Director, Administration and Finance - Facilities Services - UTK

University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 130,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Tennessee, Knoxville is seeking a Director of Administration and Finance to lead Finance, Procurement, Warehousing, and Human Resources within Facilities Services. The role drives budget development, strategic planning, staffing, and organizational effectiveness to ensure efficiency and compliance across three subunits.

The position oversees accounts payable/receivable, contracts, payroll, and post-award oversight of sponsored programs, with a focus on cost-effective operations and

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight (8) years of managerial and business-related experience.
• At least five years in a supervisory role.
• In lieu of a degree, twelve years of progressively responsible experience with at least six years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Strong communication and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Sets mission and develops strategies with the Executive Director.
• Develops goals and objectives for the unit.
• Oversees financial operations, including accounts payable/receivable and payroll.
• Oversees procurement, receiving, and inventory control, and HR functions.
• Ensures compliance with fiscal policies and procedures and facilitates process improvement.
• Leads staff supervision and performance management.

Skills

Financial management

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Accounting software

Job description

Job Description

The Director of Administration and Finance leads and manages all financial, procurement, warehousing, and human resources functions within the Facilities Services (FS) Department—the largest nonacademic unit at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This position is responsible for the strategic planning, development, implementation, and oversight of the department’s budget, business operations, staffing, and organizational effectiveness. Key responsibilities include financial oversight; procurement, receiving, and inventory control; and comprehensive human resources management including talent acquisition and employee engagement. These core functions are carried out through three distinct subunits—Business Services, Central Supply and Warehouse, and Facilities Services Human Resources—each led by a Manager who reports directly to the Director. The Director reports to the Executive Director of Administration, Facilities Services and serves as a member of the department’s leadership team, providing operational and strategic guidance across the department to ensure efficiency, compliance, and service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Works with Executive Director and the Associate Vice Chancellor of FS Department to set mission and develop strategies.
• Develops goals and objectives for the unit based on the mission and strategies and ensures that work activities of each unit support the strategies and mission.
• Convenes meetings and events to set agenda, priorities, and progress work activities.
• Develops and facilitates working group sessions as necessary to ensure mission goals and objectives are being met.
• Reviews status and outcomes with Executive Director to ensure progress is accomplished and identifies ways to improve.
• Ensures the most effective operations of the department through status and outcome reviews, process improvement, and coordination/integration of processes with other departments.
• Participates on departmental and/or interdepartmental committees to address problems and facilitate information exchange about programs, problems, etc. Provides information to others to explain/clarify problems, issues or requests.
• Develops, implements, executes, progresses, and manages the state allocated E&G budget and WBse Restricted Accounts budgets for the FS Department.
• Oversees financial operations of the Business Services Office to include accounts payables, accounts receivables, contracts, account reconciliations, and payroll.
• Provides oversight of expenditures and/or obligations of financial resources of the FS Department, including post award oversight of sponsored research programs and grants to ensure compliance with appropriate fiscal policies and procedures.
• Serves as the departmental central point of contact for fiscal and budgetary inquiries providing the communication link for fiscal matters on behalf of the FS Department Associate Vice Chancellor.
• Oversees the Central Supply Office and Warehouse procurement activities and warehousing functions for the FS Department providing direction and guidance as needed to ensure the most effective warehousing operations and most cost effective/ efficient procurement strategies.
• Oversees the FS Human Resources Office providing direction and guidance as needed to ensure compliance with University HR policies and procedures, State Labor Laws, and to ensure a skilled and highly qualified workforce is available to meet the needs and support the mission of the University.
• Directs administrative implementation of fiscal and personnel policies and procedures.
• Provides FS Departmental Unit Directors and FS Departmental Staff guidance and direction on fiscal, procurement, and HR related matters as necessary.
• Performs personnel management duties to include manpower planning, interviewing, hiring, and performance management actions for unit and FS Departmental staff.
• Has full supervisory and performance management responsibility and oversight for unit staff including performance awards recommendations or disciplinary actions.
• Directly supervises subunit Managers and is responsible for staff performance management of these employees in all aspects of employee performance management including work tasking, leave approval, training, performance review, evaluation and recommendations for performance awards.
• Oversees the management of HR records including applicant search files and FS Department Human Resources Personnel files.
• Defines the qualifications and performance expectations for all staff positions.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business or other related field such as finance, accounting, management, etc.
• Experience: Minimum of eight (8) years of combined managerial and business-related experience (e.g., accounting, business management, finance), including at least five years in a supervisory role. In lieu of a degree, twelve years of progressively responsible experience in a business-related field, including at least six years in a supervisory or managerial role, may be considered.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Ability to research and analyze information and make appropriate recommendations and projections.
• Ability to make clear, concise presentations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Good organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to deal with multiple priorities.
• Ability to work cooperatively and jointly in a challenging and fast-paced environment.
• Computer literacy, including expertise with Microsoft Office suite and standard accounting software applications.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Work Location

• University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN Campus
• This is an on-site position

Compensation And Benefits

• UT market range: MR17
• Anticipated hiring range: $130,000 - $135,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

About The College/Department/Division

UT Facilities Services is responsible for the care and keeping of more than 300 facilities and utilities systems in and around Knoxville. As the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s largest non-academic department, team members are responsible for facilities maintenance and repair, custodial needs, landscaping and lawncare, utility work, in-house and capital construction projects, facilities planning and design, environmental initiatives, pest control, campus event services, and facilities administration functions for both the flagship campus and the agricultural institute. The Facilities Services staff provides around-the-clock coverage to ensure students, staff, faculty, and fans have a consistent and positive experience every time they step foot on Rocky Top.

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land‑grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land‑grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America’s Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.