Division Business Manager

Desert Research Institute, Inc.; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Benefits package

Job summary

Desert Research Institute, Inc. in Reno, NV seeks a Business Manager to lead budgeting, grant administration, and proposal development for the Division of Hydrologic Sciences. This on-site role collaborates with faculty, staff, and leadership to ensure compliant, timely awards.

Responsibilities include pre/post-award management, sub-awards, and budget analytics, with a team of three direct reports. Travel to Las Vegas may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five (5) years of full-time relevant experience in a sponsored-research environment or business environment, including government, university, or private-sector positions or four (4) years of experience in sponsored research administration with an MBA degree.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, management, and supervisory abilities.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with state and federal governmental grant or contract business administration.
• Experience in cost estimating and budget development and tracking.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Word, Excel, and automated accounting systems.
• Evidence of ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks within competing time constraints.
• Knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance and Regulations.
• Ability to work in a deadline-driven environment, while supporting multiple-proposal deadlines and schedules.
• Customer service-oriented leader that thrives in a team environment.
• Two years of direct supervision, including hiring, performance development, and assigning work.
• US Citizenship per sponsor funding requirements.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate development of grant proposals and contract bids.
• Assist faculty in responding to RFP guidelines and budget creation.
• Review proposal packages for accuracy and compliance; submit final proposals.
• Manage pre- and post-award administration of research grants and contracts.
• Develop recharge rates for service centers; handle sub-award processes and amendments.
• Provide analyses, trends, and metrics for division budgets.
• Supervise division business staff and collaborate with cross-functional offices.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Prioritization

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/admin or accounting

MBA or CRA (preferred)

Tools

Word

Excel

Accounting software

Job description

Job Description

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) seeks a highly motivated, well-organized person for the position of Business Manager in the Division of Hydrologic Sciences (DHS); DHS is one of three research divisions at DRI. DRI is the non-profit environmental research campus of the Nevada System of Higher Education with campuses located in Reno and Las Vegas.

This on-site position is located at the Reno campus. Occasional travel to DRI’s Las Vegas campus may be required.

The Business Manager reports to and works closely with the Executive Director of DHS as part of a division leadership team.

The Business Manager also works directly with faculty, staff, and administration to coordinate the development of grant proposals and contract bids; assists faculty in responding to RFP guidelines; creates budgets; reviews proposal packages for accuracy and compliance; and authorizes and submits final proposals.

This position is responsible for pre- and post-award administration of research grants and contracts for the division, and reviews and negotiates their terms and conditions in compliance with DRI and NSHE policy.

Project accounts are set up in a grants and contracts database, and expenditures for each project are tracked and authorized by the Business Manager.

The position requires preparation and monitoring of sub-awards, requesting contractual amendments from sponsors, and developing recharge rates for specialized service centers as needed.

The deadline driven nature of some of the Business Manager’s responsibilities will occasionally require work outside normal business hours.

In addition to sponsored research duties, the Business Manager ensures that divisional operations run efficiently by assisting the Executive Director and division faculty with hiring and employment policies; prepares fiscal year budgets; tracks and authorizes expenditures; and provides analyses, trends, and metrics for division budgets.

The position currently supports approximately 35 faculty members who submit 50+ proposals per year and administers approximately 170 internally funded accounts and 150 externally funded research project accounts with fiscal-year sponsored project expenditures of $21M (for all of DHS).

The Business Manager works collaboratively with a DHS Business Manager located in Las Vegas, the Business Managers of the other research divisions, the Sponsored Projects Office, the Human Resources Office, the Financial Services Office and other Administrative Departments to help drive success.

The Business Manager supervises the Reno division business staff, which includes a team of 3 employees (Senior Research Administrator and two Program Specialists).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Five (5) years of full-time relevant experience in a sponsored-research environment or business environment, including government, university, or private-sector positions or four (4) years of experience in sponsored research administration with an MBA degree.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, management, and supervisory abilities
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Experience with state and federal governmental grant or contract business administration
• Experience in cost estimating and budget development and tracking
• Demonstrated proficiency in Word, Excel, and automated accounting systems
• Evidence of ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks within competing time constraints
• Knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance and Regulations
• Ability to work in a deadline-driven environment, while supporting multiple-proposal deadlines and schedules
• Customer service-oriented leader that thrives in a team environment
• Two years of direct supervision, including hiring, performance development, and assigning work
• US Citizenship per sponsor funding requirements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or accounting or graduate education or certifications in business related fields (e.g., MBA, CRA)
• Experience with various electronic proposal submissions, including Grants.gov, Research.gov, NSPIRES, etc.
• Business experience in non-profit or university research environments
• Proficiency using business management, project tracking, and analysis software (e.g. ARGIS, Workday)
• Experience with Gantt charts, subaward monitoring, and budget/financial reporting

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Due to restricted programs oversight, access, and locations, ALL applicants for this position MUST be citizens of the United States and the incumbent will be subject to work status verification through E-Verify.

Employment is contingent upon a successful completion of a background check.

Must be able to travel to other DRI and NSHE locations.

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

Since 1959, DRI has stood at the forefront of understanding Earth's complex environmental systems, promoting preservation of diverse ecosystems, advancing responsible natural resource management, and improving human health and welfare throughout Nevada and around the world.

Research at DRI calls on the expertise and methods of multiple scientific disciplines.

More than 400 highly-skilled scientists, engineers, technicians, students and staff on two main campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, are collaboratively focused on understanding and answering critical questions about water quality and availability, air quality, sustainability of desert lands, life in extreme environments, and more.

Reno is located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, just 45 minutes from Lake Tahoe and 4 hours from San Francisco.

Reno has four seasons, abundant sunshine, and low humidity.

Reno was recently rated one of the best small cities in the US for overall quality of life.

Reno offers reasonable commute times, no state income tax, diverse artistic and cultural events, and plentiful opportunities for outdoor recreation.

SALARY

The expected minimum starting salary is $100,000 per year, but is negotiable based on education and experience. This position is eligible for DRI’s benefits package and relocation assistance. See this link for a Faculty benefits overview: https://www.dri.edu/careers/

ExemptYes Full-Time Equivalent 100.0%

EEO AND NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENTS

DRI is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment free of discrimination without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

DRI employs only U.S. citizens and persons lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Additionally, we comply with all applicable state laws and DRI takes measures consistent with Title IX to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students, faculty and staff.

The Desert Research Institute does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that it operates. Non-discrimination on the basis of sex is mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) and the corresponding implementation regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106). The Institute’s commitment to nondiscrimination in its education programs and activities extends to applicants for employment. Inquiries concerning the application of these provisions may be referred to: Jennifer Schultz, Title IX Coordinator, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Northern Nevada Science Building, Room 112, Reno, NV 89512, Telephone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail]; to The Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-1100; Telephone: [phone] FAX: [phone]; TDD: 1-800-877-8339; Email: [e-mail]; or to both.

Information pertaining to the Institute's grievance procedures and grievance process, including how to report or file a complaint of sex discrimination, how to report or file a formal complaint of sexual harassment, and how the Institute will respond can be found here.

If you need any accommodations to complete an application, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or [phone].

Information regarding security, personal safety, fire safety, and crime statistics can be found at DRI's Public and Personal Safety page.

NSHE Employees are required to participate in a mandatory retirement plan in lieu of Social Security. As a result, employment at NSHE may impact your Social Security benefits. Additional information is available at SSA 1945. Job postings are specific to the Nevada System of Higher Education.