Business Manager - AWRI

Grand Valley State University; Allendale Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision plan

Dental plan

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Sick leave

Tuition waiver

Adoption resources

Wellness coaching

Campus fitness facilities

Family and child-care options

Job summary

Grand Valley State University seeks a Business Manager for AWRI to oversee the Institute's financial operations, develop long-term financial plans, and ensure alignment with strategic priorities. This role partners with AWRI leadership and university offices to manage budgets, contracts, grants, and reporting.

You will help drive operational excellence across AWRI, including endowment administration, procurement, and staff contract management, contributing to sustainable growth and program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, or related field.
• Three (3+) years' experience in the accounting or finance field.
• Strong experience in financial management with spreadsheets and databases.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement long-term financial plans for AWRI to ensure sustainability.
• Develop and implement operational processes that integrate with University departments.
• Manage a diverse funding model of contributed and earned revenues.
• Institute budget development and management and endowment reporting.
• Grant budget development, management, reporting, and compliance.
• Contract development, execution, and invoicing; process purchase orders and invoices.
• Coordinate expense card reconciliation and staff hiring/contract management.
• Prepare monthly financial reports for the Executive Director.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial management

Contract management

Grant management

Analytical skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, or related field

Tools

Workday

Job description

Business Manager - AWRI

Muskegon, MI

Full Time

R104925

Summary

This position is responsible for the financialoperations of the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI)and provides strategic input as a member of the AWRI administrativeteam. The role involves developing and implementing systems,protocols, and procedures to ensure that financial planning alignswith strategic objectives and priorities. Areas of responsibilityinclude budget development, execution, and compliance; purchasingreview; contract development, execution, and invoicing; and hiringand contract management of staff. This position includes closecollaboration with AWRI administrative staff and the ExecutiveDirector. As a key member of the administrative leadership team,this position plays a critical role in advancing the Institute'soperational excellence and long-term sustainability.

Salary/Benefits

Minimum starting salary of $60,720. Theuniversity offers an excellentcomprehensive package that includes health/vision/dentalplans, life insurance, retirement, sick/leave disability, tuitionwaiver, adoption resources, wellness coaching, and free access tocampus fitness facilities, effective on date of hire. Family andchild-care options on and off-campus are also available.

Primary Duties

• Develop and implement long-term financial plans for theInstitute to ensure financial sustainability.
• Develop and implement operational processes for the Institutethat integrate with other University departments, including theOffice of Sponsored Programs, Business and Finance Office, andHuman Resources
• Manage a diverse funding model of contributed and earnedrevenues
• Institutional budget development and management
• Endowment and gift management, accounting, and reporting
• Grant budget development, management, reporting, andcompliance
• Contract development, execution, and invoicing
• Process purchase orders, online invoices, and requisitions
• AWRI cost center assistant review of all expense reimbursement,purchasing, etc.
• Coordinate expense card reconciliation
• Manage hiring and contract management of staff
• Prepare monthly financial reports for the ExecutiveDirector
• Performs other duties as required/assigned by leadership

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, orrelated field.
• Three (3+) years' experience in the accounting or financefield.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with acollaborative and innovative team.
• Strong experience in financial management in environments usingspreadsheet and database applications.
• Evidence of strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Evidence of ability to work independently as well as withothers.
• Strong cultural competence, collaboration, and interpersonalskills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates high standards of work quality and integrity.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Federal and/or State grants management experience.
• Audit experience.
• Grant Management Certification (examples: CGFM, CGMS,Management Concepts Grant Management Certification, GPC, CRA,SRA).
• Certified Public Accounting credentials.
• University-based finance experience.
• Contract management experience.
• Experience using Workday.

Department

The Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) is aworld-class research facility situated on Muskegon Lake inMuskegon, MI, on the shores of Lake Michigan. The institute housesa dozen faculty, numerous research staff, and a robust graduateprogram. Located 30 miles from the main Grand Valley StateUniversity campus, AWRI maintains state-of-the-art analytical andmolecular laboratories, a mesocosm facility, and two researchvessels. Please visit the AWRI website (www.gvsu.edu/wri) for moreinformation on our faculty, facilities, research programs, andeducational/outreach initiatives.

College

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the largest college at Grand Valley, offering over 50 bachelor degrees and a growing number of advanceddegrees in the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts andhumanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student-centered anddiverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and publiclife. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to equitable, inclusive, career-connected, and community-engagedliberal arts and sciences education. There are many opportunitiesfor collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of newfaculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster acommunity where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, andthrive together.

Campus/University

Grand Valley University (GVSU) is a public comprehensive institution located in West Michigan with campuses in Allendale, downtown Grand Rapids, and Holland, pluscenters in Detroit, Muskegon and Traverse City. The Universityattracts more than 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students withhigh quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities and has beennationally recognized for innovativeness and its contribution to students' social mobility. The greater Grand Rapids metropolitanarea has a population of around one million people, is affordable,and offers rich cultural amenities. Grand Valley is located withineasy driving distance of Chicago, Detroit, Lake Michigan beaches,and many other superb summer and winter recreational venues.Information can be found at Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu). Grand Valley is highly rated for safety, sustainability, and veteran andLGBTQ friendliness, and is committed to supporting employees andtheir families in work-life balance. The university seeks to create an inclusive and diverse environment for faculty and students whilepromoting enrichment of society through excellent teaching, activescholarship, and service. More information can be found at Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu).

Application Deadline

The review process will begin September 14, 2026. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University thereafter.

Disability Accommodations

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United Statesand must not require sponsorship now or in the future.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able toperform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physicalstamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. Requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skilland/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made toenable individuals with disabilities to perform the essentialfunctions. The information contained in this job description is forcompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended bythe ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Actof 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibitdiscrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will providereasonable accommodations to qualified individuals withdisabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/equalopportunity/. TDDCallers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or1-800-833-7833 (out of State). Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination/EqualOpportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunityfor protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.University policy extends protections to additionalidentities.