Business Manager

University of Missouri-Columbia; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Missouri-Columbia is seeking a Business Manager for the Department of Biochemistry. This role provides strategic leadership over administrative, financial, and human resources operations within a jointly administered department.

The position reports to the Department Chair and oversees two schools’ budgets, HR activities, and graduate program operations, ensuring compliance and operational excellence across SOM and CAFNR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent with 5+ years in business, financial, or administrative management.
• Higher education or academic medical center experience preferred.
• Familiarity with university financial and HR systems.

Responsibilities

• Direct two independent financial portfolios totaling about $7.4 million annually across SOM and CAFNR.
• Lead development, implementation, monitoring, and reconciliation of operating budgets for both schools (SOM ~$1.7M, CAFNR ~$3.7M).
• Analyze financial trends, forecast revenues/expenditures, identify risks, and advise on resource optimization.
• Coordinate HR activities: recruitment, onboarding, personnel actions, and policy compliance.
• Supervise five administrative staff and foster a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.
• Provide strategic guidance to the Department Chair and support cross-campus collaboration.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial management

HR administration

Staff supervision

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree (MBA/related)

Job description

Hiring Department

Department of Biochemistry

Job Description

Position Summary

The Business Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight of the administrative, financial, and human resources operations for the Department of Biochemistry, a jointly administered department within the School of Medicine (SOM) and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). The department is supported through two distinct administrative and financial structures and includes approximately 33 faculty members with joint appointments across multiple academic and research units.

Reporting directly to the Department Chair, the Business Manager serves as a key member of the departmental leadership team, ensuring effective stewardship of financial resources, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and human resource administration while supporting the department's academic, research, and educational missions.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Management & Budget Administration

• Direct the management of two independent financial portfolios, including operating, gift, endowment, and sponsored project accounts administered through both SOM and CAFNR, representing approximately $7.4 million in annual funding with significant year-to-year fluctuations.
• Lead the development, implementation, monitoring, and reconciliation of annual operating budgets for both schools, including approximately $1.7 million for SOM and $3.7 million for CAFNR.
• Analyze financial trends, forecast revenues and expenditures, identify potential risks, and recommend strategies to maximize available resources and improve operational efficiency.
• Prepare and present financial reports, projections, and analyses for department leadership, school administration, and university stakeholders to support strategic planning and informed decision-making.
• Review and approve departmental financial transactions, including expense reimbursements, requisitions, procurement activities, payment requests, journal entries, and other financial documents to ensure compliance with university, sponsor, and college policies.

• Strategic Operations & Department Administration

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve departmental business processes, policies, and procedures to enhance operational effectiveness while ensuring compliance with university, SOM, CAFNR, and external regulations.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Department Chair by providing operational and financial guidance to support departmental priorities, long-term planning, and organizational effectiveness.
• Collect, analyze, interpret, and communicate operational and financial data to faculty, leadership, and administrative partners to facilitate informed decision-making.
• Respond to requests for financial, operational, and personnel information from departmental, college, university, and system leadership.

• Research Administration Support

• Collaborate with campus administrative partners, including the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (OSPA), Office of Research, Bond Life Sciences Center, NextGen Precision Health, Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, and other research units to support faculty research operations.
• Coordinate administrative activities that support research faculty with joint appointments and laboratories located across multiple campus research facilities.

• Human Resources Administration

• Provide comprehensive oversight of departmental human resource activities, ensuring compliance with university policies and employment regulations.
• Review and approve personnel actions for appropriate funding, budget availability, policy compliance, and required approvals.
• Partner with SOM and CAFNR Human Resources staff to coordinate recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and personnel administration for faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, visiting scholars, graduate assistants, and student employees.
• Manage the administrative operations of the graduate program, including graduate assistant appointments, tuition waivers, fellowships, stipends, health insurance, and other student support activities.

• Leadership & Supervision

• Directly supervise five full-time administrative staff members, providing leadership in recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, performance management, employee development, and succession planning.
• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented work environment that emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
• Provide guidance and education to faculty, staff, and students regarding financial policies, human resource procedures, and university administrative processes.

• Scope and Impact

This position plays a critical leadership role in supporting the administrative infrastructure of a complex, jointly administered academic department. The Business Manager ensures effective stewardship of financial and human resources while balancing the unique policies, procedures, and reporting requirements of two colleges. Through strategic financial management, operational leadership, and cross-campus collaboration, this role enables the department to successfully achieve its teaching, research, and service missions.

Shift

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Public Administration, or a related field.
Years of Experience: Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in business, financial, or administrative management, preferably within a higher education, academic medical center, healthcare, or research environment.
Niche Professional Interests: Demonstrated knowledge of university financial and human resource systems, policies, and procedures, with experience navigating complex organizational structures.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Salary Range: $65,000 - $85,000 annually

Grade: GGS - 011

University Title: MGR III BUSINESS ADMIN

Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Application Materials

In addition to the Online Application, please provide Resume and cover letter.

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Community Information

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours\' drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County\'s largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.