Administrative Business Manager/S

MSU Internal Job Postings Details•East Lansing, MI

About The Position

The Business Manager serves as a strategic partner to departmental leadership, working closely with the department chair to support operational effectiveness, financial stewardship, and performance excellence. This role leads financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and compliance across general, research, and gift/endowment funds, while also overseeing the operational responsibilities of the office, including supervision and guidance of the human resources function. The position supports strategic goal setting and resource allocation aligned with the College of Natural Sciences’ mission and fosters collaborative, transparent communication and continuous improvement across the department and college. Responsibilities: Oversees and manages all budgetary processes, personnel activities, and administrative operations with full responsibility for approving financial and personnel transactions. Meets fiduciary responsibility for financial controls and complies with all audit requirements. Independently monitors, reconciles, and prepares monthly financial reports for General Fund and grant accounts, ensuring ac curacy and compliance. Performs quarterly forecasting and financial modeling for all funding sources to inform strategic decisions. Reviews and approves grant-related expenditures, ensuring adherence to sponsor and institutional regulations; collaborates with Contract & Grants on compliance, account transmittals, and closures. Coordinates and oversees faculty account setup, ensuring proper financial structure and alignment with departmental objectives. Interacts with donors to acknowledge gifts and strategizes endowment re investments. Oversees management of student fellowship and scholarship activities. Generates complex finance reports to represent the department’s financial standing, presents to department and college-level partners, and makes recommendations for improvements Manages a team of support staff. T his includes support staff in the roles of Administrative Business, Professional, Research Administrator I, Unit Human Resources Administrator I/S, Office Assistant III, and Secretary III (subject to change as directed by departmental need). Sets clear expectations, delegating responsibilities, and fosters accountability. Conducts performance evaluations, provides constructive feedback, and implements improvement plans when necessary. Oversees workload distribution and prioritization, ensuring resources are aligned with departmental goals and deadlines. Resolves comp lex personnel issues independently, applying sound judgment and institutional policy to maintain compliance and fairness. Serves as a key liaison between staff and departmental leadership, communicating strategic priorities and operational changes effectively. Manage a portfolio of operational responsibilities Builds strategies for set ting goals, determining actions to achieve the goals, and mobilizing re sources to execute the actions in support of the College of Natural Sciences vision, mission, core values, and aspirations. Perform various operational processes and transactions in compliance with policy and procedure. Oversees management of content and the data integrity of employee personnel files, databases, and other departmental records. Oversees HR processes and transactions related to the employment life cycle (entering, performing, exiting) in compliance with policy and procedure. Act as a resource for li e management and staff to resolve complex problems and/or provide general counsel regarding departmental, college, and university processes an d procedures. Enhance productivity and reduce liability through improved communications and driving operational practices, including, but not limited to, policy and procedure, performance excellence, compensation philosophy, and morale/retention programs. Serves as a member of senior management to participate in the development of goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for Chemistry. Provides strategic oversight and leadership for departmental communications and event promotion to enhance visibility an d engagement. Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job classification.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Business Administration, or business-related field
Eight or more years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in office procedures and administration or Experience with MSU and college policies and procedures.
In addition to applicable state and federal laws, such as FE RPA, FIOA, Title IX, etc.
Principles and practices of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and account reconciliation
Grant administration and compliance with institutional and sponsor regulations
Human resources processes, including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and performance evaluation
Administrative operations, strategic planning, and policy development
Systems and tools for financial, HR, and operations management (e.g., Spartan Space, PCard systems, EBS)
Experience in a supervisory role; experience with word processing, database, spreadsheet, presentation software and/or desktop publishing, web page software; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Leadership and supervision of staff and student employees
Budget development and monitoring, including preparation of financial reports
Coordinating complex projects and academic searches
Technical proficiency in budgeting software, HR systems, and Microsoft Office Suite
Adheres to work schedule and location assigned.
Abides by relevant policies, procedures, union contract, and supervisory directives as they relate to attendance, lunch/breaks, time-off, work location / remote work, and etcetera.
Arrives on time and is prepared for meetings and other commitments.
Communicates clearly and credibly in both verbal and written forms with diverse audiences.
Plan and manage short-term and long-term operational strategies
Interpret and apply policies, regulations, and compliance requirements
Prioritize and manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively
Maintain accuracy and attention to detail in financial and personnel records
Foster collaboration and facilitate communication across departments
Adapt to changing priorities and resolve issues independently

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business administration or equivalent senior management experience.
Progressively more responsible managerial experience, preferably in an academic or research environment.
Progressively more responsible Business operations and financial management experience, including experience in contract and grant administration, preferably in an academic or research environment.
Analytical problem-solving and decision-making in a dynamic environment
Effective written and verbal communication with diverse stakeholders
Ability to maintain compliance and reduce risk

Responsibilities

Oversees and manages all budgetary processes, personnel activities, and administrative operations with full responsibility for approving financial and personnel transactions.
Meets fiduciary responsibility for financial controls and complies with all audit requirements.
Independently monitors, reconciles, and prepares monthly financial reports for General Fund and grant accounts, ensuring ac curacy and compliance.
Performs quarterly forecasting and financial modeling for all funding sources to inform strategic decisions.
Reviews and approves grant-related expenditures, ensuring adherence to sponsor and institutional regulations; collaborates with Contract & Grants on compliance, account transmittals, and closures.
Coordinates and oversees faculty account setup, ensuring proper financial structure and alignment with departmental objectives.
Interacts with donors to acknowledge gifts and strategizes endowment re investments.
Oversees management of student fellowship and scholarship activities.
Generates complex finance reports to represent the department’s financial standing, presents to department and college-level partners, and makes recommendations for improvements
Manages a team of support staff. T his includes support staff in the roles of Administrative Business, Professional, Research Administrator I, Unit Human Resources Administrator I/S, Office Assistant III, and Secretary III (subject to change as directed by departmental need). Sets clear expectations, delegating responsibilities, and fosters accountability.
Conducts performance evaluations, provides constructive feedback, and implements improvement plans when necessary.
Oversees workload distribution and prioritization, ensuring resources are aligned with departmental goals and deadlines.
Resolves comp lex personnel issues independently, applying sound judgment and institutional policy to maintain compliance and fairness.
Serves as a key liaison between staff and departmental leadership, communicating strategic priorities and operational changes effectively.
Manage a portfolio of operational responsibilities Builds strategies for set ting goals, determining actions to achieve the goals, and mobilizing re sources to execute the actions in support of the College of Natural Sciences vision, mission, core values, and aspirations.
Perform various operational processes and transactions in compliance with policy and procedure.
Oversees management of content and the data integrity of employee personnel files, databases, and other departmental records.
Oversees HR processes and transactions related to the employment life cycle (entering, performing, exiting) in compliance with policy and procedure.
Act as a resource for li e management and staff to resolve complex problems and/or provide general counsel regarding departmental, college, and university processes an d procedures.
Enhance productivity and reduce liability through improved communications and driving operational practices, including, but not limited to, policy and procedure, performance excellence, compensation philosophy, and morale/retention programs.
Serves as a member of senior management to participate in the development of goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for Chemistry.
Provides strategic oversight and leadership for departmental communications and event promotion to enhance visibility an d engagement.
Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job classification.