Director, Business Operations

University of Delaware; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Delaware in Newark, DE, seeks a Director of Business Operations in the College of Health Sciences. You will lead strategic and tactical college operations, oversee budgeting and financial analysis, and ensure compliance across transactions.

Responsibilities include training staff, refining processes, and providing leadership insights to the Sr. Business Officer and Dean. A strong accounting/finance background and higher-ed experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with six years related experience.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of independent judgment, initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to demonstrate a high degree of confidentiality and discretion.
• Proficient knowledge in budget preparation, analysis and financial management.
• Experience in a higher education institution preferred.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Advanced proficiency with spreadsheet, database, word processing, and presentation software.
• Experience with UD financial system with report generation skills highly preferred.
• Ability to be flexible, work independently and have high accountability for a large volume of work.
• Ability to handle multiple assignments concurrently.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data and make independent decisions.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interact with people of diverse backgrounds, skills and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead College strategic and tactical business operations with analytics and process expertise.
• Design and implement improved methods for cross-college work and career paths in administrative functions.
• Provide training for College/department users in business operations and financial monitoring.
• Serve as CHS business approver for financial, HR, and administrative transactions to ensure policy compliance.
• Review and approve personnel actions, salary and compensation changes, purchasing, reimbursements, and other processes.
• Exercise independent judgment while maintaining internal controls and safeguarding resources.
• Develop materials and maintain the College Staff Resource page and MS Teams Channel.
• Participate in development of college vision and strategic planning activities.

Skills

Independent judgment

Discretion

Budget analysis

Financial management

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

Tools

Concur

UD Exchange

Job description

Job no: 503978
College / VP Area: College of Health Sciences
Work type: Staff
Location: Newark, DE
Categories: Administrative Support, Health Services

PAY GRADE: 32E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

Under limited direction of the Sr. Business Officer, the Director of Business Operations is responsible for the fiscal management and cross-organizational business operations in the college including implementation of University-wide central systems, processes and policies as well as oversight of college initiatives and strategies to improve business practice and organizational efficiency. Through financial/budgetary projections and analyses of actual activity, this position leads departments with strategy development and decision-making. This position serves as a key role in providing information on college-wide activity including strengths and challenges to the Sr. Business Officer and Dean to facilitate decision making and planning.

A high level of independent judgment, initiative and problem-solving skills, and the ability to demonstrate a high degree of confidentiality and discretion are required.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Operations

• Lead College strategic (long-term) and tactical (daily) efforts through support of the department/unit business operations including the provision of analytics and process expertise on a wide range of complex issues/problems surrounding the college enrollment, cost efficiencies, and financial and business systems.
• Design and implement improved methods for managing work across the entire college, establish cross-training and career paths within college administrative functions.
• Provide individual training for College and departmental users in all aspects of business operations and financial monitoring and reporting following UD guidelines.
• Serve as the CHS business approver for financial, human resources, and administrative transactions/Webforms, ensuring compliance with University policies, budgetary requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Review and approve personnel actions, salary and compensation changes, supplemental payments, purchasing and procurement transactions, reimbursements, and other business operations processes.
• Exercise independent judgment in evaluating requests, maintaining appropriate internal controls, and ensuring the accurate stewardship of institutional resources.
• Responsible for the development of material and creation/maintenance of the College Staff Resource webpage and MS Teams Channel (training documents, calendar of deliverables, policies documents, etc.)
• Participate in the development of college vision and strategic planning activities.

Budget and Planning

• Assist in the reporting and monitoring of the College and Departmental budget and expenses throughout-year to create financial projections, updates college leadership, and create ad-hoc analysis (i.e., business plans, metrics reporting, etc.) that inform business needs, develops sound justifications, and aids in prioritization framed by university/college/department goals
• Oversees the approval and processing of revenue, expenditure and department budgets, budget turnaround updates, and the maintenance of accounts and ledgers, ensuring compliance with appropriate government/University regulations and policies, and ensuring maintenance of appropriate internal controls safeguards
• Works closely with Sr. Business Officer to prepare and complete fiscal year year-end close and financial performance for college, departments and self-supporting units.
• Works closely with the Sr. Business Officer and the Dean to set department operating budgets, undergraduate and graduate funding, temporary teaching funds and student and faculty recruiting budgets.
• Serves as College budget and planning authority by providing guidance to Department Business Administrators and Administrative Managers for the interpretation of financial reports and data, College and University policies, and in managing costs and leveraging resources to fulfill strategic goals.
• Provide strategic consultation and independently perform complex financial analyses, including revenue and expense projections, and analyses of actual activity and translate this for department/unit planning and needs assessment and to Sr. Business Office, Dean and college; leadership serve as the expert on department business as it influences goals and financials.

Procurement Management

• Serve as the Procurement Manager for the college responsible for overseeing the procurement process, including credit card purchases, accounts payable, and accounts receivable. Responsible for college-wide implementation and training for Concur and UD Exchange.
• Responsible for implementation at the College level of all new Procurement Policy/Process and updates to ensure the college remains in compliance.
• Direct supervisor for the Dean’s Office Business Administrator, who is responsible for managing and overseeing financial operational activities for the Dean’s Office and its functional units.
• Dotted-line supervision to the seven department Business Administrator I and II’s who are responsible for the managing the operations within their respective college department.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree and six years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business-related field preferred.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of independent judgment, initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to demonstrate a high degree of confidentiality and discretion.
• Proficient knowledge in budget preparation, analysis and financial management.
• Experience in a higher education institution preferred.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Advanced proficiency with spreadsheet, database, word processing, and presentation software.
• Experience with UD financial system with report generation skills highly preferred.
• Ability to be flexible, work independently and have high accountability for a large volume of work.
• Ability to handle multiple assignments concurrently.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data and make independent decisions.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interact with people of diverse backgrounds, skills and abilities.

Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment, educational programs and activities, admissions policies, and scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.