Business Manager

Michigan Technological University; Calumet (MI); On-site; USD 91,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Technological University seeks an experienced Business Manager for the Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APSRC). You will lead the business side of APSRC, develop budgets, track metrics, and coordinate payroll, invoicing, and contracts.

The role includes training teams, ensuring policy compliance, and partnering with HR, SPO, SPA, and other campus units. You will mentor staff, drive process improvements, and manage end-to-end purchasing while supporting diverse stakeholders on

Qualifications

• Leadership experience directing a team toward aggressive goals.
• Experience leading and coaching direct reports.
• Experience building and following budgets.
• Ability to develop and interpret business metrics and KPIs.
• Experience in soft-funded business operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage APSRC business operations and financial metrics.
• Develop and implement training programs on communication and emotional intelligence.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and awards.
• Oversee payroll, invoicing, and expense allocations.
• Serve as liaison to operational units on campus (HR, SPA, FSO, etc.).
• Manage end-to-end purchasing lifecycle, vendor onboarding, and receiving.

Skills

Excel expert

Organizational skills

Communication

Professional development

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or equivalent

Tools

Concur

P-Card

Job description

Ensured Consideration Date: October 27, 2026

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area's waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

The Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APSRC) is organized into a matrix structure with vertical teams organized around technical areas of revenue generation, and horizontal teams organized around support function. Both the vertical and horizontal groups are staffed by Research Professionals. The Business Manager executes a variety of tasks (as described below) either in direct alignment with the customer (when in a vertically oriented group), or in a supporting role (when in a horizontally oriented group).

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

1. 1. Manage the business side of APSRC. Including but not limited to, initially develop, then track and interpret business metrics, on a monthly basis, including revenue and expenses, acceptance rate on submitted quotes or proposals, potential revenue from contract projections, KPI's, and any other business metrics that will help the business manager provide informed advisement to the director, promoting robust financial decisions.
2. 2. Create, implement, and facilitate training programs focused on communication, emotional intelligence and conflict resolution.
3. 3. Ensure compliance with awards and university policies and procedures.
4. 4. Manage all standard work within the business operations group including but not limited to payroll functions, index transfers and balancing, expense allocations, Concur reimbursements, P-Card reallocations, invoicing, etc.
5. 5. Serve as the primary Institute liaison to operational units on main campus (e.g. HR, SPO, SPA, FSO, etc.).
6. 6. Manage all aspects of the end-to-end purchasing lifecycle, including PR/PO processing, contractor agreements, invoice payments, vendor onboarding, receiving, and order returns.
7. 7. Manage all HR related functions within the institute including accurate completion and timely submission of operational MTU HR processes, including onboarding, employee status change requests, and personnel requests, along with managing ASPIRE data.
8. 8. Pre Contract Award: budget review, proposal review, ACM quotes, Cayuse, contract negotiations.
9. 9. Post Contract Award: Interpret rules, review terms and conditions, agency reporting, budget modifications, PI changes, audits, closeout, etc.
10. 10. Event planning for customers and APSRC staff.
11. 11. Business project management.
12. 12. Attend conferences and tradeshows as necessary.
13. 13. Provide exceptional customer service internally within APS, outside of APS but internally within MTU, and to others outside of MTU.
14. 14. Other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• Bachelor's Degree
• Master of Business Administration or equivalent advanced degree

Required Experience

• A career of leadership directing a team in achieving aggressive goals and objectives.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and coaching direct reports.
• Experience leading business operations, and development of policies and procedures to reduce waste.
• Experience creating and interpreting business metrics and KPI's.
• Experience developing and following budgets.
• Experience managing business operations, including the experience listed above, in a soft-funded business unit.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Possession of relevant professional credentials, such as HR certifications, accounting certifications, project management certifications, advanced management or leadership certifications, sponsored programs certifications, or business administration designations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Expert-level MS Excel skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to establish a plan to address non-technical issues.
• Excellent written communication including utilization of software tools PowerPoint and MS Word.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills, the ability to communicate effectively in tense situations and select situationally dependent communications styles.
• Hunger to learn and grow: strong commitment to continuous professional development.
• A strong professional curiosity along with an eagerness to try new things and find creative solutions to new problems.
• Valuing different perspectives and seeking stakeholder input, skilled at listening, and giving credit.
• Strong proficiency in the APS LABS core competencies; Humble, Hungry, and EQ.
• Skilled at motivating and elevating others.
• Strong experience in developing and growing their team members.
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours on occasion, when needed.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently without daily interaction with direct supervisor.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with groups of students, faculty, and staff.
• US citizenship.
• Ability to work on at least CUI level projects.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate but can be high for short periods of time in the shop. Hearing protection is provided when noise levels are high.
• The employee may occasionally be required to travel.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

• Employee Safety Overview
• Annual Data Security Training
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Additional training may be required by the department on a periodic basis.

Background Check: Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

1

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Title of Position Supervisor

Executive Director

Posting Type

Internal & External

Dependent on Funding

Yes

Pay Rate/Salary

The salary range for this position is $91,000 - $115,000. However, the final salary will depend on experience and qualifications.

Other Conditions of Employment:

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.