Application Guide
How to Apply for Associate Director of Finance & Operations
at AidData
🏢 About AidData
AidData is a research lab at William & Mary that makes development finance more transparent and accountable through geospatial data and analysis. As a unique bridge between academia and international development practice, AidData offers the opportunity to work on globally impactful projects while being embedded in a university environment. This position allows you to contribute to evidence-based policy making while managing the operational backbone of an influential research organization.
About This Role
As Associate Director of Finance & Operations at AidData, you'll serve as the operational leader overseeing all financial, HR, and administrative functions for the entire organization. This role is pivotal in ensuring the research lab's sustainability and effectiveness by managing budgets, supervising operational staff, and coordinating with campus units. Your work directly enables AidData's mission by creating the stable foundation needed for groundbreaking development research.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might start with reviewing grant budgets and expenditure reports, then meeting with research team leads to understand their operational needs. You'd spend midday coordinating with William & Mary's HR department about staff appointments, followed by developing new operational procedures to improve efficiency. The afternoon could involve supervising your operations team and preparing financial reports for the Executive Director, ensuring AidData's research activities have the solid operational foundation they need.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who AidData Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years of experience managing complex budgets in a research or academic environment, with specific knowledge of grant management and university financial systems
- Demonstrates proven success in leading cross-functional teams in an organization that bridges research and practical application
- Possesses experience developing operational policies and procedures for a growing research organization or academic center
- Has managed HR functions in a university setting, understanding academic appointment processes and research staff management
📝 Tips for Applying to AidData
Highlight specific experience with research administration in higher education, particularly managing grants and contracts for research projects
Demonstrate understanding of how operational excellence supports research impact by connecting your past work to research outcomes
Show familiarity with university financial systems and processes by mentioning specific systems you've used (like Banner, Workday, or similar)
Include examples of coordinating with multiple campus units (like sponsored programs, HR, facilities) in previous roles
Quantify your team leadership experience with research or academic staff, not just general management experience
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your experience managing finances for research organizations or academic centers, specifically how you've supported research through operational excellence", 'Examples of developing and implementing policies that improved efficiency in a university or research environment', 'Your approach to supervising staff in a research setting where priorities may shift based on project needs', "How you've successfully coordinated with multiple campus units to achieve organizational goals"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review AidData's current research projects and publications to understand their funding sources and operational scale
- → Study William & Mary's organizational structure and how research centers interface with central administration
- → Look into AidData's partnerships with development organizations to understand their operational complexity
- → Research the specific challenges of managing operations for a university-based research lab versus a corporate setting
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on corporate finance experience without connecting it to research administration or academic settings
- Generic management examples that don't address the specific challenges of supervising research staff
- Failing to demonstrate understanding of how university systems and processes differ from corporate environments
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!