Business Operations Manager

Montana State University; Virginia (MN); On-site; Full time

Job summary

Montana State University is seeking a Business Operations Manager for the Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology department. This role involves managing office operations, supporting faculty, and serving as the first contact for hiring and payroll. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational and communication skills, as well as experience in administrative support. Join a dynamic team dedicated to excellence in academics and research.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus progressively responsible administrative work experience.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates hiring processes and faculty performance reviews.
• Manages office property and space scheduling.
• Oversees recruitment processes and onboarding.

Skills

Customer Service

Organization

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

The Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology ( PSPP ) Business Operations Manager manages the operations of the department offices and serves as the first contact for hiring, payroll processing and related problem resolution, works closely with the Department Head to provide service to undergraduate and graduate students, and provides general support to the PSPP and MSU Extension Department Head, faculty, and department affiliates as needed.

Position Number

Position Number 4M0003

Department

Division

Division College of Agriculture/MAES

Appointment Type

Appointment Type Classified

Contract Term

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA

FLSA Non-Exempt

Union Affiliation

Union Affiliation FOCUS-MFPE

FTE

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible

Salary $20.49 - $25.61 hourly, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type

Recruitment Type Open

General Statement

Welcome to the Montana State University College of Agriculture! Our blend of learning, discovery and outreach programs reflect our university’s Land Grant designation. Through a federal/state partnership with the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station ( MAES ) and Extension Service, we strive for excellence in academics, research and engagement. The department of Plant Sciences is searching for an energetic and motivated individual to perform business operations and administrative support activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Administrative Support

• Coordinates hiring processes and faculty performance reviews with the Department Head.
• Manages key meetings, including MAES presentations.
• Supports faculty retention, tenure, and promotion processes while maintaining review schedules.
• Serves as a communication link between PSPP and MSU Extension colleagues.

Office Management

• Helps oversee department operations, facilities, and electronic equipment functionality.
• Manages office property and space scheduling.
• Acts as Telephone Coordinator and FedEx Shipping Manager.
• Plans and coordinates department events.
• First point of contact for hiring, payroll, and problem resolution.
• Oversees recruitment processes, appointment changes, and faculty/staff onboarding.
• Assists employees with payroll submissions, deadlines, and troubleshooting.
• Communicates updates on policies, procedures, and performance evaluations.

Additional Responsibilities

• Provides backup support for student services operations.
• Maintains department web pages and publishes updates.
• Manages PSPP and MSU Extension social media presence.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree plus progressively responsible administrative work experience with an emphasis on customer service in a main office setting or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience.
• Demonstrated experience organizing and prioritizing multiple work assignments, meeting deadlines and exercising adaptability with a high degree of accuracy and close attention to detail, while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, with experience formatting professional documents.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated experience using human resources principles, practices, and techniques including hiring and payroll oversight.
• Administrative experience supporting or interfacing with executive-level personnel.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to articulate detailed information and policies and procedures, both verbally and in writing to a wide variety of constituents.
• Have the ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations and records appropriately.
• Possess the ability to troubleshoot problems and have candid conversations.
• Establish and maintain productive and positive working relations with coworkers, faculty, students, supervisors, and the public.
• Work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team.
• Ability to effectively liaison with associated MSU and MSU Extension Departments.
• Possess the ability and skill to interpret, implement and communicate new policies and procedures.
• Represent the College of Agriculture, MSU Extension, and MSU in a professional and courteous manner.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties?

This position has supervisory duties? No

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date

Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on May 13, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Required Documents

Resume

Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).