/operations-associate/